Nickelback
It should be no surprise, given Starbucks ubiquity, that its influence has seeped into unexpected places.
In '96, bassist Mike Kroeger was working as a Starbucks cashier. At the time coffee cost $1.45. So when a customer paid a dollar and two quarters they got a nickel back.
Mike, along with his brother, singer/guitarist Chad, their drummer cousin Brandon and longtime friend, guitarist Ryan Peake, formed Nickelback in Vancouver. While Nickelback's full-length debut "Curb" was successful in Canada, the group had trouble finding a long-term drummer. They went through a total of six before Peake's old friend Ryan Vikedal joined.
During July and August of '98, Nickelback recorded "The State" containing "Leader of Men," "One Last Run" and "Old Enough." The early '99 indie release led to a Roadrunner Records deal and extensive touring with Creed, Everclear and Stabbing Westward. Part of Roadrunner's promotion plan included the re-release of "The State."
"How You Remind Me" was the lead single from Nickelback's sophomore Roadrunner effort "Silver Side Up." Second single "Too Bad" was also a hit and the album won a Juneau award - the Canadian equivalent of a Grammy.
Kroeger partnered with Saliva vocalist Josey Scott for "Hero." The '02 release from the "Spider-Man" soundtrack did major damage on both the Modern Rock and pop charts. "The Long Road" came out in '03 and included the hit "Someday."
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With Dan Adair on drums Nickelback released "All The Right Reasons" with hit single "Photograph," "Savin' Me" and "Fight For All The Wrong Reasons." The album also contained the ironically titled, "Side Of A Bullet," featuring late Damageplan/Pantera guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott. The track, a tribute to the slain musician, had a guitar solo compiled from out-takes Abbott recorded during Pantera sessions. "He was taken in such a horrible, malicious way that just made it more painful," Chad was quoted as saying. In addition, ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons contributed to "Follow You Home."
The group promoted their '05 release with an appearance on NBC's Tonight Show With Jay Leno. They also hit four cities, Halifax, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver in a day (October 13th) doing interviews, meet-and-greets and performances.
Playing biker gatherings can be dangerous. Even when things go good, it can be rough - tough love. Not deterred Nickelback made an '06 tour stop at South Dakota's Sturgis Bike Week Festival. The DVD - Live From Sturgis hit the following year containing "How You Remind Me," "Someday," and "Far Away."
Getting a song in a movie or a commercial can allow a group to reach an audience that often can't be tapped through traditional channels (radio/videos). Nickelback and a few thousand fans took the plunge at the Los Angeles Forum (a little saner venue than biker rallies) to film an '08 Citibank commercial. The ad featured the group performing "Gotta Be Somebody," the first single from "Dark Horse."
The lead single can be a make or break proposition - even for a band that has logged more than 26 million album sales. It's a decision that needs to be weighed carefully. A popular single builds a buzz that extends beyond the hard core fans. A flop not only fails to make any noise, it turns programmers cautious, if not reluctant, to go any deeper into the album.
Roadrunner Records initially announced that "If Today Was Your Last Day" was to be the first "Dark Horse" single. But it was eventually dislodged by "Gotta Be Somebody." "Dark Horse" rolled out, November, '08.
The good news is Nickelback has improved with each outing.
As "Dark Horse" was released Kroeger said that he hoped everyone who bought "All The Right Reasons" (8 million copies sold) would pick up this album. "Call us greedy, but we want to keep 'em all," said the frontman. "We want to keep going back to all those towns and have those people . . . want to sing our songs back at us, twice as loud."
So how do you follow-up a mega-selling album? The first thing a group might do is work with a frontline producer. Nickelback did that, and then some, landing the legendary Mutt Lange (AC/DC, Def Leppard). Lange's neatest trick was taking The Cars template and transferring it to Country. In the process he turned his wife, Shania Twain, into a multi-platinum star.
Next, work up a solid collection of songs. Nickelback certainly did that. "Dark Horse" has kick-ass Rock to arena ballads with an ode to a hooker ("Shakin' Hands") thrown in for good measure.
Finally, go into the studio and lay down tracks busting with emotion and excitement. With Lange's help that's exactly what Nickelback did.
Put it all together and "Dark Horse" is a killer effort.
"Gotta Be Somebody" is accessible, lyrical and melodic and so is the song that it replaced as the album's lead single, "If Today Was Your Last Day," a mid-tempo track with acoustic embellishments. "Burn It To The Ground" and "Next Go Around" drive hard with the latter employing an amped-up Van Halen style. With the line "hold you 'til the hurt is gone," "Never Gonna Be Alone" is the album's mainstream ballad. "Shakin' Hands" and S.E.X." (yes, yes) have a more base approach. The album closes with "This Afternoon." Tone down the guitars and Shania could have a comeback Country hit. But it sounds better as a rough-edge Nickelback song.
"All The Right Reasons" is another great CD. The set starts with a pair of chunky Rockers, "Follow You Home" and "Fight For All The Wrong Reasons." "Photograph," an arena Rocker if ever there was one comes next. Easy to see why it was a single. On "Savin' Me" and "Far Away" the group shows a softer (acoustic guitar and vocal harmonies) but no less effective side. The album moves into high gear with the hard edged "Animals," "Next Contestant," "Someone That You're With" and the ode to "Dimebag" Darrell, "Side Of A Bullet."
"If Everyone Cared" is a Rock ballad anthem and another sure-fire concert favorite. The album closes with "Rock Star," a stark view of life in Hollywood where "girls come easy and the drugs come cheap." Sounds tough.
"The Long Road" has "Flat On The Floor," a scorcher driven by a brilliant guitar line. "Feelin' Way Too Damn Good" and "Because Of You" are dense, hard charging Rockers. Chad Kroeger's lyrics look at the world from the down side ("something's gotta go wrong cuz I'm feeling too damn good") but he doesn't dwell on it. There's more energy than pain. And that's good. Even the radio friendly "Someday," a mid-tempo ballad, has some punch. The only misstep is a cover of Elton John's "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting). Nickelback is up for kickin' it out but the song's structure works against them. But it's a "bonus track" so it's no big deal. Bottom line: The album carried Nickelback for some time.
"The State" CD earned the attention it got. The group plies its accessible-alternative sound to good advantage on "Breathe" and the slower "Leader of Men." "Silver Side Up" with "How You Remind Me" shows Kroeger's songwriting development; more focused and complete. Nickelback's Canadian debut "Curb" is OK but this group has improved significantly since then. Get "Silver Side Up" and "The State" first.
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