NICKELBACK: HERE & NOW

Having staked my claim reasonably close to the front of the queue here and established up front the expectation, it qualifies me more than the fools to comment on Here & Now. It’s easy to take pot-shots at a band that have set themselves up for target practice. Go ahead and ask any of the bands that have been accused of all the things currently levelled at Nickelback. AC/DC, ZZ Top spring to mind off the top of my head which puts them in good company as far as I’m concerned. Take a look at any of the reviews that will follow the release of Hear & Now. I guarantee that 95% of them will give it a poke with stick like it’s a dead bird, criticism will abound for it sounding the same as the last album, and the one before that…

But that misses the point somewhat. There’s a new Jane’s Addiction album out at the moment too. From them, I expect an adventurous, questioning spirit. That’s what they do. Nickelback not so much. What I expect from them is ten big-ass chunky arena rock tracks. Sure - swap ‘em around from album to album. I don’t care but I can honestly say that over the last ten years, Nickelback have probably been my most constant companion in the car. That’s what they do.

Sigh… more tales of drinking, rocking hard, leaving your lovers behind. Freakin’ A. I was beginning to lose faith that anybody would make a decent album this year that I coul connect with and wouldn’t walk away from before the end of it. Sad as you may think it, it took until this far in the year for anything to surface that was worth a damn and that came from Kelly Clarkson. Level the guns if you wish but after a lifetime of being subjected to earth shattering rock shows and innovation in the studio, I’ve reached a point now where what I want to hear is some solid records being made. Nickelback are part of that pantheon.

Here & Now has no need for description. You already know what it sounds like - shit, even my Ma could venture a stab at what it sounds like (she could even write areview without hearing it if she tried hard enough), though it should be noted that the production is white hot. I guess Joe Normal would never notice that the production values have been raised with each subsequent album but that’s OK.

That’s what Joe Normal does. Mr Smith

** Jj (Shake Co-Ed) Mr Smith has hit the nail on the head… Nickleback will never be cool or happening, but what they will be is played in 20 years time and called ‘Classic Rock From the Early Noughties’ and many will crave for their sound. For me they are one of the best rock bands of the opening ten years of this new century simply because they deliver on all levels, and this is another great album from them…