Nickelback

[winston]

I first heard Nickelback in Banff Alberta where they were playing at a popular pub and I was there on an emergency response exercise. I was immediately taken with the raw talent and ease with which they played their instruments. What pleased me the most is that their singer whose name I did not know at the time, could sing with so much emotion and best of all, he had perfect pitch. Their sound was loud and raunchy but carefully crafted and dynamic. They had stories to tell too.

I was hooked. I constantly compare modern bands to the reference points that I have established to determine how good band is. Those reference points you ask. It depends on the genre. Suffice it to say if a band sort of sounded like AC/DC, Deep Purple or Led Zeppelin for example they instantly got compared to them in my mind. If they did not measure up I would likely dismiss their efforts as not being good enough.

Rarely would I run across a band that did not have some reference point that I could compare them to. A few bands defy that sort of examination. Doug and The Slugs was one such band and so is Nickelback.

Nickelback whether you like them or not are in a class of their own. I happen to like them immensely. I was not suprised to see them climbing the charts shortly after seeing them. I seem to have a nose for talent. My youngest son bought their CD and invited me to take a listen. He was surprised to learn that I already knew about them and that I really enjoyed their music.

Here's a you tube clip to demonstrate why I like them so much. It is a great tune.



Here's another song honoring their roots. They grew up in Hanna Alberta

[phlemmy]

it's a band that i utterly despise with every inch of my being...but the singer/guitarist dude (chad?) is not a bad guitarist. they, to me, are corporate lackeys made for the radio. they are the hootie and the blowfish of this decade.

[blueflamerick]

Worst band ever! Well, maybe second only to Puddle of Mudd.

[1965]

I hate Nickelback with a passion. Worst band out there since Creed, maybe Switchfoot too. So utterly painful to listen to. To me they're the anti-rock in the same way PRS guitars are.

[winston]

I had no idea they were so universally hated. But maybe that's because I don't follow trends or judge musicians for selling out any more. I just like what I like.

Perhaps I should delete my original post guys and keep my opinion on this band to myself?

Edit: I just did some research. I am not the only one that likes this band apparently.

"Nickelback's fifth studio album, All the Right Reasons, has sold over 6.7 million albums in the United States and over 9.5 million albums worldwide. It is the 16th album so far in the 21st century that has reach that level. The album produced five U.S. Hot 100 top 20 singles: "Photograph", "Savin' Me", "Far Away", "If Everyone Cared", "Rockstar".Three of these became U.S. Hot 100 top 10 singles. All the Right Reasons sold more than 6.7 million copies in the US and was found again inside the top 10 of the Billboard 200 in its 99th, 100th, 101st, and 102nd weeks on the chart. The album had never been below #30 on the Billboard 200 in 110 weeks, making Nickelback the first act to have an album in the top thirty of the Billboard 200 for its first 100 weeks since Shania Twain's album, Come on Over stayed in the top thirty for 123 consecutive weeks following its release. Billboard Magazine called the album "the biggest rock album of the century so far."

In the UK, the album opened its chart run at #13 before quickly leaving the top 75 with no top 20 singles, with "Savin' Me" being their first to miss the top 75 altogether. While being their smallest-selling UK album since "Curb", it experienced, in early 2008, a resurrection due to the single "Rockstar" becoming Nickelback's highest charting single ever in the UK. The album has now outpeaked its previous peak of #13, reaching #2. All the Right Reasons has appeared in the top 40 of the United World Chart for 89 non-consecutive weeks making it the third album to stay in the chart for so long. It was certified 7x Platinum in the US, 6x Platinum in Canada, 4x Platinum in Australia and New Zealand, 3x Platinum in Switzerland and Platinum in Germany and the UK."

[1965]

I don't judge musicians for selling out. I don't care that the White Stripes have sold millions of albums, they still put out great records. Nickleback's music is boring, with lame predictable lyrics. All the songs sound so similar and over-produced and their melodies are nothing to write home about.

Just because they've sold millions of records doesn't mean they're any good, just means they have a huge record label behind them. I don't trust 99% of the general population's musical tastes anyway. To me they sound like the corporate-est of corporate rock.

[antipodean]

I don't judge musicians for selling out. I don't care that the White Stripes have sold millions of albums, they still put out great records. Nickleback's music is boring, with lame predictable lyrics. All the songs sound so similar and over-produced and their melodies are nothing to write home about.

Just because they've sold millions of records doesn't mean they're any good, just means they have a huge record label behind them. I don't trust 99% of the general population's musical tastes anyway. To me they sound like the corporate-est of corporate rock.

C'mon Wes, don't hold back, tell us what you really think!

FWIW Brian, I don't despise Nickelback, but they are very "FM Friendly", if that's a fault. Seeing them live is always the big test, and I've never had the pleasure!

I do really like PRS guitars though, so it's pistols at dawn Wes! I hope you have a reliable second!

[1965]

FM friendly describes them well, their songs all sound sterile to me. As for PRS, they're just not my thing. The only guitars I'm really fond of are those designed and built in the 50's & 60's.

[sloop_john_b]

Well, I had typed up a wonderfully scathing six paragraphs on they-who-must-not-be-named, but at the risk of offending you Brian, I'll keep it at this: I dislike them.

[whojamfan]

I will say Nickelback successfully fooled people into believing a country song was alternative metal,(or whatever they are), with their big hit "Rockstar". I love it when a band pulls a fast one like that. It always kills me when I hear that song, as it reaffirms my belief that music today is more defined by marketing, than substance. Toby Kieth would have had just a big a hit with it, as long as Brent Mason, or some other famous Nashville studio guy threw the standard country guitar lick in it here and there,IMHO.

Record sales mean nothing to me, I've seen too many better bands get axed in favor of what the marketing executives think the public wants to hear. Milli Vanilli, for example, sold millions of records, and what were they?

It must have been exciting to see them before they "made it". I've seen a few myself, but it really sucks(ego) when a band makes it that opened for you.

The bands who chart, and have success, are often hated and loathed by everyone who hasn't. The fact is, very few bands that actually "make it" haven't paid their dues to get there. We can all make jokes and hatefull statements, but the main factor is jealousy, but few will admit it. Nickelback, from what I understand of them, mainly writes their own music and performs it well. That, in itself, makes them valid in my book,even if I don't care for what it is that they do. I don't own any Nickelback material at this time for the same reason I don't own any Pearl Jam, simply not my cup of tea today, but maybe in the future, when I can get far enough away from the hype and overkill to listen to it with an "open mind".

While I'm sick to death of FMs decline down to everything AM was and was supposed to be against, I applaud anyone who can play music to put food on their table. I figure I can seriuosly listen to what FM is playing today 20 years from now, and make up my mind then. Meantime, I am more interested in what other forum members are playing and listening to, as it carries a certain relevance of what I like to hear that FM simply doesn't. Not that I'm closed minded to new "popular" music that's out there, I just don't want to hear the same 5 songs over and over and over.

[1965]

I cannot listen to the radio at all anymore. It's too painful, always the same terrible songs. The only stations partially bearable are the oldies ones. Nickelback may write their own songs, but they all sound the same! Just watch those two videos at the top of this thread, so utterly similar. In 20 years, I don't think many will remember them.

[winston]

I think this is great myself. Difference of opinion aside I can't remember such raw emotion being expressed in this section ever. It's good to have you guys speak your mind. Please do this more often and lets hear the stuff that you listen too. I have a very open mind and like you I will be brutally honest if I think an artist stinks.

Thanks very much guys you made my day.........believe it or not.

[gellkeller]

The only thing I like about Nickelback is the fact that the lead singer looks exactly like my older brother.

I have many a joyous moment in a pub in Sydney asking the punters whether my brother looks like that Chad whoever guy (is his name Chad?). My brother doesn't like me that much. Or Nickelback.

[gregga41]

Sorry Brian, but i'm in the "Absolutely can't stand them" league when it comes to Nickelback!
Posers, weak and way past their use-by date!

[longboard_ric]

I'm not a fan, but I don't dislike them either. Anyway, they are only trying to make a living.

When it comes to sounding the same, I can recall an interview with AC/DC's Angus Young. The interviewer stated that AC/DC had made eleven albums all sounding the same. Angus replied "that's not true........we've made twelve."

If you are on a good thing, stick to it