California English: Five Favorite Albums of All-Time

Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.

In honor of spring, this past week I embarked on a cleaning of my iTunes library. After going through thousands of songs, I had a sudden inspiration to compile a list of my favorite albums of all time. Coincidentally, all five of my all-time favorite albums are by the greatest rock band that the world has ever seen: Nickelback.

5. The Long Road by Nickelback
Highlights
“Someday” – “Someday, somehow/I’m gonna make it alright but not right now”
Mr. Kroeger’s insightful lyrics here really speak to me: put off for tomorrow what could get done today. That is the true key to finding success in life.

“Figured You Out” – “You’re like my favorite damn disease”
I don’t know about you, but I especially love the symptoms that a disease brings.


4. Silver Side Up by Nickelback
Highlights
“How You Remind Me” – “This is how you remind me/Of what I really am”
This song was my gateway into the marvelous world of Nickelback music. My life was never the same after first hearing this tune through the speakers of my dad’s car.

“Too Bad” – “It’s too bad, it’s stupid”


3. Here and Now by Nickelback
Highlights
“This Means War” – “Say anything you want/But talk will get you nowhere/The only thing you’ve brought was psychological warfare”
This song taught me one of the most important life lessons I have ever learned: do not bring a knife to a gunfight.

“Bottoms Up” – “We’re drinking black tooth, 80 proof, straight gasoline/Slam as much as you can take and hand the bottle to me”
This is exactly how I live my life.


2. Dark Horse by Nickelback
Highlights
“Something In Your Mouth” – “You’re so much cooler when you never pull it out/’Cause you look so much cuter with something in your mouth”
I wholeheartedly agree with this song because I definitely think I look better with some Animal Style french fries from In-n-Out in my mouth.

“Burn It To The Ground” – “We’re screaming like demons, swinging from the ceiling/I got a fist full of fifties, tequila just hit me”
I fully intend to sing this song to my future child as a lullaby.


1. All the Right Reasons by Nickelback
Highlights
“Rockstar” – “I want a brand new house/On an episode of Cribs/And a bathroom I can play baseball in”
That makes two of us.

“Photograph” – “How did our eyes get so red/And what the hell is on Joey’s head”
This song is by far the most impressive song ever written. How can one person write such a moving song by just looking at and talking about a childhood photograph? I certainly don’t know the answer, but Mr. Kroeger most definitely knows the secret.

Playing with BUSH, Seether, and My Darkest Days at the Wells Fargo Center on April 24th!