Originally published August 10, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified August 10, 2007 at 2:03 AM
Don't mess with Nickelback's power ballad
Love 'em or hate 'em is a good way to sum up the divergent public opinions on Nickelback, the Vancouver, B. C.-based rock group. The band returns to...
Special to The Seattle Times
Concert preview
Nickelback, 7 tonight, Gorge Amphitheatre, 754 Silica Road N.W., George, Grant County; $47.50 (206-628-0888 or www.ticketmaster.com).
Love 'em or hate 'em is a good way to sum up the divergent public opinions on Nickelback, the Vancouver, B.C.-based rock group. The band returns to Washington state for the second time in six months this week, playing the Gorge Amphitheatre tonight.
Fans eat up Nickelback's high-energy, professionally produced hits — such as "How You Remind Me" and "Photograph." Critics call those same songs canned and repetitive. But indisputably, the quartet has nailed down a near-perfect formula for success in today's music business.
The group's sound is instantly recognizable — hard-driving but melodic — and brings to mind bands of yesteryear like Bon Jovi, Night Ranger and Damn Yankees. The foursome has mastered the power ballad, and it cranks out songs with themes that appeal to the masses — remembering the past, musing about lost love or crooning about being a rock star. This leads to extensive airplay, and record sales and concert ticket sales follow.
The band's fifth release, from 2005, "All the Right Reasons," continues to top the charts and is at seven-times platinum status (meaning 7 million CDs have been shipped for sale, according to the Recording Industry Association of America). Figures from the latest Billboard 200 also show the release has been on the charts some 94 weeks, and it currently holds the No. 11 spot (it was still in the Top 10 the week of Aug. 4).
The CD is vintage Nickelback. The single "Photograph" has an enticing little beat, a rousing chorus and downright silly lyrics that talk about looking at an old photo: "Look at this photograph/Every time I do it makes me laugh/How did our eyes get so red/And what the hell is on Joey's head?" Similarly, "Far Away" has a draw-you-in beat of steady drums, jangly guitars, throaty vocals from frontman Chad Kroeger and a heavy synthesizer sound that takes listeners back to the '80s. Other tracks are a bit more upbeat and have more of a metal feel to the guitars, including "Animals" and "Side of a Bullet."
Former "American Idol" contestant Chris Daughtry has been opening for the band on tour but won't be at the Gorge. Instead, Puddle of Mudd and Finger Eleven will fill out the bill.
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
NEW - 12:04 PM
Elton John & Billy Joel reschedule Seattle concerts
Supergroup Them Crooked Vultures land at the Paramount
A wild and crazy list of best comedy albums ever
Miles of music: trumpeter's collection covers 70 CDs
Them Crooked Vultures set list, Nov. 21

Real Salt Lake wins MLS Cup
Real Salt Lake defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy with penalty kicks after 120 minutes of play at Qwest Field in Seattle.
general classifieds
Garage & estate salesFurniture & home furnishings
Sporting goods
just listed
8 seat pecon formal dining table and china hutch - $1500
A American Table, Chairs and Bench - $275
ATV POLARIS TRAILBLAZER - $1800
More listings
POST A FREE LISTING
shopping
Give yourself a treat and visit Watson Kennedy's Holiday Open Houses
More minding the store
events for Monday, Nov. 23
- Two-week opening at Midori Inc.
- Sur La Table November sale
- Seattle Premium Outlets Thanksgiving Weekend ...
- 5th Annual Urban Craft Uprising
editors' picks
More shopping guides- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Tugboat sinks at Seattle waterfront pier
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
- Craigslist adoption ad: A plea by young mother-to-be? A scam?
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
- Woman stabbed by stranger in North Seattle
- Snow piles up on Cascade slopes
- Denny Triangle gains skyline, but tenants slow to come
- Illegal workers quietly let go
236 - Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
165 - Climate change speeds up since 1997 Kyoto accord
158 - Palin excitement builds in Tri-Cities
131 - Metro won't cut bus service after all
119 - Historic health care bill clears Senate hurdle
91 - Tattoos at Mill Creek Church pierce skin, soul
61 - UW, WSU once again meet to see who's worse
56 - Jerry Brewer: Seahawks can't lean on the Hutch Crutch now
56 - Ranking the Pac
53
- Sprouts, raw fish on attorney's 'do not eat' list
- Tattoos at Mill Creek church pierce skin, soul
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Food-safety lawyer's wish: Put me out of business
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Rediscovering Moab, 'the most beautiful place on Earth'
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Architects, chefs find 'kid' within to build Gingerbread Village
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list




