September 14, 2001
SILVER SIDE UP
By DARRYL STERDAN

SILVER SIDE UP
Nickelback
(EMI)

In the bipolar world of pop music, every trend eventually produces an equal and opposite trend. After a few years of pierced, tattooed rap-metal mooks yelling about nookie, we now have the antithesis - a whole swarm of mature, serious alt-rockers like Train and Stain and 3 Doors Down, who sing about real life with real emotions. Canada's contribution to this boomlet consists of Vancouver's Nickelback, a band whose new CD Silver Side Up will go just fine next to Pearl Jam in your CD changer. Dour singer-guitarist Chad Kroeger writes earnest lyrics about abusive men and deadbeat dads, then sings 'em in an angsty, big-lunged Eddie Vedder bellow while a guitar-rock trio dishes up brawny post-grunge brood music from the PJ slush pile. Admittedly, they're just as good as all the other blue-collar outfits around this year. Even so, we won't be sad to see the next rebound trend.

Track Listing

  • 1. Never Again
  • 2. How You Remind Me
  • 3. Woke Up This Morning
  • 4. Too Bad
  • 5. Just For
  • 6. Hollywood
  • 7. Look What Your Money Bought
  • 8. Where Do I Hide
  • 9. Hangnail