NICKELBACK - The Long Road

Naturally enough, the critics are out in force to slam Nickelback for the ultimate sin. Writing songs that people like. Just because critics like to pretend that music has to be 'difficult' or require time to get into, does not mean it is so. There's nothing more difficult than writing a song that people get instantly. And Nickelback no how to do it.

Critics also hate being caught out. So when "Silver Side Up" blindsided them on its way to multi platinum success they immediately slammed its radio-friendly grunge-rock. WIth their whinges of "Kurt died for this?" they overlooked the dramatic backing and powerful roar of Chad Kroeger, happy to reside in their cooler than thou, 3 man and a dog championing of the latest Scandinavian fad.

So they won't like this. From the in your face opener, "Flat on the Floor", through the top tenner, "Someday" to the audienceathon "See You at the Show", Nickelback have delivered more off the same. The only difference this time is the lyrical preoccupation with the road of the title. No more small town sagas, we're an international rock band now.

There's also a limited edition out with Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting (Bonus Track}, Yanking Out My... (Bonus Track from The Scorpion King) and Learn The Hard Way (Bonus Track)


MONSTER MAGNET - Greatest Hits

A misleading title as MM were only ever on nodding terms with the lower reaches of the Top 40 around the time of Powertrip, but contractual obligations ahoy.

MM were (and are) the psychotronic love commandos of my fevered imagination, the band I always wanted to be in 20 years ago, Blue Cheer combined with Hawkwind and Kiss to make a greater whole. As with any best of, this is flawed as my own compilation plays in my head every day. There's no "Look To Your Orb.." for a start, the soundtrack to my carcass heading into the flames.

The whole thing is heavily weighted towards the last 2 MM releases, 6 tracks from "Powertrip" and 5 from "God Says No" which only leaves 5 tracks to sum up the rest of their A&M tenure. Granted, "Dopes To Infinity", "Powertrip" and "God Says No" (or stoned, drunk and comedown as I prefer to call them) form a triumvirate that few bands can match, but a tad more of "Superjudge" wouldn't have gone amiss (poor "Black Balloon" all alone).

So why buy? Well, there'a few (but not all) B sides, and more importantly, 8 videos on the second disc. Oh, and Monster Magnet were the greatest rock band of the nineties and you bastards allowed them to slip away into the wastelands of SPVdom. Frankly, you don't deserve music this good, you ungrateful bandits, but do the honourable thing. Buy this or retire to the drawing room with a glass of port and Kurts shotgun. You deserve no more.


SONIC FLOWER – Same (Leafhound)

Now how was I not going to like this! Following on from the MM review above, Japanese veterans Tatsu and Hoshi from Church of Misery have put together a side project, influenced by seventies power rock acts Cactus, Mountain, Grand Funk Railroad. Joining with Leafhound Records, a new label, themselves named after a classic seventies outfit who featured Pete French (Cactus, Atomic Rooster etc).

Unlike their parent group, Sonic Flower are an instrumental band, taking a step away from the no holds barred heavier than thou sound of CoM, instead harking back to a more restrained time. In fact, musically, they're not a million miles away from Monster Magnet offshoot, The Atomic Bitchwax. There are some awesome vibes here, combining seventies power, blues rock solos and stoner riffs. You won't hear many better releases this year.

www.leafhound.com


WARREN HAYNES - The Lone EP

Warren Haynes is the man all we wannabees want to be. Sings like an angel, plays guitar like a demon. Best know for his electric guitar work, both with the Allman Brothers Band and Gov't Mule, few bonus tracks have shown his acoustic abilities, especially a Deep End cut of "Soulshine".

Here on the Lone EP he provides 5 more reasons to rave, on some archive tracks ranging from 1997 to 2002. There are no new songs on display, just a range from all aspects of his career. "I'll Be the One" was on his debut solo album, Tales of Ordinary Madness, "End of the Line" a was on the Allmans "Shades of Two Worlds" release, "Fallen Down" was on Gov't Mule's "Life Before Insanity". Coming up to date, "Patchwork Quilt" appeared on the Phil Lesh & Friends album "There and Back Again" and "Indian Sunset" is a cover of the Elton John track from "Madman Across the Water" LP.

Throughout Haynes shows his ability to tear you every which way both with his soulful tenor and his delicate picking. A release for those of us enthralled by his work down the years, and a gentle, althoughs always emotional introduction for newbies.

http://warrenhaynes.net