ROCK
With "How You Remind Me," these Canadian rockers soared to the top of the pop charts and ruled radio, scoring the most-played song of last year. But don't bank on Nickelback repeating such a feat with this formulaic follow-up to 2001's 5 million-selling Silver Side Up. The poor man's Metallica, Nickelback cranks out headbangers that are heavy on guitars and light on ingenuity. Songs like the first single, "Someday," have enough melodic hooks to appeal to pop ears but won't linger after the 3½ minutes are over. At least singer-guitarist Chad Kroeger, who wrote almost all the lyrics, brings an urgency to his vocals. Still, this is a Road that has been much too traveled.
