Silver Side Up is the third studio album by Canadian rock band Nickelback, released on September 11, 2001, through Roadrunner Records. It is widely regarded as the band's commercial breakthrough, propelling them to international stardom.
Background and Recording
The album was recorded between April and June 2001 at Greenhouse Studios in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. It was co-produced by the band and Rick Parashar, who had previously worked with Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains. Many of the songs on the album were written before the release of Nickelback's previous album, The State (1998).
Commercial Performance
Silver Side Up debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200, selling 178,000 copies in its first week, and reached number one in Canada, Austria, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The album was certified 8× Platinum in Canada, 6× Platinum in the United States, and 3× Platinum in the United Kingdom. As of 2002, it had sold over 8 million copies worldwide.
Singles
The album produced three singles: "How You Remind Me," "Too Bad," and "Never Again." "How You Remind Me" became Nickelback's signature hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for four weeks. Billboard ranked it as the number one song of 2002.
Track Listing
- "Never Again" – 4:20
- "How You Remind Me" – 3:43
- "Woke Up This Morning" – 3:50
- "Too Bad" – 3:52
- "Just For" – 4:03
- "Hollywood" – 3:04
- "Money Bought" – 3:24
- "Where Do I Hide" – 3:38
- "Hangnail" – 3:54
- "Good Times Gone" – 5:18
Title Origin
The specific origin of the album title "Silver Side Up" has not been definitively explained in official band statements or widely published interviews. The phrase is commonly associated with traditional photographic film and paper, where the light-sensitive emulsion layer (containing silver halide crystals) must face upward during exposure or processing. This interpretation is consistent with the album's cover artwork, which features a close-up of an eye with a silver tear, evoking imagery related to photography and captured moments. However, no authoritative source has confirmed this as the band's intended meaning.
