By Chad Taylor

soundcheck@dmcityview.com Nickelback ‘Here and Now’ Roadrunner Records Sample tracks



Have you ever heard any Nickelback song, ever, at any point in your life? Then you’ve heard “Here and Now.” Nickelback’s greatest paradox is that the people who love them do so for EXACTLY the same reason the legions of others hate them. Nickelback is as unchanging as the tides. They’ve had the same sound for 15 years, and somehow the fact that their music hasn’t grown is seen as a testament to their authenticity. But it’s not. Songs like “Bottoms Up” and “Midnight Queen” are indicative of everything that’s tired and ugly in music. If rock was a religion, then Nickelback’s particular brand of feckless, homogenous bro-rock would be a smarmy priest, creepily sidling up to your poor, altar-boy ears, invading the dark recesses of your brain against your will, and whispering that God will kill your parents if you tell anyone. CV New Member Charles ‘Let’s Invent the Smell-O-Phone’ Independent Sample tracks The 1990s were an interesting time. They were, as you might remember, dominated by the alternative sound out of Seattle and most remembered for acts like Nirvana and Pearl Jam. But there was a second tier of bands who were producing a sound that was kind of an alt-pop blend. I’m talking about the Better Than Ezras and Collective Souls here. If New Member Charles were picking sides, that’s where you’d find them. “Let’s Invent the Smell-O-Phone” is strongly reminiscent, but beyond that, it’s also a fair bit of fun to listen to. The opening track, “Horsecollar,” is a throwback and sets the tone for the entire EP. The biggest knock here is one common to many debut albums — there’s not a lot of variety to the sound. However, since the band has the good sense to get in and out in less than 20 minutes, it’s a small complaint. CV

(New Member Charles plays an all-ages show on Saturday, Dec. 3 at the Vaudeville Mews. 5 pm. $5) Want your new CD reviewed? Email us a link at soundcheck@dmcityview.com or mail a physical copy to: Cityview, 414 61st Street, Des Moines, IA 50312.