[The Darkest Canuck]

Is it wrong for me to say this album is better than World Container and We Are The Same?

[direwolf74]

Is it wrong for me to say this album is better than World Container and We Are The Same?

Not at all. I said the exact same thing a few posts back. While I think both WC and WATS are good albums and feature more than a few classics, there are also a few songs on each one that I skip every time I listen to them (In View, Pretend, World Container, Honey Please, Exact Feeling, and Love is a First come to mind). That's not the case with The Grand Bounce. I love all 13 songs on the album, and not a single track feels out of place or unnecessary. In fact it's already solidified its position as my favorite album of the year so far. It's all killer, no filler. And I mentioned this before, and I really hope it's not the case...but it's almost like Gord held back some of his very best material from the Hip and saved it for his solo album instead. I know he says he doesn't distinguish between which songs are for the Hip and which ones are for solo projects, but to me there's a disturbing amount of filler on the last couple of Hip albums. The crazy conspiracy theorist in me says that Bob Rock is partly responsible for keeping some of Gord's better songs from appearing on WC and WATS. Nothing against the Country of Miracles, but some of the songs on The Grand Bounce would've made excellent Hip songs.

[daylight]

Is it wrong for me to say this album is better than World Container and We Are The Same?

And I mentioned this before, and I really hope it's not the case...but it's almost like Gord held back some of his very best material from the Hip and saved it for his solo album instead. I know he says he doesn't distinguish between which songs are for the Hip and which ones are for solo projects, but to me there's a disturbing amount of filler on the last couple of Hip albums. The crazy conspiracy theorist in me says that Bob Rock is partly responsible for keeping some of Gord's better songs from appearing on WC and WATS. Nothing against the Country of Miracles, but some of the songs on The Grand Bounce would've made excellent Hip songs.

I think it's the best album he's been involved with since his last solo album. And yeah, he allegedly abides by a "use it up, use it all up, don't save a thing for later" policy. Here's to hoping a new producer freshens things up for the Hip.

[BIGVDOGG]

Who cares if its as good or better than anything....enjoy the album,its kicking my ass.You know its good when you get the tears

[direwolf74]

You know its good when you get the tears

Definitely!

:thumb:

[tigerthelion]

Is it wrong for me to say this album is better than World Container and We Are The Same?

Not at all. I said the exact same thing a few posts back. While I think both WC and WATS are good albums and feature more than a few classics, there are also a few songs on each one that I skip every time I listen to them (In View, Pretend, World Container, Honey Please, Exact Feeling, and Love is a First come to mind). That's not the case with The Grand Bounce. I love all 13 songs on the album, and not a single track feels out of place or unnecessary. In fact it's already solidified its position as my favorite album of the year so far. It's all killer, no filler. And I mentioned this before, and I really hope it's not the case...but it's almost like Gord held back some of his very best material from the Hip and saved it for his solo album instead. I know he says he doesn't distinguish between which songs are for the Hip and which ones are for solo projects, but to me there's a disturbing amount of filler on the last couple of Hip albums. The crazy conspiracy theorist in me says that Bob Rock is partly responsible for keeping some of Gord's better songs from appearing on WC and WATS. Nothing against the Country of Miracles, but some of the songs on The Grand Bounce would've made excellent Hip songs.

How can you love the last song on the album, if you can even call it a song? :?

[sean.bonner]

How can you love the last song on the album, if you can even call it a song? :?

"My sales were up!"

[Tthip]

Starbucks iTunes free pick of the week Gord Downie and the Country of Miracles, As A Mover.

[fingernailsonhull]

Okay, I'm a few listens in. I like the whole album right away - which was not true of CMG or BOTN. Those two discs had a number of stand-outs but a few weaker tunes too, IMO.

Some serious standouts straight away on TGB. Yellow Days is absolutely gorgeous. I can't stop listening to it. The weeping guitar to close it out is sublime. This is a classic lazy summer tune. Can't get enough. Some of the more heavier tunes on CMG and BOTN never quite grabbed me. The Drowning Machine, on the other hand, is fantastic. I'm digging The Dance too. Especially the acoustic version. As A Mover is beautiful. Love the harmonization with Julie Doiron on Glenora (and on Drowning, too). Retrace is awesome. Hard Canadian is catchy. Really digging the groove on Moonslow Yer Lashes.

The whole thing is superb. (The last song gets a pass.) Can't wait to hear this in NOTL tomorrow night. Eating sandwiches, sipping wine, and listening to GD. Surreal.

[fingernailsonhull]

I am now officially hoping that Chris Walla produces the next Hip album.

[direwolf74]

I am now officially hoping that Chris Walla produces the next Hip album.

I've been hoping for that since the first day I heard "The Grand Bounce". I think they'd be a great fit, and the record would definitely have more of a raw, live-off-the-floor feel to it. Walla said he grew up listening to them as well, so I'm sure he'd have a good idea of how he'd want to record them. I've also been hoping that they can convince Brendan O'Brien to produce them. His work on the latest Pearl Jam record is amazing. You couldn't ask for a better sounding rock album. Especially the way Matt Cameron's drums sound. It's perfect.

[screw_ball]

Why did no one tell me about this?

[chris]

Why did no one tell me about this?

Nice to have you back screwy... :welcome

[Tthip]

Album Review: Gord Downie and The Country of Miracles ~ The Grand BouncePosted
by lmelvin
August - 14 - 2010
Written by: Laura Melvin

Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip has released an album that is as bland as the side project’s name – Gord Downie and the Country of Miracles. The Grand Bounce is mellow, country Canadiana that sounds far too close to works by The Tragically Hip to be considered new and exciting. Aren’t solo projects supposed to be a chance for artists to step outside of their comfort-zone? I guess you can take the singer out of the band, but you can’t take the band out of the singer.

To be fair, Downie has such a distinct voice that I don’t think we would ever hear a difference between his solo projects and The Tragically Hip. He’s how we identify a Tragically Hip track. This album sounds like B-sides from the band that Downie just threw together and labeled it his side project.

Opening track “The East Wind” is also the first single from the album – a wise choice as it’s probably the most exciting song on The Grand Bounce. The middle tracks are uninspired and, well, just plain boring. By the last two tracks, I was completely disenchanted with the album and with Gord Downie in general. He’s a very identifiable figure in Canadian music, and The Grand Bounce did not meet my expectations. Final tracks “Broadcast” and “Pinned” plodded along so slowly I was snoozing by the end. “Pinned” actually has undertones of Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata”. Sorry, Gord Downie and The Country of Miracles, ending an album with the ultimate musical sleeping pill is no way to wow your listeners.

[Joe]

ouch.