THE MOST HATED BAND IN THE WORLD RELEASES A ROCK MASTERPIECE

Article by PJ Cornell.

Syndicated from the Asterisked Music Journal.

Assessment: 9.5 out of 10.

Bottom line up front: Nickelback is one of the most hated bands ever to grace the stage of a rock auditorium. The only thing I can figure is that they are hated because they create a product. That’s right — they go to the studio and do whatever it takes to make something worth listening to. People feel that they are somehow airbrushed and fake. Look, their job is to create something worth listening to. I’d rather they let the mastering artists do their job than put out a true-to-life crappy product. It is what it is. That having been said, this latest release, Here and Now is an exceptional release. As usual, they run the gamut from gritty, to slutty, to inspiring. Chad Kroeger’s losing battle with sex addiction continues.

Criticisms: No one every accused these guys of being overly original. There’s a good reason for that. If you buy a Nickelback album, you know what you’re going to get. That having been said, this may be their strongest effort to date.

Highlights: Chad’s voice has a very unique signature. You either like it or you don’t. I do. One of the things I love about this band is the total commitment. If they go for gritty — they really go for it. If they go for violent — they commit to it. If they go for inspiring — they don’t hold back. I think that’s admirable. These guys keep their hearts on their sleeves. Their best song, by far, is Kiss it Goodbye, which is a brilliant song, both in terms of lyrics and musicianship. It’s a song about how the big city culture tends to chew you up and spit you out. The vocals in this one are particularly well done — the chorus plays the thin line between singing and screaming at a Major 3rd from the tonic, which, in the context of the minor key, has a distinct, hair-raising effect, and is seamlessly integrated with the rhythm section. Holding onto Heaven is another great song. The sparse rhythm and slow counterpoint against the sparkling harmonies in the vocals of the verse contrasts gorgeously with the full, uplifting sound of the chorus. Wonderful song.

Conclusion: If you don’t like Nickelback, you won’t like this album. But be honest — you secretly love these guys. So get the album anyway. I won’t tell.

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THE MOST HATED BAND IN THE WORLD RELEASES A ROCK MASTERPIECE