Sunday, January 18, 2009

“Dark Horse”, by Nickelback (Roadrunner)

Nickelback-DarkHorse

Chad Kroeger’s band of merry men release the best albums of their career

Nickelback has always been a band in a strange position. Lambasted and ridiculed almost constantly by the British music press, they consistently have bestselling albums. What’s the deal?

While you’re thinking about that, it must be said that Nickelback’s latest offering, Dark Horse, is simply superb. The more grunge elements have now been combined with a healthy dose of “rawk”, with the band writing and playing songs that are more tongue-in-cheek and also more fun.

“Something In Your Mouth” kicks the album off with a bang, and things don’t let up until the CD stops playing. Almost every song on here works on its own, and also as a whole album. Personally, I liked Silver Side Up (their break-out album), but Dark Horse is the first Nickelback album that I just stick on repeat, listening to it for most (if not all) of the day. The songs “S.E.X.”, “Burn It To The Ground”, “Next Go Round” and “Just To Get High”, in particular, hit all the right rock buttons: huge guitars and choruses, catchy hooks and an almost addictive quality that will get you singing along. Best of all, the songs have a clear continuity, but in no instance do you feel like you’re listening to something you’ve heard before – either on this album, or from any of their back catalogue.

Easily the band’s best album, and very likely one of the best album of the past decade (at least). This is fresh, rocking, addictive, but also nicely familiar, like an old friend who’s been away for a while, but is now back in the fold.

A pleasant surprise. Very highly recommended.

Best tracks: “Burn It To The Ground”, “S.E.X.” and “Next Go Round”

www.myspace.com/nickelback

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