SOMEWHERE LAST SUMMER, the band Nickelback became something of a punchline in my summer school class.  I’m not sure why, at what point it happened.  What was interesting, too, was that such a sentiment can be found across those who listen to and talk music.  The music-loving population has a love-hate relationship with the band. “This is how you remind me,” perhaps, of what real rock music is supposed to sound like?

That love-hate relationship seems to be true for a number of bands for any number of reasons.  Bono turns people off from U2.  Coldplay can’t get no respect (as every album is going to be their Joshua Tree and all).  Maroon 5 is a bit of a mystery.  And Creed?  Well, not many people feel much of anything about them anymore; or, at least, my students know little or nothing about them.  But they are right up there with so many other bands as a polarizing presence.

Turns out that music lover/critic Chuck Klosterman got to see Creed and Nickelback both on the same night, and what resulted is a great essay about the two and so much more.  Check it out over at Grantland.com.  Or you can just click here.