{{About|the Nickelback album|other uses|Long Road (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox album | name = The Long Road | type = studio | artist = Nickelback | cover = Nickelback - The Long Road.albumcover.jpg | alt = | released = September 23, 2003 | recorded = December 2002–April 2003 | venue = | studio = {{hlist|Greenhouse Studios (Burnaby, British Columbia)|Mountain View Studios (Abbotsford, British Columbia)}} | genre = {{flatlist| * Post-grunge<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/the-long-road-252711/|title=The Long Road - Rolling Stone - 11/13/03|magazine=Rolling Stone }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=10 Divisive Post-Grunge Albums From the 2000s That Are Actually Great|url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/10_divisive_post-grunge_albums_from_the_2000s_that_are_actually_great-169473|website=Ultimate Guitar|date=September 17, 2024|accessdate=September 16, 2024|first=Jorge|last=Martins|archive-date=September 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240916140948/https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/10_divisive_post-grunge_albums_from_the_2000s_that_are_actually_great-169473}}</ref> * hard rock<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/every-nickelback-album-ranked-from-worst-to-best|title=Every Nickelback album ranked from worst to best|date=March 1, 2023|access-date=March 1, 2025|website=Classic Rock|last=Howell|first=Maddy}}</ref> * alternative metal<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metalexpressradio.com/2003/09/23/nickelback-the-long-road/|title=NICKELBACK – The Long Road: Metal Express|date=23 September 2003 }}</ref> }} | length = 40:34<br />60:08 (bonus tracks) | label = Roadrunner | producer = {{flatlist| * Nickelback * Joey Moi }} | prev_title = Silver Side Up | prev_year = 2001 | next_title = All the Right Reasons | next_year = 2005 | misc = {{Singles | name = The Long Road | type = studio | single1 = Someday | single1date = July 28, 2003<ref name="fmqb">{{cite web|url=http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16771|title=FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock|website=FMQB|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130322142732/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16771|archive-date=March 22, 2013|access-date=March 3, 2022}}</ref> | single2 = Figured You Out | single2date = November 3, 2003<ref name="fmqb"/> | single3 = Feelin' Way Too Damn Good | single3date = March 15, 2004<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Reviews: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=25|date=March 6, 2004}}</ref> | single4 = Because of You | single4date = September 6, 2004<ref name="fmqb"/> }} }}
'''''The Long Road''''' is the fourth studio album by Canadian rock band Nickelback, released on September 23, 2003. Recorded at the famed Greenhouse Studios in Vancouver,<ref>{{cite web | last = Reesman | first = Bryan | title = In The Studio With Nickelback | publisher = Mix | date = November 1, 2013 | url = http://www.mixonline.com/news/profiles/studio-nickelback/364996}}</ref> it is the band's final album with Ryan Vikedal as drummer, and features a notable change in style towards more aggressive guitar riffs and the inclusion of double bass drumming. The album is the first collaboration with producer Joey Moi; who engineered their previous album, ''Silver Side Up'', and produced the band's next three albums.
==Composition== Most of the album's songs were an experiment from the band into writing heavier downtuned riffs in either B or C tuning.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/metal-nickelback-lyrics/|title=10 Nickelback Lyrics that Would fit Metal Songs|website=Loudwire |date=21 April 2023 }}</ref> On tracks such as "Flat on the Floor", "Because of You", and "Throw Yourself Away"; Vikedal implemented the use of double bass drumming.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mixonline.com/recording/studio-nickelback-364996|title=In the Studio With Nickelback|date=November 2003 }}</ref> Despite this; the album features several prominent acoustic segments on songs such as "Someday", "Believe it or Not", and "Should've Listened". Kroeger's lyrics often revolved around topics ranging from breakups, self-harm, sex, and personal motivation. Kroeger wrote the lyrics to "Throw Yourself Away" about Melissa Drexler's infamous 1997 infanticide at her high school prom.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://genius.com/Nickelback-throw-yourself-away-lyrics|title=Nickelback - Throw Yourself Away lyrics}}</ref>
During the band's appearance at Bizarre Festival in Weeze, Germany, on August 16, 2002; "Figured You Out" made its first live appearance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/nickelback/2002/flughafen-niederrhein-weeze-germany-1bd695d4.html|title=Nickelback Setlist - August 16, 2002: Bizarre Festival - Flughafen Niederrhein, Weeze, Germany|website=setlist.fm }}</ref>
"Someday" later made an appearance as a part of Nickelback's appearance on ''MTV Unplugged'' in London on September 3, 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss-ri21YJLY|title=Nickelback - Live MTV ( Acoustic )|website=YouTube |date=11 June 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://guestpectacular.com/artists/nickelback/events/tour/the-long-road?page=10|title=Nickelback on tour The Long Road Tour: pg. 11}}</ref>
==Commercial performance== The album debuted at No. 6 on the ''Billboard'' 200 in the United States and sold 200,000 copies in its first week of release.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fansided.com/2014/11/22/people-finally-realize-nickelback-sucks-album-flops/|title=Fansided: People Finally Realize Nickelback Sucks As Album Flops}}</ref> The album was quickly certified platinum by the RIAA on October 24, 2003; eventually being certified double-platinum on March 6, 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=nickelback#search_section|title=RIAA Gold & Platinum - Nickelback|website=Recording Industry Association of America }}</ref> The album was later certified 3× Platinum in the United States on March 10, 2005; having sold 3,591,000 copies as of April 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/74351/week-ending-april-10-2011-albums-adele-is-everywhere/ |title=Week Ending April 10, 2011. Albums: Adele Is Everywhere |date=13 April 2011 |first=Paul |last=Grein |work=Chart Watch |publisher=Yahoo! Music |access-date=22 September 2011 |archive-date=24 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424092413/http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/74351/week-ending-april-10-2011-albums-adele-is-everywhere/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> It has sold over five million copies worldwide and was the sixth best-selling album of 2003, having also sold over two million copies internationally.<ref name="BBOARD">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2003-10-11/billboard-200 |title=Billboard 200: Week of October 11, 2003 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=9 March 2010 }}</ref> It was later ranked No. 157 on ''Billboard''{{'}}s 200 Albums of the Decade.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/#/charts-decade-end/billboard-200-albums?year=2009&begin=141&order=position |title=Best of the 2000s: Billboard 200 Albums |at=Showing 141-160 |magazine=Billboard.com |access-date=22 September 2011 }}</ref>
==Critical reception== {{Music ratings | MC = 62/100<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/the-long-road|title=The Long Road Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic|website=Metacritic|access-date=March 25, 2012}}</ref> | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name="AM">{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r655233|tab=review |first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine |title=''The Long Road'' - Nickelback > Review |access-date=July 5, 2011}}</ref> |rev2 = ''E! Online'' |rev2score = B−<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eonline.com/Reviews/Facts/Music/RevID/0,1107,3055,00.html |title=E! Online - Music - Nickelback "The Long Road" |access-date=2017-08-10 |archive-date=2006-09-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060919234746/http://www.eonline.com/Reviews/Facts/Music/RevID/0,1107,3055,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> |rev3 = ''The Encyclopedia of Popular Music'' |rev3score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |publisher=Omnibus Press |edition= 5th concise |year=2011 |last=Larkin |first=Colin |author-link=Colin Larkin (writer) }}</ref> | rev4 = ''Entertainment Weekly'' | rev4Score = B+<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2003/09/26/long-road/|title=The Long Road|first=Tom|last=Sinclair|magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=September 26, 2003|access-date=July 5, 2022|archive-date=October 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026025116/https://ew.com/article/2003/09/26/long-road/|url-status=dead}}</ref> | rev5 = ''The Guardian'' | rev5Score = {{Rating|1|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/sep/19/popandrock.shopping|title=Nickelback, The Long Road|website=The Guardian|first=Dorian|last=Lynskey|date=September 19, 2003|access-date=November 13, 2023}}</ref> | rev6 = ''Now'' | rev6Score = {{Rating|1|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2003-09-25/music_discs3.php|title=NICKELBACK THE LONG ROAD|website=Now|first=Sarah|last=Liss|date=September 25, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050222020404/http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2003-09-25/music_discs3.php |access-date=November 13, 2023|archive-date=2005-02-22 }}</ref> |rev7 = ''Q'' |rev7score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite journal|title=Nickelback : The Long Road|journal= Q|date=December 2003 |page=130}}</ref> | rev8 = ''Rolling Stone'' | rev8Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/the-long-road-20031113|title=The Long Road|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=November 13, 2003|access-date=March 25, 2012}}</ref> |rev9 = ''The Rolling Stone Album Guide'' |rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite book |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |year=2004 |publisher=Simon & Schuster|pages=584}}</ref> |noprose=yes }}
The album received polarizing reviews from critics. Journalists often praised the heavier musical direction and aggressive guitar riffs, but criticized the album's misogynistic lyrics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/the-long-road/nickelback|title=The Long Road - Nickelback: Metacritic|website=Metacritic }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://earofnewt.com/2017/12/03/album-review-nickelback-the-long-road-2003/|title=Album review: Nickelback, The Long Road (2003)|date=4 December 2017 }}</ref> The album was nominated for Rock Album of the Year at the 2004 Grammy Awards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/46th-annual-grammy-awards|title=2003 GRAMMY WINNERS}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rhino.com/product/the-long-road|title=Nickelback - The Long Road: Rhino}}</ref>
Tom Sinclair of ''Entertainment Weekly'' praised the album for its musical compositions, lauding the angrier direction and Vikedal's strong drumming on numerous tracks, claiming "The band hammers each song home with a single-minded fervor, cannily melding metal, grunge, and melody. As a singer, Kroeger possesses that rarest of latter-day rock-star commodities: an instantly identifiable voice imbued with passion and edge".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2003/09/26/long-road/|title=The Long Road review by Tom Sinclair: Entertainment Weekly|magazine=Entertainment Weekly }}</ref>
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic gave the album a modest review, criticizing Kroeger's songwriting but also praising the production of the album in addition to the band's darker change in musical direction, claiming "Nickelback courts it through their audience-pleasing grunge pastiche, which treats the style as just another variation of hard rock".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-long-road-mw0000459226|title=Nickelback's the Long Road - Allmusic|website=AllMusic }}</ref>
==Tour== The band embarked on tour in support of the album with Trapt and Three Days Grace hired as opening acts. Theory of a Deadman were later hired as an opening act in November 2003 replacing Trapt.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/theory-of-a-deadman-pushes-for-its-own-identity-63522/|title=Theory Of A Deadman Pushes For Its Own Identity|magazine=Billboard }}</ref> The tour included 45 North American dates, 25 European dates, three Japanese dates, and five Australian dates, the second longest tour to date from the band.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://guestpectacular.com/artists/nickelback/events/tour/the-long-road?page=3|title=Nickelback on tour The Long Road}}</ref> Prior to the second European leg, opening acts Theory of a Deadman and Three Days Grace were replaced by 3 Doors Down and Puddle of Mudd.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3xAEAAAAMBAJ&dq=nickelback+japan+2004&pg=PA30|title=Hopes High for 3 Doors Down/Nickelback|date=29 May 2004 }}</ref> Following the tour, on January 2, 2005, Nickelback unexpectedly fired Vikedal after a minor royalty disagreement, replacing him with 3 Doors Down drummer Daniel Adair.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/betrayed_nickelback_drummer.html|title=Betrayed Nickelback Drummer}}</ref> Kroeger later sued Vikedal to prevent him receiving any further royalties from the band's music, though the matter was later settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.liveabout.com/nickelbacks-chad-kroeger-sues-former-drummer-3245547|title=Nickelback's Former Drummer Ryan Vikedal Sued and Dismissed}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/gzh3nj/chad-kroeger-wants-his-nickels-back-from-ex-drummer|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611202245/https://www.mtv.com/news/gzh3nj/chad-kroeger-wants-his-nickels-back-from-ex-drummer|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 11, 2023|title=Chad Kroeger Wants His Nickels Back From Ex-Drummer|website=MTV }}</ref>
==Personnel== Credits adapted from album's liner notes.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title= The Long Road |year= 2003 |type= booklet |publisher= Roadrunner}}</ref> {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} '''Nickelback''' *Chad Kroeger – lead vocals, guitar *Ryan Peake – guitar, backing vocals *Mike Kroeger – bass *Ryan Vikedal – drums
'''Additional musicians''' *Brian Larson, Cameron Wilson, Henry Lee, Zoltan Rozsnyai – strings {{small|(track 3)}} *Corrine Youchezin – female voice {{small|(track 5)}} {{col-2}} '''Production''' *Joey Moi – producer, engineer, digital editing *Nickelback – producer *Alex "Laquaysh" Aligizakis – assistant engineer *Ryan Andersen – digital editing *Randy Staub – mixing *Zach Blackstone – mixing assistant *George Marino – mastering {{col-end}}
==Track listing== '''Standard edition''' {{Track listing | all_lyrics = Chad Kroeger except where noted | all_music = Nickelback except where noted |title1 = Flat on the Floor |length1 = 2:02 |title2 = Do This Anymore |length2 = 4:03 |title3 = Someday |length3 = 3:27 |note3=lyrics by C. Kroeger, Mike Kroeger and Ryan Peake |title4 = Believe It or Not |length4 = 4:07 |title5 = Feelin' Way Too Damn Good |length5 = 4:16 |title6 = Because of You |length6 = 3:30 |title7 = Figured You Out |length7 = 3:48 |title8 = Should've Listened |length8 = 3:42 |title9 = Throw Yourself Away |length9 = 3:55 |title10 = Another Hole in the Head |length10 = 3:35 |title11 = See You at the Show |length11 = 4:04 |total_length = 40:34 }} {{Track listing | headline = Japan bonus tracks | title12 = Someday | note12 = acoustic | length12 = 3:20 | title13 = Slow Motion | length13 = 3:32 }} {{Track listing | headline = Special edition | title12 = Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting | length12 = 3:44 | note12 = Elton John cover; lyrics by Bernie Taupin; music by Elton John | title13 = Yanking Out My Heart | length13 = 3:36 | title14 = Learn the Hard Way | length14 = 2:55 }} {{Track listing | headline = Other tracks and B-sides | title12 = Love Will Keep Us Together | length12 = 2:17 | title13 = Too Bad | note13 = ''MTV Unplugged'' | title14 = Where Do I Hide | note14 = ''MTV Unplugged'' | title15 = Leader of Men | note15 = ''MTV Unplugged'' }}
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! Chart (2003) ! Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|Australia|4|artist=Nickelback|album=The Long Road|rowheader=true|access-date=May 18, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Austria|4|artist=Nickelback|album=The Long Road|rowheader=true|access-date=May 18, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Flanders|29|artist=Nickelback|album=The Long Road|rowheader=true|access-date=May 18, 2021}} |- {{album chart|BillboardCanada|1|artist=Nickelback|rowheader=true|access-date=May 18, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Denmark|16|artist=Nickelback|album=The Long Road|rowheader=true|access-date=May 18, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Netherlands|11|artist=Nickelback|album=The Long Road|rowheader=true|access-date=May 18, 2021}} |- {{album chart|France|39|artist=Nickelback|album=The Long Road|rowheader=true|access-date=May 18, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Germany|4|id=4658|artist=Nickelback|album=The Long Road|rowheader=true|access-date=May 18, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Ireland2|9|artist=Nickelback|album=The Long Road|rowheader=true|access-date=May 18, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Italy|11|artist=Nickelback|album=The Long Road|rowheader=true|access-date=May 18, 2021}} |- {{album chart|New Zealand|3|artist=Nickelback|album=The Long Road|rowheader=true|access-date=May 18, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Norway|38|artist=Nickelback|album=The Long Road|rowheader=true|access-date=May 18, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Portugal|29|artist=Nickelback|album=The Long Road|rowheader=true|access-date=May 18, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Sweden|27|artist=Nickelback|album=The Long Road|rowheader=true|access-date=May 18, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Switzerland|4|artist=Nickelback|album=The Long Road|rowheader=true|access-date=May 18, 2021}} |- {{album chart|UK2|5|date=20030928|rowheader=true|access-date=May 18, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Billboard200|6|artist=Nickelback|rowheader=true|access-date=May 18, 2021}} |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! Chart (2003) ! Position |- ! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2003/albums-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2003|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=June 2, 2021}}</ref> | 58 |- ! scope="row"| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=a&id=2003|title=Jahreshitparade Alben 2003|website=austriancharts.at|access-date=June 2, 2021}}</ref> | 51 |- ! scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-2003|title=Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts|language=de|work=GfK Entertainment|publisher=offiziellecharts.de|access-date=June 2, 2021}}</ref> | 57 |- ! scope="row"| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2003/alben|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2003|website=hitparade.ch|access-date=June 2, 2021}}</ref> | 28 |- ! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20030105/37502/|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2003|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=June 2, 2021}}</ref> | 92 |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2003/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2003|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 2, 2021}}</ref> | 100 |} {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! Chart (2004) ! Position |- ! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2004/albums-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2004|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=June 2, 2021}}</ref> | 22 |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2004/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2004|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 2, 2021}}</ref> | 26 |}
===Decade-end charts=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! Chart (2000–2009) ! Position |- !scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2009/BB-2009-12-19.pdf|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums|via=World Radio History|magazine=Billboard|page=166|access-date=May 18, 2021}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|157 |} {{col-end}}
==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=The Long Road|artist=Nickelback|relyear=2004|region=Australia|award=Platinum|number=3|certyear=2003}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=The Long Road|artist=Nickelback|relyear=2003|region=Austria|award=Gold}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=The Long Road|artist=Nickelback|relyear=2003|region=Canada|award=Platinum|number=5}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=The Long Road|artist=Nickelback|relyear=2003|region=Germany|award=Gold}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=The Long Road|artist=Nickelback|relyear=2003|id=2006-09-08|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|region=New Zealand|award=Gold}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=The Long Road|artist=Nickelback|relyear=2003|region=Switzerland|award=Gold|access-date=February 1, 2023}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=The Long Road|artist=Nickelback|relyear=2003|region=United Kingdom|award=Platinum|id=7097-288-2}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=The Long Road|artist=Nickelback|relyear=2003|region=United States|award=Platinum|number=3}} {{Certification Table Bottom}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Metacritic album}}
{{Nickelback}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Long Road, The}} Category:2003 albums Category:Nickelback albums Category:Roadrunner Records albums Category:Albums produced by Joey Moi Category:Albums recorded at Greenhouse Studios