PhotographNickelback

Nickelback – Photograph

Since the 2000s, one of the most commercially successful rock bands has been Canada’s Nickelback.

There’s a well-known story that the band’s name came from bassist Mike Kroeger frequently saying “Here’s your nickel back” while working part-time at Starbucks.

Nickelback formed in 1995 and released their debut album, Curb, the following year in 1996.

After steadily touring, their turning point came with the massive success of How You Remind Me, the lead single from their third studio album, Silver Side Up, released in 2001.

Blending a hard, grunge-to-alternative-inspired guitar sound with frontman and primary songwriter Chad Kroeger’s sultry, powerful vocals, it’s a quintessential Nickelback killer tune that propelled them to the top virtually overnight.

They’ve drawn plenty of criticism—largely because they became so overwhelmingly popular—but as songs like their 2005 mega-hit Photograph show, their unwavering ability to craft sing-along, heartfelt, nostalgic ballads is a major part of their appeal.

It would be a real shame to miss out on that because of shallow preconceptions.

There’s also a greatest hits album out, so starting there is a great idea!

Still WaitingSUM41

Sum 41 – Still Waiting

Sum 41, who helped drive the early-2000s pop-punk boom and stayed at the forefront of the scene for many years, announced their breakup in May 2023.

The band began when the members, then in high school, were inspired after seeing the U.

S.

’s most famous punk festival, the Warped Tour.

Their 2001 debut album, All Killer No Filler, is an all-time classic packed 100% with their irresistibly poppy, mischievous charm.

While rooted in pop punk, they also showcased their high potential as a band with hybrid-style tracks that incorporate metallic guitar solos—like the hit song In Too Deep.

On their second album, Does This Look Infected?, which features Still Waiting—memorable for its music video that cheekily pokes fun at the early-2000s scene where “The”-prefixed garage rock bands became a movement—they leaned into an even more solid guitar sound.

After the departure of guitarist Dave Baksh, who had carried the metallic elements, they broadened their musical scope, and frontman Deryck Whibley was, for a time, married to Avril Lavigne.

Considering the recent revival of 2000s pop punk, it’s likely they’ll continue to be reevaluated and appreciated more than ever.

PerfectSimple Plan

Simple Plan – Perfect (Official Video) [HD]

Alongside Sum 41, the Canadian pop-punk band that enjoys enormous popularity here in Japan is, of course, Simple Plan.

While Simple Plan officially formed in 1999, their roots trace back to the early ’90s when the members were in their early teens.

They had even made an album debut with a band called Reset, but after lineup changes and reunions, they formed Simple Plan in 1999 and began full-scale activities.

Their debut album, No Pads, No Helmets.

.

.

Just Balls, released in 2002, came out in Japan under the straightforward title Simple Plan and became a worldwide hit.

That same year they visited Japan, and thanks in part to their good looks, they became hugely popular even beyond the pop-punk crowd.

In 2003, they released Live in Japan 2002, featuring recordings from their Japan shows, and they’ve since been known as a Japan-loving band that regularly tours here.

With each album, they expanded their sound beyond the youthful pop-punk of their early days; in 2016, they even released a funky pop-rock track, I Don’t Wanna Go to Bed, featuring Nelly.

Still, the most important element of their music—those wonderful melodies and heartfelt vocals—has remained steadfast throughout.

The WeightThe Band

The Weight – The Band (lyrics)

Of the band’s five members, four were Canadian; The Band was a crucial presence in rock history, a gathering of master players with exceptional technique.

While performing in the United States as Levon & The Hawks, they were chosen in 1965 to be the backing band for Bob Dylan, who was then rising to fame as a new folk singer.

It was no coincidence but rather inevitable that this coincided with Dylan’s shift toward folk rock featuring electric guitar.

After working with Dylan, the group renamed themselves The Band in 1968 and made their full-fledged debut with the classic album Music from Big Pink.

In 1968—a time when psychedelic music was booming—their deliberately roots-focused, refined sound that fused country, folk, and R&B earned high praise even among their peers.

From then until their hiatus in 1976, they released many classic albums that left an indelible mark on rock history.

For those listening to The Band for the first time, recommended starting points include the aforementioned debut, their 1969 second album The Band, and 1975’s Northern Lights – Southern Cross (also known in Japan by the title ‘Minami Jūjisei,’ or ‘Southern Cross’).

At the same time, The Last Waltz—their farewell concert recording—and the biographical film of the same name are must-see masterpieces for anyone interested in rock from the 1960s to the 1970s.

I Hate Everything About YouThree Days Grace

Three Days Grace – I Hate Everything About You (Official Video)

For example, Nickelback fits this description as well, but Canada has produced many great bands influenced by the North American sound commonly referred to as post-grunge to alternative metal.

The main subject of this piece, Three Days Grace, is undeniably one of the leading examples—a hugely popular band! Their formation dates back to 1997, when they performed as a trio.

In 2003, a guitarist joined, making them a four-piece, and they released their self-titled debut album.

That album has now sold over two million copies worldwide, propelling them straight into the top tier of bands.

As of 2021, they have released six albums in total, all of which boast high quality and have achieved steady commercial success.

Centered on a mid-tempo guitar sound that employs the quiet–loud dynamics inherited from grunge and alternative rock, and featuring introspective lyrics melodically delivered by a husky-voiced vocalist, their style hasn’t always been easy to popularize in Japan—but that has only fostered a devoted fanbase.

In recent years, their rock sound has grown even more expansive, so I recommend starting with their early work and then exploring their sonic world in chronological order.

Wake UpArcade Fire

Arcade Fire – No Cars Go

Formed in Montreal, Canada in 2003, Arcade Fire is a band that has carved out a unique position in the rock scene since the 2000s, powered by their highly creative style and electrifying live performances that send audiences into a frenzy.

Centered on main songwriter and founding member Win Butler and Régine Chassagne—who is both his wife and a fellow songwriter—the group quickly earned acclaim for a layered, classically tinged ensemble that deploys a wide array of instruments by multi-instrumentalists, reaching far beyond the conventions of typical rock formats.

Their debut album, Funeral, released in 2004 on the esteemed American indie label Merge Records, was nominated the following year for the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album; their 2007 sophomore release, Neon Bible, received the same nomination.

With their third album, The Suburbs, in 2010, they topped the charts in the UK, the US, and their native Canada, and won Album of the Year at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards.

Their musicality defies simple description, and rather than focusing on individual tracks, we recommend immersing yourself in the worlds each album creates.

And if you have the chance, be sure to experience their superb live show—where their true brilliance really shines.

Take It OffSoftcult

Softcult – Take It Off [official video]

Softcult, a twin-sister duo from Ontario, Canada who originally performed as Courage My Love, are known for a sound that fuses grunge with shoegaze and dream pop.

In April 2021, they released their debut EP, Year of the Rat, drawing attention with heavy, 90s-alternative-inspired fuzz guitars and ethereal melodies.

Their music reflects their own experiences and humanity, carrying a powerful message that encourages listeners to reexamine the world and themselves.

Through their music, Softcult emphasizes inclusivity and minority representation, aiming to raise awareness of social issues.

Influenced by 90s grunge and dream pop, their songs are perfect for those seeking weighty guitar tones paired with dreamy melodies.