All the Right Reasons [LP]

On 2005's ALL THE RIGHT REASONS, the Canadian heavy-rock band Nickelback offers up more of its straightforward, guitar-fueled anthems. The pummeling opening track, "Follow You Home," features a no-frills Southern-rock vibe bolstered by the presence of ZZ Top guitarist/vocalist Billy Gibbons (who also appears on the jam-like closer, "Rockstar"), while the crushing "Side of a Bullet" is dedicated to Pantera's Dimebag Darrell, and includes an overdubbed solo by the late six-string hero.
As always, frontman Chad Kroeger's gritty voice remains Nickelback's calling card, and his emotive singing carries every tune, most notably the nostalgic "Photograph" and "Far Away," a tender, echo-laden ballad. Kroger has never met a guitar effect that he didn't like, as evidenced by the revved-up "Next Contestant," which relates the, ahem, difficulties of having a beautiful girlfriend. Though ALL THE RIGHT REASONS is slightly more eclectic than the group's past releases, it's unmistakably a Nickelback outing, and fans of the band are sure to be pleased.