Dark Horse - Nickelback

Nickelback- Dark Horse

==Background on Nickelback==

Nickelback were formed in Canada, and since the mid 90's have released 5 albums, 3 of them shooting them to success and making them well known throughout the world.

The release of All The Right Reasons in 2005, made Nickelback a household name with the likes of their songs Rockstar, Far Away and Photograph. These became top selling songs and shot Nickelback ...
...recent album, Dark Horse has just been released, and I after having it on pre-order for months, have had it delivered to my door. Here is my review:

==Track 1- Something In Your Mouth==

From listening to this song, there is one thing that hit me first; this will never become one of their hit tracks. It sounds a lot like something I would usually enjoy, but for the opening for the album, I was expecting something either ... more

Nickelback- Dark Horse

Background on Nickelback

Nickelback were formed in Canada, and since the mid 90's have released 5 albums, 3 of them shooting them to success and making them well known throughout the world.

The release of All The Right Reasons in 2005, made Nickelback a household name with the likes of their songs Rockstar, Far Away and Photograph. These became top selling songs and shot Nickelback to stardom.

There 6th and most recent album, Dark Horse has just been released, and I after having it on pre-order for months, have had it delivered to my door. Here is my review:

Track 1- Something In Your Mouth

From listening to this song, there is one thing that hit me first; this will never become one of their hit tracks. It sounds a lot like something I would usually enjoy, but for the opening for the album, I was expecting something either to rock my socks off or to be so catchy that I'll be singing it for days.

I didn't get either of these however, it is a good song, there is no taking anything away from the track, but it's just not got the special stamp that Nickelback's usual songs have. This is one of the tracks that I listened to on Youtube, to decide whether to buy the album or not, and I saw that a lot of people were moaning about the almost sexual lyrics on the song, if you don't want these kind of lyrics, don't listen to Nickelback, there is always two tracks on their albums which has something to do with sex or something along those lines.

All in all, it's a good track, and I can't wait to listen to it on proper speakers, where I can put it up to max volume and listen to it properly. It's then you really hear Nickelback's true potential.

Memorable Lyrics: "Pretty little lady with the pretty pink thong
Every sugar daddy hittin on her all night long
Doesn't care about the money she could be with anybody
Anybody and the honey wanted you all along"

Rating: 7/10 (A great track, it's not brilliant but a good opening to the album, despite the fact I was expecting something better)

Track 2- Burn It To The Ground

I'm really not sure if this is just my speakers on my laptop which is making this song sound so tinny and his voice not seem really powerful, but that's what I've got from the last two tracks. His voice in songs like 'How You Remind Me' or 'Rockstar' is what makes the tracks so good, his vocals are very powerful, however in this track and the one above, it almost seems like the music overpowers him slightly and with Chad Kroger, that is something I don't usually expect.

About 2.30 seconds into the track, the music dies down a bit, and he really shows his powerful vocals here. I'm a big rock music fan and I usually love these kinds of songs, but I have a rule, if they have a singer like Chad Kroger, they shouldn't ever overpower his voice, as it will ruin the track almost.

Like the previous track, it's very likely that I will adore this track when I listen to it on some proper speakers, but at the moment, it just sounds way too overpowering.

Memorable Lyrics: "Well its midnight, damn right
Were wound up too tight
I gotta fist full of whiskey, the bottle just bit me
Ooooo
That shit makes me bat shit crazy
We got not fear no doubt all in balls out
Were going out tonight (hey)
To kick out every light (hey)"

Rating: 6/10 (A good track however it's not till near the end he shows off his powerful vocals)

Track 3- Gotta Be Somebody

First things first this is a song I'm not too sure about at the moment, but I really do think I'll grow to love it over time. I'm usually the type of person, who can hear a song and just know if it's going to be a hit and I think this one will be a great hit for Nickelback. For those of you that weren't a fan of Nickelback's tracks Far Away & Photograph, then this song isn't really for you. Critics moaned at Nickelback when they released those two tracks, because they were becoming part of the mainstream, but this is what got me to listen to Nickelback in the first place. My love is soft rock, I can listen to it for days, and if I listened to one of Nickelback's previous albums before Silver Side Up I think I would have a headache all day.

This song was another track that I listened to on Youtube first, and this track made me want to buy the album I have to say. It's a truly beautiful track and the lyrics are amazing. It still manages to fall under the category of ROCK, even though it's more of a ballad almost. The track is talking about people not wanting to be alone and wanting to have someone in their life that cares about them, and that there's somebody out for them in the world, all they have to do is find him/her.

This is a beautiful song; I really, really think it's going to be another hit for Nickelback. It's got everything you would want in one of their songs. If you like Photograph, then you'll like this.

Memorable Lyrics: "Cause nobody wants to be the last one there.
'Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares.
Someone to love with my life in their hands.
There`s gotta be somebody for me like that.
`Cause nobody wants to go it on their own
And everyone wants to know they´re not alone.
Somebody else that feels the same somewhere.
There`s gotta be somebody for me out there."

Rating: 9/10 (A really nice track, however it's not as good as previous tracks that they have released before)

Track 4- I'd Come For You

A nice track, but there's nothing special here. Unlike the other track, it doesn't have anything special. That track seemed to speak to me, where this one is one you'd forget after listening to the rest of the album. This is a shame because Kroger's vocals are brilliant in this track, however there just seems to be something missing here; maybe it just is the memoribility factor, because when listening to the song it's very pleasant to listen to but there's nothing to scream and shout about.

All in all, it's a nice track with really nice lyrics and everything seems to be good, but there is something missing from it

Memorable Lyrics: "Just One more moment, that´s all that´s needed.
Like wounded soldiers in need of healing.
Time to be honest, this time I´m bleeding
Please don´t dwell on it, cause I didn't mean it"

Rating: 7/10 (I have no idea why, because this is a nice song to listen to, but I'm not really a fan)

Track 5- Next Go Round

A head banging track, one that I really should never have on, as I tend to cause myself a bit too much pain than anything, however despite the fact I'd have great fun head banging along to this until I start suffering the track is definitely one of the weakest, not only on this album but the other albums as well.

I am a big fan of Kroger's voice, and he sings weirdly in this track and for me, it just doesn't seem to work. This is the sort of track that I would skip. Not brilliant at all.

Memorable Lyrics: "i wanna do it till the sun comes up
till we're both so good and sweaty we can't stand up
i wanna do it till we're both about to drop
as long as we're caught in together we're never gonna stop"

Rating: 5/10 (I'm not a fan, just nothing special about it)

Track 6- Just To Get High

Wow is all I can. If you get a chance really listen to this song. It's not one of their best and I probably won't rate it really high, however the lyrics are just amazing. In the song Kroger is singing about his friend, who he tried to help with his drug problem, however it was too late. In the song he is talking about all of the things his best friend got up to, due to the drugs and due to the fact he had no money for drugs.

I thought this track was very meaningful, especially considering what kind of world we're living in now. I think it's very rare you get a song like this which talks about the actual effect of drugs. A very good track.

Memorable Lyrics: "He was my best friend, I tried to help him,
But he traded everything, for suffering,
And found himself alone.
I watched the lying, turn into hiding,
With scars on both his lips, his fingertips...
Were melted to the bone."

Rating: 8/10 (Not really going to be a hit, but the lyrics are amazing)

Track 7- Never Going To Be Alone

A really nice soft ballad almost, however it does seem out of place on the album I have to say. Despite the fact it doesn't really fit, I think this is one of my favourite tracks so far, Kroger's voice is powerful, it'll never come close to some of my favourites by Nickelback like Far Away and Rockstar, and however it has everything you would want in a song.

The lyrics are lovely as is Kroger's voice which is very powerful and he delivers each lyric with so much emotion. I think this is going to be one of Nickelback's classic songs, as it really does what Nickelback do best. Do my style of music, but still make it into their original style. Brilliant.

Memorable Lyrics: "Time, is going by, so much faster than I,
And I'm starting to regret not spending all of here with you.
Now I'm, wondering why, I've kept this bottled inside,
So I'm starting to regret not selling all of it to you.
So if I haven't yet, I've gotta let you know..."

Rating: 9/10 (A brilliant track, well worth listening to)

Track 8- Shakin Hands

I love the lyrics to this track and I think it's going to be a grower but at the moment, I've heard it all before so am not too much of a big fan. It's another typical heavy rock song by Nickelback, it has heavy guitar, heavy drums, and his vocals are on par, however it just seems too familiar and compared to their other songs it's not as good.

All in all a good song, but nothing new here.

Memorable Lyrics: "She had her eyes on the prize as the girl next door
You grow up quick when you grow up poor
It's the only way to LA that she knows
The Hollywood pose: teeth, tits, and toes"

Rating: 7/10 (A good song but I've heard it all before from Nickelback and many other artists)

Track 9- S.E.X

Another hard rock song, and with a great chorus, which immediately became my msn name. Despite the fact that I love the lyrics, the song is probably the weakest on the album. It does have much about it, all it really is, is another head banging song with nothing to really listen to. If I hadn't have read the lyrics whilst listening to the song, I don't think the song would have got such a good rating, compared to what it should have got.

Just an okay song, but nothing to scream and shout about.

Memorable Lyrics: "S is for the simplety.
E is for the ecstasy.
X is just to mark the spot,
Because that's the one you really want.
(Yes!) Sex is always the answer, it's never a question,
'Coz the answer's yes, oh the answers (Yes)
Not just a suggestion, if you ask a question,
Then it's always yes. Yeeeah!"

Rating: 5/10 (An okay song, but really nothing special about it, except great lyrics)

Track 10- If Today Was Your Last Day

I really like this song, I wasn't expecting much, however I really enjoyed it. The thing that stuck out for me was it was more of a soft rock song, so Kroger's voice became the main focal point, instead of all of the heavy music. The lyrics are very good as well; they are asking questions about what you would do if you knew that today was your last day. Kroger delivers them with such emotion the song becomes a lot more powerful.

I really like the production of this track, they have managed to keep it rock, but have toned down the instrumentals, keeping them there, but making sure that they don't overpower Kroger's voice.

A very good song, with some great lyrics. One of the best on the album.

Memorable Lyrics: "My best friend gave me the best advice, He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride"
Rating: 9/10 (A very good track, not as good as previous ones from previous albums, but compared to the rest of this album it's top notch)

Track 11-This Afternoon

The last track on the album and do they end with a bang, no, they end with a very up-tempo song which they must have stole from someone else's album because it seriously doesn't fit on the album. It almost sounds like a country track, which doesn't work brilliantly with Kroger's vocals.

I don't think this should have been put on the album, especially not to end the album with. I was quite disappointing as I expected them to go out with a bang and they didn't. Nothing seems to come together well with this song, it just seems out of place and Kroger almost sounds uncomfortable singing the track.

Not a good track and it was a shame they chose to put an eleventh track onto the album.

Memorable Lyrics: "Looking like another Bob Marley day
Hitting from the bong like a diesel train
And now we're hanging out this afternoon
We got weeds in the back that are 4 feet tall
Cheech and Chong would probably have smoked them all
So, I´m on the couch this afternoon"

Rating: 1/10 (An awful track, which really should have ended up on the recording room floor. Not good)

My Opinion

As I swap the CD in the drive for Nickelback's last album All The Right Reasons, I sit here quite amazed. The album was good there is no denying that, however, where the hell are the hits. Where the hell are the Rockstar or Far Away's on the album, there is nothing on this album, that I'll go at this moment, this will become number #1 in the UK Chart or even the American chart.

Since 2001, and their released of Silver Side Up, I think this is probably their weakest attempt since there. Each song seems to have something wrong with it, when the lyrics and the vocals are brilliant the production of the track seems to ruin it, when the lyrics and the production of the song are brilliant, his voice seems to ruin it. I was quite shocked that the highest rating that I could give a Nickelback song on this album was a 9/10.

On an album with 11 tracks, only 3 of them I can say I'll recommend for people to buy or download, but that's pushing myself, because these are probably not songs that true hard rock Nickelback fans will like.

These tracks however are very good, the likes of Gotta Be Somebody, Never Gonna Be Alone and If Today Was Your Last Day, all stood out for me, and reminded me of the brilliant tracks on All The Right Reasons, however they never really managed to reach the same level as Far Away and Photograph. Even Someday of the Long Road album, which I'm not too much of a huge fan of, is so much better than these tracks.

Another problem I have with the album is I found myself comparing them to other tracks that they have done before, even the good tracks I have heard before, and the likes of songs like Next Go Round are a lot like most of the All The Right Reason tracks, especially Next Contestant.

I found this to be a real shame, because I spent quite a bit of money on buying this album, due to the fact that the previous 3 albums were amazing; however I am thinking about asking for my money back or at least selling it on EBay.

The album had nothing special about it, only 3/4 of the album was good and the rest I had either heard before in previous tracks or they are just not good tracks. This is something I never expected from Nickelback, I was expecting so much more, and maybe this is why I'm not too big of a fan of this album because I have spent so much time waiting for them to release another album after All The Right Reasons and that album was so good, I was expecting this to be better.

The Band

I think the band as always were brilliant. Chad Kroger's voice is very powerful in most songs; however they didn't make a brilliant album this time. It's quite a disappointing album and the band shouldn't be very proud of themselves.

The Music

The music as always is probably the best thing in the album, it's very hard rock and really works well throughout the album; however I found myself straining to hear what Kroger was saying in some songs because the instrumentals were too loud.

The Lyrics

The lyrics are definitely the shining part of the album; they are brilliant and filled with some meaningful words etc. They are brilliant as always and it's one of the upsides to the album.

Should You Buy The Album?

I wouldn't, you should really wait for the singles to come out and download them of Itunes there. It's not a brilliant album, and it really is a shame because Nickelback are still and always will be brilliant.

(C) Kirsty 

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