Nickelback Album: “The State”

I started off as a fan of Nickelback after their Curb CD. Realising that they had a debut album I decided to buy this one and whilst many of the songs were listenable they were to me flat sounding. Nickelback was relatively knew on the music world stage and it took them sometime to get their footing and become well known. It was only ever going to be a matter of time.

This CD is not going to be for everybody, however it is a introduction to how Nickelback sounded at the beginning and their musical evolution over a matter of time. I wish the band all the luck in the future and they have certainly improved 10 fold over the last few years.

With 3 Doors Down's "Kryptonite" and Nickelback's "Leader of Men", there are finally two great rock songs on the chart for the first time since about 1994.

Leader of Men is just classic driving hard rock. It's about getting high, but its also about making choices. When Nickelback says, "I'm not a leader of men since I prefer to follow", it's obvious the group fears peer pressure driving a person to drugs.

The opening song on the CD really clicked for me. Lead singer Chad Kroeger says half the song is about Stalin and Churchill walking together and the other half is about a deteriorating relationship. The question why he would mix those topics together comes up to the listener. After a few listens though, it starts to fit together. The song rocks too hard to bother with the lyrics anyway. Most of the album is like that. From the opening Breathe to the closing songs, Not Leavin' Yet and Hold Out Your Hand, Nickelback pumps adrenaline back into music.

While not quite Springsteen or even Ozzy Osborne lyrically, Chad Kroeger does offer some insights into The State- of everything that goes on in the listener's life. As I leave for college, the lyric from Breathe, "If I could pack my life, I wanna know do you want me to go?" is one that really touches me. The opening line of "Leader of Men" also touches me, "Tell your friends not to think out loud until they swallow."

In all Nickelback created a canvass with this album that contains so many images from all people's lives. It's for you to discover, buy this album.

I don't know what's with all the 1 star reviews saying they're copying other rockers. That's ridiculous. All rock sounds about the same just like all pop sounds alike. Nickelback is a rock group. They might have similar voices as other bands, they use guitars (yeah if they didnt it wouldnt be rock), and awesome background vocals & cool melodies. Yes they happen to sound a little like Bush, but i cannot stand Bush mainly because of Gaven's voice. Don't say they are copying other bands when there really is no such thing. Rock is rock, pop is pop, rap is rap, its all practically the same thing. Nickelback has good music, a fine voice, & reasonable lyrics. If you don't want a rock album go buy Britney Spears. Anyways, this cd is awesome. Everyone has their own taste in music artists so i can't guarantee you would like it....but you should definitely give it a listen. Rock is rock...and this ROCKS

alright for all of you saying that this is a debut, it isn't, they have a previous release, that is called curb. Its a great cd too. As for the State I read a review saying that the words don't mean anything, obviously you didn't listen hard enough. For one thing this cd has a great variety. I also believe that every song is worth being a single. The state does have a down side though its only 38 minutes long, and thats the only reason it gets a four star from me, but if you think about it, if it would have been longer it would have been larger than life.

I've had this CD for two weeks now and it hasn't left my CD player yet. It is AWESOME! By far the best album of the year! If you like Creed and Bush, you'll love this album! One listen to this CD and you'll use your Creed and Bush CD's for coasters it's that good!