Dark Horse

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Ratchets up the raunch with tales of sex and drugs.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

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.

  • "Burn It To The Ground" is about getting drunk and wreaking havoc. Other songs reference prostitution, skirting the law, and having casual sex.
  • Not applicable.
  • 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.")
  • Expletives are not excessively used, however a--, s--t and t-ts are included in several lines.
  • Not applicable.
  • "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.

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?

 

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.


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What families can talk about

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?


This review was written by Jacqueline Rupp
Kid, 12 years old
January 13, 2010
 
Review says all
bad

Flag as inappropriate 
Adult
June 4, 2009
 
The Best
Dark Horse would have to be one of my fav nickelback albums... Cant wait to see them live!!!

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Teen, 17 years old
October 11, 2009
 

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Teen, 16 years old
June 24, 2009
 
perfect for teens
love it

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Kid, 13 years old
November 14, 2009
 
EHHHH
Very rough on words

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Teen, 16 years old
January 10, 2011
 
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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Kid, 13 years old
June 8, 2009
 
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

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 18 years old
January 17, 2011
 
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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Teen, 16 years old
December 26, 2010
 
I love nickelback! I dont agree with everything they say but i love um.

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This review was written by Jacqueline Rupp
Artist:Nickelback
Release date:November 18, 2008
Label:Roadrunner Records
Genre:Rock
Parental advisory:No

This review was written by Jacqueline Rupp
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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