NICKELBACK
DARK HORSE
NOVEMBER 18, 2008
Robert John"Mutt" Lange stepping in to co-produce this release should have pushed the band to even higher heights. Instead, he popped out several tracks to boost the bands Top 40 rating. This should not come as a shock to those who are familiar with Lange's legacy. He can take the hardest edgy bands and drizzle them up and down the Top 40 charts. Just take a listen to previous work from bands he has produced and it will quickly become clear his impact.
The fact that he can do this is a credit to the success he has given to the bands he has worked with. Some may not have produced music without him that would have been chart worthy. His skill and longevity in the studio can be a great teaching tool for some of the younger bands looking to get the big break. When we are talking NICKELBACK, it is clear that Kroeger & Crew were paving their own road in Gold. Maybe they were looking for an injection of fresh blood and Lange's musically eye/ear was the perfect medicine.
Lange diluted the formula a bit too much, but still its clear that Kroeger led several tracks by drawing from his past formula. "Something in your Mouth", "Next go Round" and "Shakin' Hands" are signature Kroeger style axe and vocal concepts. Could the record company have pushed themselves into the mix too hard, forcing the band to use a well known producer to tweak their writing? Was the band exhausted and hoping for someone to take the pressure off during this recording session? Did "Mutt" Lange like what he heard, then wanted to work with this talented successful group?
The truth is, the album lacked the smackdown that the previous releases contained. "Next go Round" felt like the band was stealing from their own past music, "Learn the Hard Way" from the soundtrack DAREDEVIL. The complete CD is not a wash and it pays to give it a couple spins, but it will be easy to pick out favorites that will stand strong on your playlist. Some may not have a place in your Heart & Soul and just wont Rock N Roll, drifting into the dark hole never to resurface.
Before the next album even gets in the pre-recording stages, the band needs to put Curb in their MP3 players, hit shuffle, and take a long jog. They should go camping in the mountains with all their past work cranking into the atmosphere all day long, then make a big fire, pull out their guitars and let 'em do the talking. The talent is still alive and well, it just needs a better simmer.
The cover is the best one yet, but did not represent the music. It would have been perfect for The Long Road or All the right Reasons, and switching Dark Horse with one of those covers would have accurately portrayed the stronger pop theme.
11/29/10
RUSTY
11/18/08