Nickelback’s solid, likeable blend of post-grunge radio friendly rock has proven to be a successful combination, with a sound comparable to contemporaries like
Bush and
Stone Temple Pilots. Their next two albums,
The Long Road and
All the Right Reasons sold 14 million copies combined. The two albums collectively produced nine top 20 hits in the USA and Canada, a testament to the band’s popularity. Inspirational lyrics, light guitar distortion, an exaggerated high/low dynamic, and deliberate drumming fuel the band's clear and recognizable sound. Soulful songs like
If Everyone Cared and
Someday mix well with the playful atmosphere of hits like
Feelin Way Too Damn Good and
Rockstar. The band’s sixth album, yet unnamed, is currently in the planning stages as of 2008.
From Discogs:Chad Kroeger: lead vocals and guitar.Ryan Peake: guitars and vocals.Mike Kroeger: bass.Ryan "Nik" Vikedal: drums.
From Lastfm:Nickelback is a Canadian rock band from Hanna, Alberta, formed in 1995. Founded by members Chad Kroeger, Mike Kroeger, Ryan Peake and then-drummer Brandon Kroeger. Nickelback is one of the most commercially successful Canadian groups, having sold 30 million records worldwide. Nickelback ranks as the 11th best selling music act of the 2000s, and places as the 2nd best selling foreign act in the US behind The Beatles for the 2000s.
The band is now based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Its name originates from the nickel in change that band member Mike Kroeger gave customers at his Starbucks job, he would frequently say, "Here's your nickel back".
The band is signed to EMI in Canada and Roadrunner Records for the rest of the world. In July 2008, the band signed with Live Nation for three touring and album cycles, with an option for a fourth cycle. The contract includes recordings, touring, merchandise and other rights.
Early years: 1995?2000
Nickelback's first release was a seven-track EP called Hesher in 1996. In the same year, Nickelback recorded their first full-length album Curb. "Fly" was released on Hesher and Curb and was the first single produced by Nickelback. It did not chart and was only played on local radio stations.
The following album The State was recorded in 1998 and was released as an independent record the same year. Nickelback signed a record deal with EMI and Roadrunner Records. The State was then re-released in 2000 by EMI and Roadrunner Records. Two singles from the album, "Leader of Men" and "Breathe" were fairly successful and resulted in the album being certificated gold in Canada and the United States. It was certified Platinum in 2008.
Mainstream success: 2001?2007
In 2001, Nickelback released the Silver Side Up album, which propelled them into the mainstream. The single "How You Remind Me" was a huge success, peaking at #1 on both the American and Canadian charts at the same time. In the U.S., it was a #1 single on the Mainstream and Modern rock charts, as well as the pop chart. It also peaked at #2 on Adult Top 40. "How You Remind Me" became the Billboard Hot 100 #1 single of the year for 2002. The next single was "Too Bad", which also hit #1 on the Mainstream Rock Chart and had a small amount of success on the pop chart. The final single from the album was "Never Again", another #1 hit on Mainstream Rock.
In 2002, Chad Kroeger collaborated with Josey Scott and Gaige Corvo who played the lead guitar on the Spider-Man theme song, "Hero." This also featured Tyler Connolly, Mike Kroeger, Matt Cameron, and Jeremy Taggart.
In 2003, Nickelback released The Long Road. The lead single was "Someday" and the album went on to sell five million copies worldwide.[citation needed] The band also released "Feelin' Way Too Damn Good" as a single, which peaked at #3 on the Mainstream Rock Charts. "Figured You Out" was also released as a single and topped the Mainstream Rock Charts for 13 consecutive weeks.
Nickelback's fifth studio album, All the Right Reasons, produced five U.S. Hot 100 top 20 singles: "Photograph", "Savin' Me", "Far Away", "If Everyone Cared", "Rockstar". Three of these became U.S. Hot 100 top 10 singles. All the Right Reasons has sold 7,163,130 copies in the US as of June 13, 2009. In total, All the Right Reasons has sold abut 11 million copies worldwide since its 2005 release. Aside from all the success of All the Right Reasons, lead singer Kroeger began his own label named 604 Records in 2005 and holds the position of executive producer.
Latest releases: 2008?present
On September 4, 2008 Roadrunner Records announced that the first single from their upcoming album was originally going to be "If Today Was Your Last Day" and was to be released September 30, 2008. However, the song was scrapped as the first single, and "Gotta Be Somebody" was the lead single instead. The new album, titled Dark Horse, was released on November 18, 2008. The album was produced by Mutt Lange. Something in Your Mouth was released as the second single to rock radio only on December 15, where it reached #1. "If Today Was Your Last Day" was released as the second major single instead. Two more singles have been released,"I'd Come for You" and "Burn It to the Ground".
Criticism
In various points in their career, Nickelback has received widespread negative reviews from various sources. Review aggregator Metacritic reports the three most recent of their six studio albums since becoming a mainstream act, The Long Road, All the Right Reasons and Dark Horse, to have scores of 62%, 41% and 49% respectively.[17][18][19]
They have at times, been ridiculed for their lack of originality. In 2001, Rolling Stone criticised the band's musical style, saying, "if you're looking for originality, you might want a full refund instead of a Nickelback."[20] Rolling Stone also said their 2003 release, The Long Road, was "Brazenly consistent, if unimaginative." Whilst Allmusic also stated, "Nickelback can now afford a little more time in the studio and a little more time to indulge themselves, and they turn out the same record, only slicker, which only highlights just how oppressively and needlessly sullen this group is."[17]
In 2005, Rolling Stone said "All the Right Reasons is so depressing, you're almost glad Kurt's not around to hear it."[21] Tiny Mix Tapes also expressed concern over the release; "Like all Nickelback releases before it, All The Right Reasons was made for all the wrong ones and follows all the formulas and clichés you should be bored to death of by now."[22] Stephen Thomas Erlewin of Allmusic reviewed Dark Horse, claiming that "Nickelback are a gnarled, vulgar band reveling in their ignorance of the very notion of taste, lacking either the smarts or savvy to wallow in bad taste so they just get ugly, knocking out knuckle-dragging riffs that seem rarefied in comparison to their thick, boneheaded words."[23]
Despite a barrage from critics, Nickelback has still managed to please various sources with each of their mainstream albums. Allmusic reviewer Liana Jones complimented Nickelback after their commercial breakthrough, Silver Side Up; "what gives the group an upper hand over its peers is intensity and raw passion... Nickelback ups the ante by offering realistic storytelling that listeners can relate to."[24] Following their 2008 album, Dark Horse, ChartAttack credited the band's success to knowing their target audience, "Chad Kroeger is a genius because he knows exactly what people want and precisely how far he can go. He turned out an extremely racy album that's loaded with songs about gettin' drunk and doin' it all without breaking any taboos, and with enough love and moral authority to grease its passage into the mainstream. Rejoice, North America. This is your world."[25] Billboard also praised the band; "The bulletproof Nickelback provides affordable fun that promises good returns in hard times."[26]
In 2007, USA Today reported that "few bands inspire such intense hatred as Nickelback."[27] The article questioned whether Nickelback's commercial success made "critics wrong", and published multiple statements from various sources within the music industry. Nathan Brackett, a senior editor at Rolling Stone said, "There are some bands that, let's face it, are critic-proof". Both Brackett and Craig Marks, editor in chief of Blender, credit a lot of the band's success to young people who are introduced to them on the radio and "very casual music fans who don't buy a lot of CDs". Marks complimented Nickelback's popularity despite the critical response, saying "it is a tribute to their success."[27]
[edit] Band members
Main article: List of Nickelback band members
* Chad Kroeger ? lead vocals, rhythm guitar
* Ryan Peake ? lead guitar, backing vocals
* Mike Kroeger ? bass
* Daniel Adair ? drums, backing vocals
[edit] Discography
Main article: Nickelback discography
* Curb (1996)
* The State (1998)
* Silver Side Up (2001)
* The Long Road (2003)
* All the Right Reasons (2005)
* Dark Horse (2008)
[edit] Awards
Main article: List of Nickelback awards
[edit] References
1. ^ a b Essi Berelian, "The Rough Guide to Heavy Metal", p. 249
2. ^ Nickelback at Popmatters
3. ^ Nickelback at NME
4. ^ Nickelback at IGN
5. ^ a b Nickelback at Musicmight
6. ^ allmusic ((( Nickelback > Overview )))
7. ^ Nickelback at Rolling Stone
8. ^ Nickelback at MTV
9. ^ Emma Jones. "Meet the 'goofiest guys' in rock
". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7737175.stm
. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
10. ^ http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/34074/chart-watch-extra-the-top-20-album-sellers-of-the-2000s
11. ^ Namely Nickelback
MusicMatch Guide
12. ^ Sisario, Ben (2008-07-08). ""Nickelback Signs Up With Live Nation"
". NY Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/09/arts/music/09nickel.html?ref=arts
. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
13. ^ http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/N/Nickelback/2001/10/02/748171.html
14. ^ http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS
15. ^ Mainstream Top 40 Add Dates
FMQB.com. Accessed September 25, 2008
16. ^ http://www.komodorock.com/new-releases/cd-releases/nickleback-announce-new-album-200809047346/
Nickleback Announce New Album
17. ^ a b http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/nickelback/longroad
18. ^ http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/nickelback/alltherightreasons
19. ^ http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/nickelback/darkhorse
20. ^ Matt Diehl. "Silver Side Up
". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/nickelback/albums/album/310778/review/6068077/silver_side_up
. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
21. ^ "All the Right Reasons
". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/7668008/review/7702875?utm_source=Rhapsody&utm_medium=CDreview
. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
22. ^ "Tiny Mix Tapes Reviews: Nickelback Music Review
". Tiny Mix Tapes. http://www.tinymixtapes.com/musicreviews/n/nickelback.htm
. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
23. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Review: Dark Horse
". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jxfexzekldje
. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
24. ^ "Silver Side Up
". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fcfuxql0ldke~T1
. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
25. ^ http://www.chartattack.com/reviews/62848/nickelbacks-dark-horse-for-dark-times
26. ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/reviews-album/dark-horse-1003895507.story
27. ^ a b Erin Carlson. "Sales can't buy love for some top bands
". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/2007-03-20-2680499831_x.htm
. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
[edit] External links
* Official website
[hide]
v ? d ? e
Nickelback
Chad Kroeger ? Ryan Peake ? Mike Kroeger ? Daniel Adair
Brandon Kroeger ? Ryan Vikedal ? Mitch Guindon
Studio albums
Curb ? The State ? Silver Side Up ? The Long Road ? All the Right Reasons ? Dark Horse
User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License and may also be available under the GNU FDL.
From Wikipedia:Nickelback is a Canadian rock band from Hanna, Alberta, formed in 1995 by Chad Kroeger, Mike Kroeger, Ryan Peake and then-drummer Brandon Kroeger. While largely a rock band, the group has also experimented with various other musical styles such as pop and country, aside from their hard rock and post-grunge base. Nickelback is one of the most commercially successful Canadian groups, having sold 30 million records worldwide. Nickelback ranks as the 11th best selling music act of the 2000s, and is the 2nd best selling foreign act in the US behind The Beatles for the 2000s. In December 2009, Nickelback were ranked 7th on Billboard Magazine's list of "Artists of the Decade" - both the highest-ranked band and the highest-ranked rock artist in the list. The band has sold 21,000,000 album copies in the U.S.