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
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Street, Des Moines, IA 50312.
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