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Dark Horse (by Nickelback, Rock)

common sense media says

Ratchets up the raunch with tales of sex and drugs.

parents & educators say
  • 50% say sexual content is an issue
  • 38% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking
See all 24 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this album is more sexually charged than some of Nickelback's previous releases. Also, several of the songs on this album glamorize drinking and smoking marijuana.

Positive messages: "Burn It To The Ground" is about getting drunk and wreaking havoc. Other songs reference prostitution, skirting the law, and having casual sex.
Violence: Not applicable.
Sex: At least half of the songs on this album explore mature sexual themes. Several songs such as "Something in Your Mouth" profile women who use sex to get money. "Next Go Round" is all about marathon sex, and includes references to using a vibrator, sexual positions, and getting covered in Jell-O. Although every line in the song is sexual, here's one of the more explicit, "we're gonna do it hangin upside down… I want you naked with your favorite heels on, slap John Deere across my a-- and ride me up and down the lawn." Another song about golddiggers/prostitutes is "Shakin' Hands." ("She didn't make it this far by just shaking hands...she says they all taste the same in the back of the Benz.")
Language: Expletives are not excessively used, however a--, s--t and t-ts are included in several lines.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: "Burn It To The Ground" details a drunken party at the bar, while "This Afternoon" celebrates smoking pot and lounging around -- "Lookin' like another Bob Marley day, hittin' from the bong like a diesel train." Conversely, "Just to Get High" examines the downward spiral of using hard drugs and the pain of addiction.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Dark Horse

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about how a band can create multiple images for themselves. Nickelback may appeal to a female audience because of their tender ballads, but their testosterone-charged tales of sex and drinking might give them credibility with male audiences. Do you think a band can be both?

What's the story?

What's the story?

After three years out of the spotlight, Nickelback has returned with their sixth studio album, DARK HORSE. In classic Nickelback style there are lots of heavy guitar riffs and power ballads, as well as a few of the slow, sentimental numbers that have made them radio favorites. This LP finds the boys less serious than in previous releases, and focusing more on sex, drugs, and rock and roll.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

A lot like the sexy girls the band sings about, Nickelback's latest release is akin to ear candy that lacks the raw emotion of past albums. Full of fluffy verses about having sex and getting drunk, Nickelback's songs are for mature listeners. While there are some sentimental ballads, the tender sentiments about love and seizing the moment seem out of place next to songs celebrating hookers and fellatio.

Music themes & details

Music Details
Released on: November 18, 2008
Label: Roadrunner Records
Genre: Rock
This review was written by Jacqueline Rupp
 
 

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What parents & educators say

13
Based on 8 parent & educator reviews:
  • 50% say sexual content is an issue
  • 38% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking
Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

ScorpiNi
kid, 12 years old
17
 
Review says all
bad
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XxEmotional ...
adult
10
 
The Best
Dark Horse would have to be one of my fav nickelback albums... Cant wait to see them live!!!
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HyperBully
teen, 16 years old
17
 
Worst. Band. Ever.
Good god. THREE STARS? The only thing worse than this is Justin Bieber, another Canadian! I feel so sorry for that country.
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Katy0
teen, 17 years old
16
 
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hamstergurl09
teen, 17 years old
13
 
Bad, Very Bad
Oh. My. Sweet. Jesus. Christ. Superstar. Absolutely, under no circumstances, listen to this album. It's just sex, sex, and more sex. Typical of Nickelback to have an utter lack of creativity and artistic integrity.
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SystemOfANintendo
parent of and 2 , 11 , 14 , 18 year old
13
 
Nickelback *shudders*
This is the second worst heavy metal album ever (second to Results May Vary). It portarys women as worthless crackheads who are for sex, sex, and sex. Oh yeah and sex. There is NO substance in this music. Just don't buy this unless you're Insane In The Mem-Brain.
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dtsa78cfgs9rovw
parent of 18 year old
13
 
great band for teenagers
this band freakin rocks!!
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Diaryofawimpykid
kid, 13 years old
15
 
EHHHH
Very rough on words
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mlm102
teen, 16 years old
13
 
perfect for teens
love it
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sweetebaby
adult
7
 
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ClearastheSea
teen, 16 years old
14
 
Love this band, but not for tweens.
Personally I LOVE Nickelback, but not for songs like 'Animal', 'Dark Horse', or 'Fight for All the Wrong Reasons'. However, there are great songs like 'Gotta Be Somebody', 'Never Gonna Be Alone', and 'If Today Was Your Last Day' on this album, and 'If Everyone Cared', 'Far Away', 'Photograph', and 'Savin' Me' on their All the Right Reasons album. I also love 'Rock Star' and the way it mocks typical celebrity lives. Songs that are raunchy aren't positive but some of them aren't too bad.
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benbrm
kid, 12 years old
9
 
awesome
okay some bad language here but mostly in the first 2 songs. Track 1 should be 5 for the explicitness
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SasukeUchiha
adult
16
 
Eh
The only song I like on here is "If Today Was Your Last Day".
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coolkat
kid, 13 years old
2
 
i want it
the only nb cd missing from my collection it is on my birthday list i looked at it at sams there is a song called s,e,x the only songs i heard from the cd were gotta be somebody and if today was your last day i love nb they are for any age same on you if you said they are for older ,kids i have been listing sence six
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JesusFreak09
teen, 16 years old
14
 
I love nickelback! I dont agree with everything they say but i love um.
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SamIamRO
kid, 12 years old
14
 
Honestly, I like it. But others may say different. That's fine.
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delirious
teen, 15 years old
12
 
Pretty good
Some songs are sexual, but others such as "If Today Was Your Last Day" have good meanings behind them.
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Loriwilson1971
parent of 13 year old
17
 
NOT appropriate music for any age really!!
Not appropriate for children. This group was considered a Christian Rock Band. Boy was I wrong.
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Ginah
parent of 15 year old
14
 
Not a tween album
On a personal level I like the album but when allowing my tween to listen i have to skip most of the songs or just turn it off. Definately not good to have your child listening to songs about getting drunk all night and what you have to shake to get money.
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gamesgamesgames
teen, 15 years old
13
 
Good songs, bad lyrics
This is a very good band, though some of there songs are bad. The music in itself is actually really good and it is one of my favorite bands it's just that they put very explicit lyrics in their songs. I don't think it should be heard by anyone under the age of 13.
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