I've been a fan of the Hip since hearing Small Town Bringdown on Much Music (back when MM wasn't crappy and was actually relevant in the Music industry) about 22 years ago (seriously) and have purchased all of their albums on the day they were released with few exceptions.

Shortly after Trouble at the Henhouse (which is one of the best albums of all time, btw), I found their ability to captivate me waning a bit. Their last handful of albums (In Violet Light, World Container, In Between Evolution) did little to impress me, really. Good music, sure, but lacking in the soul that managed to make me love them in their glory days.

But... this latest album... "We are the same" is really, really good.

I've listened to it every day since it was released and it just keeps getting better and better. The music is deep and complex (with strings, even), which is different from their normal sound, but it really works and I enjoy it thoroughly. The lyrics are insightful, in spite of Gord's tendency to be a wee bit on the eccentric side, and although some of the tunes sound like they're trying too hard to experiment with a new sound, once you get past that, they're actually quite spectacular. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's still definitely the Hip, but it's a bit of a departure.

The first track on the album, "Morning Moon" is obviously a tribute to the sound of the Eagles, but there again, it's fantastic and works really well. Track #6, "The Depression Suite" clocking in at nearly 10 minutes, has so many excellent chord changes and variations that it sounds more like 3 songs strung together - this is a technique that harkens back to the prog days of the early '70's (and people who know me know I love my prog), which is something I especially dig.

If you've gotten away from the Hip in recent years, you owe it to yourself to check out this new album. i doubt you'll be sorry.

Anywho... just figured I'd share my review. You can do some listening at http://www.thehip.com.

That is all.

Tragically Hip, more like Tragically Tone Deaf I've heard cats put through blenders that sounds better then them,

Quoted from Vengeance

Tragically Hip, more like Tragically Tone Deaf I've heard cats put through blenders that sounds better then them,

That's funny, Adam. We rarely agree on anything... why would we agree on music?  

Quoted from cooke

That's funny, Adam. We rarely agree on anything... why would we agree on music?  

We both like WPT

The other side of the coin is I don't really like music at all anyway, I treat it more like background noise then anything, I've never been to a live concert.  The thought of having to sit and watch music just doesn't appeal to me at all.  So my opinion of all music is pretty low to begin with   

I always like the hip, older stuff more than newer stuff.... saw them during the "day for night" tour.

WOHOOO!

I agree with Adam. I think the Tragically Hip sound awful (IMHO), and they're the reason I can't listen to Canadian rock stations. Because of the Canadian Content Requirements, stations are forced to play a certain percentage of Canadian music. For classic rock stations it's either Rush or Tragically Hip. They've ruined radio!

Quoted from jonny_eh

I agree with Adam. I think the Tragically Hip sound awful (IMHO), and they're the reason I can't listen to Canadian rock stations. Because of the Canadian Content Requirements, stations are forced to play a certain percentage of Canadian music. For classic rock stations it's either Rush or Tragically Hip. They've ruined radio!

And Nickleback for everywhere else.

Quoted from jonny_eh

I agree with Adam. I think the Tragically Hip sound awful (IMHO), and they're the reason I can't listen to Canadian rock stations. Because of the Canadian Content Requirements, stations are forced to play a certain percentage of Canadian music. For classic rock stations it's either Rush or Tragically Hip. They've ruined radio!

Yeah! Screw Canadian musicians. We need more America! GO USA!

The Canadian Content requirements serve a good purpose and I doubt you'll find a single Canadian artist that disagrees with them in principle. You'll also find that there are a good number of other countries throughout the world that promote domestic artists by regulating broadcasting in a similar way. I can assure you that without Canadian content regulations, the independent Canadian music market would quickly be demolished by a wealthier and better-marketed American industry. But perhaps this is a topic of debate for another thread, you awful cynic!

Quoted from jonny_eh

I agree with Adam. I think the Tragically Hip sound awful (IMHO), and they're the reason I can't listen to Canadian rock stations. Because of the Canadian Content Requirements, stations are forced to play a certain percentage of Canadian music. For classic rock stations it's either Rush or Tragically Hip. They've ruined radio!

I am not a Hip fan either. I don't dislike them... just rather indifferent. Classic rock stations here are the same... they play the Hip and Tom Cochrane until your ears bleed.

Rush I like due to their amazing instrumental capabilities. Granted, not the best vocals, but they blow all other Canadian bands out of the water.

There have been many Canadian rock bands that IMHO were/are much better than the Hip, but then again that is a question of taste. Today, it is 5% talent and 95% marketing. Case in point? Take the time to go see an old band in concert... one that hasn't had a hit in years. In the last few years, I have seen Deep Purple, Kansas, Ten Years After, George Thorogood, Yes and a slew of 60's, 70's and 80's bands, and in all these cases I came out of there asking myself why the hell did these guys not have a recent hit because their playing was absolutely phenomenal... WAY better than what we see today from most bands.

Then I asked myself how come people like Britney Spears and a bunch of pop acts and boy bands, as well as most gangster rappers (now don't get me wrong... I do like pop music and rap... but come on... don't tell me these acts are all that great...) all make it big.

...it's all marketing. Selling a product... not promoting an art.

They lost me "where the great plains begin"....

Up To Here is probably one of the best albums of that period.

I'll I can say about Brittany Spears is thanks for the fashion trend, almost naked teens is just what we want to see, ha, ha....

Seems like it's just easier to remake the same songs and movies these days......
$$$$ !

I've actually seen them too many times in concert so I took a break ... I'll give it a listen Cooke!

(I own road apple and up to here)

Quoted from cooke

I can assure you that without Canadian content regulations, the independent Canadian music market would quickly be demolished by a wealthier and better-marketed American industry. But perhaps this is a topic of debate for another thread, you awful cynic!

Ya, cause the Tragically Hip are soooo indie! The Canadian indie scene does not need help from the CRTC. Most indie fans don't even listen to the radio, they listen to podcasts and there are some fantastic indie podcasts out there.