Nickelback

Nickelback worked with veteran producer Mutt Lange (AC/DC, Def Leppard) on Dark Horse, and not surprisingly the album is as heavy as, if not heavier than, the kajillion-selling All the Right Reasons, with more chug-a-chug songs than the anthemic ballads they scored with in 2005 ("Far Away," "Photograph"). Fans of those ballads still have "I'd Come for You " and "Never Gonna Be Alone," which are just as good as any Kelly Clarkson song (admit it, you like "Breakaway"). The fact is, while Nickelback may prefer playing fast 'n' loud, they're really good at the melodrama.

What's a poor rock band to do when your last album sold 8 million copies at a time when
nobody buys CDs anymore? You can hire a guy who produced AC/DC, Def Leppard and
Shania Twain albums that sold even more. On Dark Horse, "Mutt" Lange lightens
Nickelback's dreary post-grunge plod, applying guitar shimmer to prom ballads and
detonating big beats under frat-party shouts and raplike vocal parts. Lyrics revel... More >