| Whether it's the state you're in or your state of mind... Nickelback takes you from there, to a whole different place. The sound is a maelstrom of energy, drawing on classic and contemporary influences that bring to mind everything from Led Zeppelin to Creed. Then there's the name--what's that about? "The truth?" asks bassist Mike Kroeger, "We couldn't decide what to call ourselves and after recording our first songs, we still didn't have a name. I was working as a cashier at Starbucks Coffee and let's just say... coffee was $1.45." The Starbucks was Vancouver back in 1996. The brothers Kroeger, lead singer/guitarist Chad Kroeger and bassist Mike, first started what was to become Nickelback along with their cousin Brandon on drums and longtime friend Ryan Peake handling guitar duties. Chad wrote the lyrics, while all four members collaborated on the music. Their first two outings, a seven song demo Heshe (a title derived from slurring the phrase "Hey, sure") and their full-length debut Curb, were well received in Canada and the band toured ceaselessly to support them. Nickelback later burned through six sticksmen, finally clicking with Ryan Vikedal, an old friend of Peake's. When it came time to head back into the studio to record their sophomore effort, the band was adamant about doing things their way. The four-piece chose to record The State at Vancouver's Green House studios, where Aerosmith and The Cult have laid down classic tracks. All the songs were hammered out before heading in, except for "One Last Run," which was merely a riff when they walked through the door. Recorded over the course of twenty days in July and August of '98, the band tracked ten songs, including the pleading roar of "Breathe," a track where the music punches a hole in the aural atmosphere. Released in March of 2000, the album was a firecracker of a debut, with both "Breathe" and "Leader of Men" going top ten on the Mainstream Rock charts and "Old Enough" hitting Top 20 at the format. A lot of the songs that comprise Silver Side Up were actually written even before The State was released in America and got road tested in front of eager audiences on cross-country treks, including such anthemic rockers like "Money Bought," "Hang Nail," and "Where Do I Hide?" However, there are still some songs that are completely fresh to Nickleback's set lists. One of these is "How You Remind Me," which was written at rehearsals shortly before the band were set to go into the studio. "That's the cool thing about making music--sometimes the best songs come out in fifteen minutes and totally unexpectedly," singer/guitarist Chad Kroeger enthusiastically asserts. The song reveals a more emotionally raw side to Nickelback. Listening to Silver Side Up, one quickly realizes that Chad's lyrics have become far more personal and insightful. "I got so much slack from everyone for writing so metaphorically on the last record," Chad admits. "I thought that if I kept it all metaphorical and vague, then I could keep it all secret." Well, the secrets are revealed on Silver Side Up, as Kroeger and company squarely face off with their demons. Needless to say, there are many good times yet to come for Nickelback. No matter how big it gets though, Nickelback's philosophy remains simple--"We just like writing good songs with good melodies that you'll sing at our shows and remember when you walk away," asserts Ryan Peake. And with an album as well-crafted and catchy as Silver Side Up, these are songs that will stay with you long after the ringing in your ears has faded away.
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