Journey, Nickelback and the Concept of Corporate Rock

I have been seeing in some of the music forums that in threads bashing Nickelback, Journey comes up as a point of comparison. I thought I would use this space to add a particular post I wrote not too long ago describing my views on this subject.

I don't like Nickelback. I've never heard a song from them that I would remotely care to hear a second time. They aren't terrible, there are many acts that are more offensive to my ears, I just find them mind numbingly bland. The only reason that I can even remember how "You Remind Me" goes is because I heard it so many times when it was a hit (not by choice). Their other songs I can't even remember how they go, not even that monster hit, "Rock Star". Someone may think Nickelback is great and good for them, I am glad they can get some enjoyment out of them. Now the point comparing them to Journey came up in another thread a few years back, one that degenerated into immense acrimony, so rather than hash up the point of "which act is more generic sounding", I'll say this, and of course it's my opinion and nothing more.

The difference between Journey and Nickelback to my ears is that, and I mean Journey when they had their big success, not the pre-Infinity material, is that in Steve Perry they had a soulful singer influenced by Sam Cooke who brought a distinctive sound to the songs. In Neal Schon they had a guitar player who came up some great solos that enhanced the songs even further and often played off very well with Steve Perry's voice in a way that added depth to the songs. The finale of "Why Can't This Night Go On Forever" from Raised On Radio comes to mind as an example. Steve Smith is a really good drummer, Jonathan Cain has come up with some very distinctive keyboard lines "Whos Cryin" Now" is a perfect example. Ross Valery adds depth to the music with his bass playing, his basslines on "Don't Stop Believin" come to mind. With Nickelback, I don't hear that. I can forget their songs within five minutes after I hear them. Now obviously Journey is not going to be everybody's cup of tea, and I don't expect them to be but I was just trying to articulate what I see is the difference between the two bands and why I like to listen to one and not the other.