Customer Reviews

Here & Now

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Nickelback return with another strong album that combines their trademarks of big guitars with massive vocal hooks into another set of memorable songs that guarantees them lots of commercial radio play. This time round the band decided to produce the album themselves and they have done a great job after working with the legendary rock producer Mutt Lange on their previous album Dark Horse. It might not be quite as shiny as Dark Horse but the production on Here & Now is still absolutely huge with lots of great big guitar tones, awesome backing vocal arrangements, and a nice solid drum sound. Highlights include the frantic riffs of the killer opening track "This Means War", the massive party anthem "Bottoms Up", the rocking grooves of "Gotta Get Me Some", the epic power ballad "Lullaby" which has some really nice piano parts, and the heartfelt sentiment of "Trying Not To Love You". If you're a fan of what Nickelback do then you will love this album. If you are yet to warm to their style of catchy commercial rock then you might want to avoid Here & Now because it offers more of the same.

I have to say that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and when it comes to music, pretty much everybody has one. I'm not here to try to discredit any other reviews from anyone regarding any album. I also understand that there will always be a large group of people who will criticize successful, popular, mainstream acts just because it's not 'cool' to like anything that everyone else likes. However, I do have to question those that have stated Nickelback has 'sold out' or gone 'poppy'. As far as I can tell those folks have got to be basing their opinions solely on the tracks being played on radio. And additionally, I challenge anyone to go back and listen to Nickelback's earlier work and claim that it's 'harder' than their more recent efforts. I own every Nickelback album and personally believe that the only key difference is production. Modern albums I admit are highly polished, but that happens to be something that I appreciate. Nickelback is one of those bands, like many great and successful bands throughout history, which have been able to find their 'niche' and stick with it. One thing that I've always appreciated about Nickelback is the fact that I can be confident with every new album they will stay true to what has made them successful and what I love. You will always be able to tell you're listening to Nickelback. Their new album is no exception. Like many other NB records, they come out of the gates and kick you square in the teeth. This Means War has got to be one of the hardest hitting, foot stomping, fist pumping, head banging tracks they've written to date. Follow that up with the catchy Bottoms Up, and you've got a fantastic 1-2 punch to get the album kicked off. When we Stand Together seems to have received a lot of criticism which I don't understand. Popular bands have an ability to reach a massive audience and writing a song that touches on world peace and unity isn't such a bad thing is it? There have been similar songs on almost all other NB albums and you can bet that yes, this will get a lot of radio play. I also add that 'Lullaby' is one of the most beautiful, well written songs I've ever heard. And again, is discouraging someone from committing suicide a bad thing? It has been written that Chad listened to thousands of popular songs and bands and analyzed what made them a mainstream success. I have a feeling that many thousands of artists in the future will be doing the same with NB. Chad has an uncanny ability to paint pictures with words and in my opinion, is one of the best song writers in the last few decades.

So, long story long Nickelback has stayed true to what has made them successful on their new effort. There are plenty of hard rocking sexually/booze charged anthems, as well as a hand full of heartfelt ballads. I say it every time I go out and buy a new NB album, but I swear this one's just about perfect. If you don't like Nickelback, I wouldn't recommend this album because it sounds a lot like Nickelback!

Let's face it: Nickelback has had a fairly tough time with its fan base. Mostly, they've been viewed as either inconsistent or as commercial sell-outs. (Yes, I said `sell outs' ... that's not me calling them that ... I'm just trying to repeat what others have said so that I can make this point and then get on to talking about the tracks and the album as a whole.) Personally, I haven't had any major qualms with their sound as I believe that, as most bands do, the boys have tried to evolve a bit over time. When the opportunity presented itself, they decided to be a bit more radio-friendly, and that's not a bad thing when you can double your audience. Music is still, first and foremost, a business, and double the audience means double the album sales, or so any artist might hope.

This Means War (4.0 out of 5): Well, fans, you wanted rock, and "This Means War" is nothing but a consistent, driving guitar track for any of us to bang our head to. Perhaps it's a nod to longtime fans who've wanted the boys to return to some of their heavier sound, though I suspect they won't be completed pleased.

Bottoms Up (5 out of 5): Another convincing rocker about doing what bad boys do best: heavy drinking while painting the town red. "This is what it's all about, no one can slow us down, we ain't gonna stop until the clock runs out." Completes a solid one-two punch to open their latest album.

When We Stand Together (2.5 out of 5): This is the `contemporary sounding' Nickelback - precisely the sound old school fans have rejected. It's a bit of a mix of radio rock styles that closely resembles Def Leppard. The problem is that it's just way too generic a set of lyrics to really mean much of anything, and I suspect the track ends up being blander than anything else here.

Midnight Queen (3.5 out of 5): There's no innuendo here. It ain't about romance. It ain't about cuddling afterward, boys. It's all about doin' the nasty with the queen of the night. Great rocker with terrific guitar work, but I've heard the lyrics a hundred times before.

Gotta Get Me Some (5 out of 5): Nickelback has found its greatest success over the last two albums by pretty much straddling some hard rock guitar alongside some acceptable mainstream lyrics with a great undercurrent of bad-boy-fun, and "Gotta Get Me Some" is exactly what the boys have done well in the arc of their more commercial hits. Now, in my book, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. I crank this in my car, and I can feel good about being a Nickelback fan. "Get me some?" That's what I'm talking about. Plus, any song that has the word `Cuervo' in it can't be all that bad.

Lullaby (3 out of 5): Sounds a bit like an odd Coldplay/Daughtry mash-up to me, which comes as a hint of a musical stretch for the boys. I think the refrain is a bit too predictable (a bit too safe?) for the rest of the track. "So just close your eyes, here comes a lullaby" weighs down the song into way too commercially safe territory when the rest of the tune is a bit more introspective.

Kiss It Goodbye (3 out of 5): "Money leads to fame, and fame is the disease ..." I could be wrong, but the track feels a bit `used' ... a creative retread to some of what they've already written about. It isn't bad; it just doesn't feel as fresh as it should.

Trying Not to Love You (2.5 out of 5): There's little to distinguish itself from so much of what adult rock is playing these days. That's not a bad thing, per se; it means that the track may find its way out there to the radio, but this is territory the band has already explored and with much better results. Has a spark; it just never builds to a musical fire.

Holding On to Heaven (4.5 out of 5): Love the refrain on this laid-back rocker, and the track boasts some solid lyrics. "I'm lost without you, and there's nothing I can do, you're the one I can't go without, by holding on to you then I'll be holding on forever ..." For me, this is definitely one of the better tracks here, though it may not be all that significant in the band's larger body of work.

Everything I Wanna Do (4 out of 4): Now that's a creepy sounding throughline, and that's probably exactly the mood the boys wanted to capture in this celebration of what men and women do best when the lights go down. "She's got a dirty mind, it tastes so clean with every taste of me ..."

Don't Ever Let It End (3.5 out of 5): Soft(er) rock songs are a hard sell because it seems like every band is using the same basic hooks, so while there may not be all that much to distinguish Nickelback with on this track, it still has a pretty solid refrain with subtle harmonies that makes for modest, middle-of-the-road rocking.

All in all, HERE AND NOW feels more than just a bit uneven. Could it be that Nickelback finds itself at a creative crossroads, and HERE AND NOW is an attempt to either free themselves of where they've been so that, with the next album, they can explore something a bit more fresh, innovative, and maybe even experimental? Are they burned out? Are they tired? Are they indifferent? Are they trying to found out where they want to go musically? Or is it that, in their quest to find something different, they've lost their way?

It's hard to say, but, with a title like HERE AND NOW, I get the distinct impression that the band wanted to say something specific about where the band is today. I think the weaknesses here, though, strongly impede any real depth. Very little feels authentic to me, and perhaps the bad boy image wrapped up in mainstream rockers has grown more than a bit thin, a bit tired. Sure, as others have said, "maybe it's only music," but Nickelback - or, at least, the Nickelback that I know - staked out some territory they were very comfortable straddling (as I've used the metaphor before). What they did, they did uniquely well, but, to my dismay, I find an awful lot of HERE AND NOW forgettable ... maybe a light attempt to recapture some of the magic they'd already found back there and then ... and that I didn't expect. It's an album I wanted to like much more than what I did. Color me naïve.

Disappointed? Sure. Will I get over it? Only time will tell with the next album.

I was waiting for this new album long time ago. When I heard it for the first time I was very satisfied with the purchase. It has good songs, specially Lullaby, is my favorite. I am a huge fan of Nickelback and I really recommend this album.

"Here & Now" is great! This is another great album from Nickelback. This is one of the best rock albums of the year. All (11) the tracks on here are great.

1. This Means War (3.5 out of 4)

2. Bottoms Up (4 out of 4)

3. When We Stand Together (4 out of 4)

4. Midnight Queen (3.5 out of 4)

5. Gotta Get Me Some (3.5 out of 4)

6. Lullaby (4 out of 4)

7. Kiss It Goodbye (4 out of 4)

8. Trying Not To Love You (3.5 out of 4)

9. Holding On To Heaven (3.5 out of 4)

10. Everything I Wanna Do (4 out of 4)

11. Don't Ever Let It End (4 out of 4)

I really like this CD. My favorite song is When We Stand Together. It is really catchy. I also really like Trying Not to Love You. This has a beautiful melody. Of course, the entire CD is great.

I used to love this band. I couldn't get enough of their crunchy guitar riffs and live shows. Unfortunately, Nickelback lacks creativity when it comes to any new music. Then again, their formula can't be all that bad since they continue to sell millions of discs with each new release. I for one have bought my last Nickelback CD.

Right from the opening track I could sense that this CD was going to be difficult to enjoy. There are a few uptempo, heavier tracks but nothing worth hitting the repeat button on and if you have heard Chad sing about sex on previous songs then rest assured he still acts like a 17 year old in heat. All of the ballads sound the same...I mean exactly the same..BORING! The packaging does include song lyrics and a few photos.

I play it every morning before I get up and my husband likes it also and plays it when he wants to.

I'm not proud that I have all of Nickelbacks cd's. Not that I'm concerned about what others may think or say, it's just not something one tells ....

W/ that said, these guys are great song writers. They have essentially mastered the "pop" hit / MTV format, They can pump out ballads that your mom will like, throw in a few party songs for the stoners, and best of all - hard core stripper songs!

60k people may have signed a petition to not have these guys play @ 1/2 time in Detroit, but my $ is on the fact they sell out when they perform there.

"Here and Now" is a perfect blend of the old and the new. If you liked the slower ballads from previous releases you'll find something to like on this one. If you preferred the hard driving stuff, there's plenty of that, too. There's even a touch of a new sound for the group. I love every cut.