Published on Feb 18, 2002
Remember in the mid-nineties when everyone thought plain old
rock and roll was dead? What a bunch of silly people.
Nickelback blew open the Canadian charts in 2000 with their CD
The State, and the word was abuzz that the Canadian quartet
had something special going on. Now, with their American debut
Silver Side Up, we here in the Least Musically Interesting
Country In North America (Canada: Our Lady Peace. Mexico: Tejano
Music. Us: Backstreet Boys. Any more questions?) get a chance to
hear the hype, and damned if there isn’t some substance behind it.
Nickelback writes “good songs with good melodies that you’ll sing
at our shows,” according to guitarist Ryan Peake.
Damn straight they do.
Silver Side Up is, plain and simple, a great album of rock
and roll. Unlike a lot of current “rock” bands, there’s nothing
intermixed; no rap, no crap, no techno-grunge-industrial
hybridization. This is four guys, two guitars, and lotsa good
old-fashioned noise. What really separates Nickelback from the
pack, though, is the fact the noise has substance.
The CD kicks off with the blistering “Never Again”, a vicious,
scathing indictment of domestic abuse, and never lets up.
Everyone’s heard “How You Remind Me”, but it’s worth noting as a
song in its own right – hooky harmonies and brooding, intense
lyrics. “Hangnail” churns and writhes, lead vocalist Chad Kroeger
alternately snarling and screaming but never once losing control of
the song. The production is impeccable, really bringing out the
tasty crunchiness of Nickelback’s guitar-driven sound without
blurring it into pablum – and focusing perfectly on the gentler
acoustic-driven sound of parts of “Good Times Gone” without
stripping its power.
There isn’t too much to complain about on
Silver Side Up. “Hollywood” meanders a bit, and I’m not as
fond of the guitar line; only on that track does Nickelback sound
like they’re straining a bit. But had I had this CD before December
31 – silly of me, really – this one might have bumped someone off
the Top Eleven list. You won’t ask for your money back on this CD.
Silver Side Up is a winner.