Originally written by Raziq Rauf · 25 February 2002
Nickelback
How You Remind Me
Label: Roadrunner Records Release Date: 25/02/2002
Right. I’m a sucker for a good tune. I _hate _MOR soft-rock bullshit. But they always have such good tunes. This gift, the first over here from Nickelback, has a fairly good tune and it’s MOR soft-rock bullshit. Dammit. This always happens. I don’t want to give this another semi-indifferent 3½. Thankfully it is suitably flawed to allow me not to.
They sound like the N.American Stereophonics: nice guitars - nothing heavy; impassioned, gritty vocals - nothing heavy; drumming – yeah, nowt heavy. It’s lo-fi, un-metal Staind *for grown-ups. And their kids. Two thirds of the way through we gain ourselves yet another _a cappella _outing of the singer *Chad Kroeger, followed by the pseudo-emotional, perennially ascending chorus, to wrench the chains hanging from the grief-stricken hearts of older-than-they-look businessmen. Nickelback *make these men feel *well ‘ard. They have a purpose in life. Nice one.
You have no need to wonder the point of these songs. Radio-friendly in a way that nothing should be so friendly. That chorus kicks in, “This his how hyou hremind hme hof hwhat hi hreally ham.” I cringe.
• 3 Raziq Rauf's Score