Just the fact that we've heard songs like this goes without saying. (We won't give up/We won't go away/Cause we're not about to live in this mass delusion/No we don't wanna hear another word you say) "Miss You", lyrically, is a song we've heard on rock radio a million times. A lyrical igniter for fans of bands like Three Days Grace and Flyleaf, Kroeger does a great job bringing these otherwise contrived lyrics to life. Lead-off single "Edge of a Revolution" is, to my surprise, a standout track. This Canadian post-grunge quartet opens up "No Fixed Address" with "Million Miles an Hour." A listenable enough song, frontman Chad Kroeger, who co-penned the track, does a solid job in having the hooks move the tempo along. Other tracks, however, they go all in and actually put their strengths to good use. The album has its share of tracks where it feels like they're not even trying. The album is far from a classic, but certainly is far from being an abomination. On the contrary, a lot of these tracks have more depth than what one may predict at a glance. "No Fixed Address", believe it or not, is more than just an accessible and listenable radio-rock full-length. On the other hand, the hate won't do much considering all of their albums have gold and platinum certifications to their merit, and the success of songs like "Photograph" and "How You Remind Me" will remain as a nice cushion for them to lay on.
Granted, the criticism is warranted by familiar and formulaic lyrics about missing our significant other(s) and other themes that make their music so radio-friendly. We all know it's easy to hate on Nickelback. A pleasantly surprising album, the group finally manages to make something of the cards they're dealt. Review Summary: Nickelback's eighth full-length effort finds the group taking otherwise boring and familiar lyrics and bringing them to life.