November 22nd, 2011 
Jordan Munson 
Album: Here And Now
Band: Nickelback
Genre: Rock and Roll
Label: Roadrunner
Somewhat bewilderingly, over the last handful of years Nickelback has become the most hated band in existence. How exactly this came to be, no one really knows (but if you ask most people, you’d likely hear the answer “because they suck!”). How so many people vehemently despise such a band and yet the band continues to sell an astronomically high number of records. Perhaps we’ll just chalk this one up to “most polarizing band to ever exist” or something. At any rate, the band just released their seventh album (yes, you read that correctly), titled Here And Now.
Even after just one listen, there are a million thoughts about this album. First and foremost, the most striking content on the album are the lyrics. Chad Kroeger, primary songwriter for the band, writes a number of intensely personal lyrics on Here And Now, but masterfully crafts these lyrics in a way that can apply to just about every person under the sun. Every time Chad sings a line, it’s impossible to not immediately reminisce about the exact time in your life you felt the same way–whether it’s “She’s gonna lick, my, pistol clean, she’s got a hold on me and ain’t lettin’ go” or “‘Nother round, fill ‘er up, hammer down, grab a cup, bottoms up!” you know you’ve been right there before. Just about all of the lyrics on Here And Now strike a very serious chord.
Beyond Chad’s impeccable lyricism and vocal delivery, Ryan Peake’s lead guitar work is incredibly dynamic. Amidst the nearly constant thick, classic hard rock riffs shoved directly down the listener’s throat are the occasional lick or solo, elongated standard chord progressions, and even some somber non-distored sections (like on “Lullaby”). He’s very careful to not deviate too far from the path, however, as no one likes guitar work to cross borders. Familiar guitar parts are a very welcome addition to any hard rock album especially when the genre around Nickelback is progressing quicker every day.
The last major portion of the album that is worthy of commentary is the album’s production. Everything is incredible compressed and loud, which is ideal for a rock record. In no scenario do I ever want a part of the album to be quieter than another part of the album. That’s not rock and roll! At some points of the record, the mix becomes so loud and compressed that it blends together a bit, but never quite so bad that you can’t hear Chad’s wonderful voice–so it’s okay. Sometimes the bass gets completely lost in the mix which is a bummer since his bass parts are usually really complex. Thankfully hearing the bass isn’t really important to getting what the song is all about.
All in all, a few listens of this album in, I have no complaints whatsoever. I guess the only real complaint is that it’s only 11 songs, and ends much sooner than I would have liked. Nickelback once again prove why they’re king of the hard rock mountain when it comes to continued record sales success–they stay true to their roots and never change at all, just the way it should be.
Overall score: 9.5/10
Review written by: Jordan Munson
Writer’s edit: It would appear that just about everyone missed that this was a completely sarcastic review. In all actuality, it was a super mediocre album at best. Actual score: 5/10. Keep doing your thing, Nickelback, I love that Roadrunner Records has such a healthy cash cow.
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you suck man this band is awful and your a terrible human being for liking them. lost all credibility as a writer
So… I take it that means you didn’t like my review?
Also, claiming to have lost all of my writer credibility really hits home when the person can’t even muster the correct usage of “you’re” in that first sentence. Nicely done.
Great review of a great album! I’ve been playing it non stop since it was released. Some people have nothing better to do than be sheep and jump on the anti NB bandwagon but they are the ones missing out so its no skin off my nose!
Hear that Jordan, YOU SUCK! haha
oh come on. How can you put a 9,5/10 to nickelback?? they sell millions of albums only because of “how you remind me”. 15 years old chicks that loved them continue to buy the albums, that’s all. :)
nickelback is just a random post-grunge band, just as bad as puddle of mudd (remember “blurry”). easy music, easy writing. and if the lyrics remind you of specific parts of your life, it’s because it’s mundane things that fits to mankind anyways. There are rules in pop music, they just follow them very well. for that, they are worth a 9,5/10, yes
but for me, they’re not making music. they rule a business.
http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/nickelback
@Noised question sweetie what major band are you a part of? ….Thought so. What drives me crazy about critics to their style is that what makes you mad, the fact that they are sucessful or that they are not starving artists????
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anything but that!
Bobbie, Sweetheart. Can I call you sweetheart? (you have such a lovely twitter, it came all naturally). You’re right. I don’t play in a major band. I just play in a band. I try to live with it. But maybe you do major things in your life, in front of your TV watching American Idol, wearing an “Iron Maiden” T Shirt (you must look soooo coool!), and drinking your coke from Mc Donalds? Tell me, sweetheart.
This is the greatest review ever written in the history of Nickleback reviews. Clearly Mr. Munson has excellent taste in music and in no way made a mistake in giving this album a 9.5 out of 10. If only there was a Nickleback song in the new Twilight movie, that would have bumped it up to Oscar Worthy for sure.
oh ya very mature thats what this is about lol nobody cares about your youre its all the same and it doesnt make your review any better and dinamic guitar work? listen to some slipknot to know what real dinamic is and then well talk about dinamic guitar work
I’m sorry dude, but Slipknot being a true example of dynamic guitar work? You’re sorely misguided. Not only have you continuously failed to pick up the sarcasm from my review, but you can’t even come up with a better example of dynamic guitar work than Slipknot? Perhaps you should try something like Opeth on for size.
I don’t mean to be an insulting asshole, but I just can’t keep up with this charade any longer. And here I thought I was laying it on pretty thick.
i dont listen to opeth, i dont like black metal
also if u dont like a compressed song then get an uncompressed file like wav how can you call yourself a critic hearing bad versions of songs (not like nippleback have good versions lol)
and i dont think anybody got this “sarcasm” tone your talking about because it isnt there
1. Opeth aren’t black metal.
2. I’m not talking about file compression, I’m talking about compression on the studio tracks. Audio engineer stuff. Sorry that’s over your head.
What you all don’t get is that Chad Kroeger is the modern-day Kurt Cobain.
maybe you should actually have some experience reviewing metal and writing and listening to good music before u decide to be a critic and yes i dont know what that is but as soon as im done with school im going to colledge to learn audio production
Feel free to read any of the dozens of things I’ve had published reviewing metal albums, interviewing metal bands, etc. In fact, I’d love to read all of your misguided and hilarious comments on them, they provide me with an outrageous amount of joy and entertainment. Good luck in college yo!
Good luck in colledge.