The Long Road - Music (Nickelback)

It's never easy following up a multi-platinum success, yet with The Long Road, Canada's Nickelback seem sure to match the sales of the many-million-selling Silver Side Up. The formula remains pretty much the same. Nothing fancy, just radio-friendly grunge-rock lending an appropriately dramatic backing to the powerful and increasingly confident voice of Chad Kroeger, the undoubted star of this show. Aside from the fast and punchy opener "Flat on the Floor", the tough, staccato "Because of You" and the Oasis-recalling "Figured You Out", the band deal exclusively in soft-rock anthems (soft, that is, by 2003's pulverising standards), the strong vocal melodies encouraging stadium sing-alongs. Indeed, the closing "See You at the Show" seems deliberately designed for crowd interaction.

The only real change is in Kroeger's lyrical concerns. Where 2000's The State saw him suffering the frustrations and claustrophobic complexities of small town life, now he's tortured by a heavy touring schedule (the long road of the title, one presumes) that promotes destructive drug abuse and strains his attempted relationships to breaking point. That said, you can't help feeling the ruthlessly analytical Kroeger would turn a visit to the supermarket into a riot of hatred and self-recrimination. For fans of Silver Side Up, Nickelback have delivered the goods once more. --Dominic Wills

Customer Reviews of The Long Road

Teachers Stars

5th March 2008

review
James Brookes-Chambers
Nickelback- The long road
\\\\


With Nickelback in the charts at the moment with their number 3 single Rockstar, many people that like rock will have heard of them. However, the album- The long road is completely different, the first track, Flat on the floor is extremely fast paced and much more intense than some of their later singles (How you remind me and Rockstar).

This album is more heavy rock and grunge than other things in the charts at the moment. This is great if you would like rock to take over the charts once again. Warning! This is not a ¡¥feel good¡¦ album- it contains subjects of dark matter. E.g.
Throw Yourself Away -
Why the hell don't you throw yourself away
You know they're gonna burn it down
Wash my hands of this
You notice how God ain't even helping you out
On the other hand, the album contains a variety of songs from ¡¥someday¡¦ to ¡¥feeling way to damn good¡¦. With this in mind, this album is perfect for any Nickelback fan who either wants to know about their alternative metal past ro people who just like their music.

Gary Barnes
North-East Of England
4th November 2007

Astonishing Album !!!
This is a great follow on from the 2001 hit album 'Silver Side Up', which this album develops on and makes a better sound, better melodies and better lyrics; which give the album the push to make it one of the great albums of the 00's.

The tunes are heart-stopping, which 'Figured You Out' having a great guitar intro, and the melodic follow on 'Should've Listened' makes the album much better than their first effort, 'Silver Side Up', which fit the time well.

The fast paced album opener 'Flat On the Floor' is an eye opener, with a constant drum bashing and guitar mashing being the centerpiece of the whole song. The vocals are riveting, with great lyrics to go with Chad Kroeger's mind-blowing singing voice; which is very distinct.

'Someday', 'Believe It Or Not', 'Because Of You' and 'Another Hole In The Head' keep the album interesting with guitar pounding anthems, drum fills and great vocals by Chad Kroeger. They all have their strong points but not many weak points that people can pick at and criticise this great album.

The extra bonus tracks are killer. Great cover of 'Saturday Night's...' which is nearly as good as the original. 'Learn The Hard Way' is a great song which has distinctly editted vocals which gives the song a different direction to move in, which is good. 'Yanking Out My Heart' also has a distinct repetitive gutiar rhythm which is the only song on the album, that lets it down.

Any rock, metal or grunge fans should buy this album, which stands out from any other.

Buy It !

Liam
UK
1st March 2007

This is a must buy for any Nickleback fan
This albumn is absolutely fantastic, i bought it after buying two others 'Silver side up' and 'All the right reasons', which have also both been excellent.

If you like rock then this is the band for you, their music is great.

Murph Man
England
23rd January 2007

The Long Road + All The Right Reasons
Good CDs, Both powerful and worth buying. The CDs were also shipped quickly and arrived early. Very pleased.

Michael Percival
Portsmouth, Hants, UK
13th February 2006

The Long Road
What an album! Very hard hitting, powerful both vocally and musically. I just found something in this album which made me listen to it repeatedly for weeks afterwards. If you like heavy rock, you'll savour this!

My personal favourites are 'Do This Anymore' and 'Someday'.