Nickelback
Here and Now

Release Date: 2011 | Tracklist

If there is only one band of the last 10-15 years that prove you CAN please everyone at the same time, it's Nickelback. Like their heroes Bon Jovi, Nickelback combine Rock music and Pop music to produce hit after hit. From"How You Remind Me," the post-grunge classic with an undeniably catchy hook, to the hard rock party anthem "Burn It to the Ground" to one of the greatest power ballads of all time, "Far Away," the band's songs have always made you feel a certain way with lyrics and choruses designed to stick with you. Thief actual record-making has stifled the last few years, however. 2005's "All the Right Reasons" went 8X Platinum with its broad appeal; one half angry hard rock, the other half sweet, radio-friendly pop, but did not exactly flow as an album. 2008's "Dark Horse" was the ultimate party record (hard to find in loud, scary depressing 2000's Alt-Metal), but was too much of a good thing, as the overly sexual content felt overly produced, and the band's signature ballads did not quite measure up. Nickelback show what they really sound like on 2011's "Here and Now." Like "All the Right Reasons," it shows the band's crossover appeal with the classic rock plea to awareness in "When We Stand Together" and unlike "Dark Horse," sex songs such as "Midnight Queen," "Gotta Get Me Some," and "Everything I Wanna Do" sound more real; almost like they were recorded live... at a strip club. But Nickelback know the quotient of rock stars with a soft side, and go the extra mile on this album. "Lullaby" is a song anyone can relate to about giving life another go, "Trying Not to Love You" tells the story of loving someone although you know you shouldn't, and Here and Now's best track, "Holding On To Heaven" is contagious for three reasons: Some of the album's best songwriting, a textbook rock ballad production, and the best Chad Kroeger has ever sang. Chad may like his girl ready to go for a ride when he's partying, but when he's in love, he's ready to settle down. The closer, "Don't Ever Let It End," risks losing a friendship for something more. Believe it or not (no pun intended,) Nickelback have been winning over both headbangers and ballad lovers for 10 years, and on Here And Now, they come into their own, creating a fantastic record for their fans and anyone else willing to listen. If you immediately turn this off because it's by Nickelback...well... almost 50 million albums sold disagree with you.

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1.8 poor

Rank: #0 for 2011