The "Dark Horse" Of Music (Dark Horse - Nickelback)

Member Name: XICripZ

Product:	Dark Horse - Nickelback
Date:	22/11/08 (147 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Highly varied

Disadvantages: Ballads are off-putting

"Dark Horse" is the sixth album from the alternative rock band from Canda, Nickelback. This 2008 relase, came after the great success which they accomplished from the initial, and re-reease of "All the Right Reasons", which came out in 2005. Despite having numerous hits over the years, "Rockstar" amy have hindered the group as the big tune quickly got annoying to many listeners, and so with this album, they attempt to re-create the success which they had prior when that track came out.

1. "Something In Your Mouth"

Although I haven't heard it on the radio (due to the fact I would never go onto a station which would play them), this was the mildly successful second single by the band, and it has them go for a Hard Rock track, where their lyrical content is largely adult-themed. I really enjoyed it, and I expect that had it received more exposure (and a clean version) it would have been a hit.

**Four Stars**

2. "Burn It To The Ground"

This one has them riot against all as they go for an all-out powerful blast of Hard Rock to the listeners. You can't help but like this head banger of a track as they get all rebellious on us and rip everything up when they express themselves in this track.

**Four Stars**

3. "Gotta Be Somebody"

Probably more popular than "Something In Your Mouth", this was the first single off the album, and has them go for an excitign track here they progressively add complexity to the track, whichc matches the way that it is composed along with the soulful voice of Chad Kroeger. Personally, I'm not too keen on it tough as iut was all rather predictable when it came to how the instruments came in.

**Two Stars**

4. "I'd Come For You"

For me, this one just wasnt happening as this is simply a ballad, in which the lead singer, Cahd Kroeger sings very simplistically to a girl, who he is being highly submissive too be talking of how h would give anything up to be with her.

**One Star**

5. "Next Go Round"

This lively recording from Nickelback is one which I have to say can be overlooked. For me, I was into it when I listened to it, however after it you forget all about what happens within it. Despite its unmemorable nature, it is an exciting track, but is the worst of this type on this album.

**Three Stars**

6. "Just To Get High"

Here you get some conscious kyrics come throuh as a track about the other side to drug talking is put to the front of your mind as Chad Kroeger emotively sings of how the life of one person, who he focuses around in this track, ruins his life by sacrificing others, "Just To Get High".

**Three Stars**

7. "Never Gonna Be Alone"

The lead singer's vocal range is pput to test in this low track, as the instrumentals are much less of a focal point in the track. Depsite the fact I felt that he perfromed very well in this, the lyrics, and lack of variety in the production lead me to wander when listening to it. For a ballad, its not engaging enough.

**Two Stars**

8. "Shakin' Hands"

Although I thought that they were attempting to distance themselves from "Rockstar" wit the first tracks on the album, this one seemingly has them reverting to that style of writng, where they are able to come up with catchy lyrics, in which they are able to sing about girls who don't get the money they do by simply "Shakin' Hands", instead shaking over things to achieve certain things.

**Four Stars**

9. "S.E.X."

For me, this stood out as one of the best tracks on the album, and certainly one you should listen out for. On it, you get the band, obviously, signing about sex, and all that is involved with it. I found that this lyrics were very strong, and captured the direction of the tune, as well as the way that they opted for more exciting backing.

**Four Stars**

10. "If Today Was Your Last"

From the title alone, you can guess what direction they are gogin with this one, and I knew that it waasn't gogin to be one I would enjoy. They go for a soft one, with a few fast, and heavy breaks, but it wasn't for me.

**Two Stars**

11. "This Afternoon"

Despite sharing very few similarities to it, I expect that those who liked "Rockstar" (at least initally) will like this one. It is a chillout track where you get the band going for a laid-back track where they just perform a song about doing just this, hanging out with your friends drinking beers. Its simple, and it works.

**Four Stars**

I had faith in the fact that although I don't tend to get into Post-Grunge Rock that often, they would come up with a few songs which would appeal to me (as they have done on several occasions in the past), and it did just this. Here, they seem to mix the power ballads and the lively tracks effectively for a well-rounded album, and although this genre isn't my first choice when it comes to music, it did come up with a few which I could get into. For tis reason, I expect that everyone will enjoy a couple of the cut from this, may it be because they go for Pop in a few areas or because they empower you with powerful ballads.

Summary: Nickelback's sixth album