It's never easy following up a multi-platinum success, but Canada's Nickelback's latest seem sure to match the sales of the many-million-selling Silver Side Up. The formula remains pretty much the same--nothing fancy, just radio-friendly grunge that lends an appropriately dramatic backing to the powerful and increasingly confident voice of Chad Kroeger. Aside from the fast and punchy opener "Flat on the Floor," the tough, staccato "Because of You," and the Oasis-like "Figured You Out," the band deal exclusively in soft-rock anthems (soft, that is, by 2003's pulverizing standards). The only real change here lies is in Kroeger's lyrical concerns. Where 2000's The State found him suffering the frustrations of small-town life, now he's tortured by a heavy touring schedule that promotes destructive drug abuse and strains relationships to breaking point. That said, you can't help feeling the ruthlessly analytical Kroeger would turn a visit to the supermarket into a riot of hatred and self-recrimination. For fans of Silver Side Up, Nickelback have delivered the goods once more. --Dominic Wills
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Without a doubt...five stars!!!:
I won't spend too much time reviewing but if I could, I would give it six stars. Six stars for this album and all their others! I was predominantly a hip-hop fan till I heard Nickelback! Still love hip-hop, but Nickelback will always be in my collection, and blasted on my speakers!
Nickelback gets to me:
Ok so it may not be the most intricately developed music to come along, but as far as I am concerned, Chad Kroeger, can sing to me anything, anytime, love his voice...his passion for what he and the band does comes through, from his pairing with Santana to this album. These are the type of songs I can listen to to cheer me up, get me through or just sing along with. To me that is what music is about, how it makes me feel...that's my story and I am sticking to it... One more thing love Michael Kroeger's... more info
Rocks:
Nickelback's 2003 The Long Road rocks. I liked Silver Side Up (2001), but LR rocks, rocks, rocks. Big guitar sound, ballsy vocals, big bass, rocking drums...all of it. Based on their radio hits, one would not guess how much this album rocks. I only wish that there were more guitar solos. That's the 80s metal in me I guess. I also appreciate Kroeger's relational lyrics, uncommon for harder music stereotypically.
Good album, but may not be what you expect......:
I was taken a little aback by the head-banging intro to the first song - just wasn't expecting it. I tend to feel they have tried to rip off Metallica somewhat on a few of their songs. And, I think the arrangement of songs is a little off - there are two songs back-to-back that have exactly the same beat count, and it's a little distracting. BUT this is, overall, a good CD. I was pleasantly surprised by their version of Elton John's "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting," and have a couple un-released... more info
