No.13 Post-Grunge Pat part 2: Are Nickel Back?

Following somewhat of a litany in the last post, I will try to keep this one a bit shorter.

Disregarding all cliches, Nickelback are the band that the world loves to hate. So far disinclined to the Canadian outfit's rock inspired, simplistic sound is one man (incidentally with the same pun library as me) that he set up an online petition to ban them from playing in the capital. Obviously it had to be entitled "Don't Let Nickel Back"; who would pass up an opportunity like that? The English will petition for anything won't we? Despite this, Nickelback have faced similar opposition in the past across the Atlantic but this is possibly due to America's underlying dislike for foreigners. Certainly not all people share this cynicism as the band have sold over 50 million records worldwide, with How You Remind Me voted the best rock song of the 2000s and Rock Star the first song by a Canadian band to be used on a DFS advert.
     But those were the old days, where a rock band as prestigious as Nickelback could churn out record after almost identical record yet their adoring fans would still quite happily scream for more as they tattooed Chad Kroeger's face onto each cheek. And no, not the ones on their faces. The more successful the band became, the more formulaic their albums have been: a more traditional grunge opener, pop inspired follow-up and the third, a gruffly soothing ballad. The latest album No Fixed Address, too, at first appears to show this same trend.

Despite the criticism the band constantly face for this reason, it has proven a successful formula and a formula they look unlikely to stray from. It cannot be argued that the so nicknamed 'Four Chords Kroeger' is disappointing the fans; they lap it up with unfaltering loyalty. After all, stick to what know and where can you go wrong? That said, they have really pushed the boat out in some areas here including a funk song in She Keeps Me Up and a rap song with Got Me Runnin' Round. A RAP SONG! THAT CAN'T BE RIGHT??? Indeed it can, and whats more it features the man behind the stealing of other people's songs, sampling them and saying "Bruh" over the top: Flo Rida. Chad even lays down some bars himself for goodness sake... mental. There is of course the standard ballad in Satellite and that generically unique, unquestionably Nickelback sound in The Hammer's Coming Down complete with powerful vocals and that weird, electronic echoey voice thing during the verses. 

Overall, this is a thoroughly optimistic album which if anything shows that Nickelback's style is perhaps finally blooming  like a shaggy haired butterfly and surprise even the most stone-faced of critics in the future. Who knows, we may have just witnessed the emergence of the front man's rap alter ego. I quite like Chaddy Bang, Nickelbacklemore or Ice Kroeg. Either way, the future looks bright for the band and it's safe to say I won't be signing any petitions in the near future.

To hear these songs, albums from the other posts and other music which I find, follow my blog on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/user/w-avery/playlist/4CAps4jqmlBK7LPOPFgi3T