Nickelback is the same as ever

Popular music isn't always the best music. Sub-par artists will always manage to attract fans. Britney Spears, who ruled the pop scene five years ago with her robotic voice and uninspiring lyrics, is one of the most prominent examples. Nickelback, though slightly more talented than Spears, pulls off a similar stunt. Their lyrics are bland, their songs all sound the same, and their style is trite. Nevertheless, it's hard not to sing along to singles such as "How You Remind Me," "Someday" and the recent hit "Photograph."

Nickelback's new CD "All the Right Reasons" exemplifies the group's typical sound. Lead singer Chad Kroeger and band mates Mike Kroeger, Ryan Peake and Daniel Adair struggle to construct creative tunes and original lyrics. Chad Kroeger, for instance, writes about the stale topics of love and the lives of celebrities. After multiple listens, "Reasons" begins to blend together into one hackneyed mesh. The band also lacks a musical edge or distinguishing characteristic like Coldplay's soft melodies or Franz Ferdinand's energetic rhythms.

In the song "Far Away," Chad Kroeger laments about a lost relationship with a distant lover. He sounds more like a character from a sappy chick flick than a mature rocker as he croons, "On my knees, I'll ask, last chance for one last dance." The "last dance" scenario has been overused in almost every entertainment genre. Kroeger moans in another love song, "Someone that you're with," about a beautiful and unattainable girl next-door. Numerous rockers adeptly express the frustrations of love, while Kroeger's lyrics sound more like a borrowed script from "She's All That."

The band sings about topics that other contemporary groups have previously addressed. "Rockstar" resembles Weezer's "Beverly Hills" and Good Charlotte's "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." Weezer and Good Charlotte have already conveyed the conflicting emotions of envy and cynicism towards celebrities who live in large houses, drive multiple cars and abuse female fans. Nickelback does, however, make a clever statement, for once. The line "We'll all stay skinny `cause we just won't eat" is humorous and also touches upon the important issue of anorexia. But for the most part, the group waters down recycled subjects into a stale, humdrum soup.

Yet, Nickelback isn't completely incompetent. The group has succeeded several times in throwing together daily ramblings with rock music to produce memorable singles. The track "Photograph" has poignant lyrics and an engaging tune, making it one of the only decent tracks on the album.

Though mundane melodies and corny lyrics characterize "Reasons," Nickelback manages to remain famous. In general, the reasoning behind Nickelback's success is the same reasoning behind the popularity of Britney Spears, of "The O.C." or of teen movies: tacky, second-rate entertainment can sometimes be the most addictive and enjoyable. So if you are caught humming "On my knees, I'll ask, last chance" do not be embarrassed, because someone will be right behind you guiltily singing "for one last dance."