I'm not getting the album until the 6th, but for every negitive review I read 5 positive reviews go flying out the window! Bunch of Buzz Killingtons on here!
Gortron Wrote:In Honey, Please what does Gord say here....
"Honey maybe everything we need is on the other side of this ____________"?
I had another burning lyric question earlier but I forget. Guess I'll have to listen through the album again and find it. What a shame. Not.
i hear field. the lyric is used again in another song i cant remember which one. maybe speed river. anyone else catch that?
On the 6th after the high-def show at polo-park I am picking up some wine and/or beer, once home I will pop in the CD, put on the head phones and listen for the first time while reading the lyrics and looking at the CD photos and notes – seriously what is the rush, The Depression Suite will still sound the same…
I am not hesitant to claim that this album is overproduced. I can't think of another album I own that is as heavily produced as this one (and overproduced, of course, is a catch-phrase with multiple applications. In this case I refer to the excessive layering and inclusion of instrumental pieces non-typical of a rock album). Regardless, this is a very satisfying album. Perhaps the naysayers are the last recluse; their sound has obviously changed from album to album. So much so that this almost seems like a natural transition from World Container. The Hip never really fit into the musical landscape that the environment around them subscribed to. With the exception of a grungier 'Fully Completely', and a pessimistic 'Day For Night', it's all really been a median induced toss-up.
This album to me sounds like a mixture of In Violet Light and Music @ Work. While Music @ Work is my favourite album (I'm the kind of fan that prefers "Sharks" and "The Bastard" over "Little Bones" and "Courage") because of it's complexities and genre indifference, I find the passiveness that was quite prevalent on IVL to be present here as well. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Realistically, in 1998 people were comparing 'Phantom Power' to 'Up To Here' and 'Road Apples'. Isn't it time that the hyper-critical move a decade, or a musical generation forward and start comparing 'We Are The Same' to 'Phantom Power' and 'Music @ Work'.
These songs aren't anthemic. They won't burst your fore-arm from the ol' fist-pump. But they are well written songs. And that is all I really want. I want quality music that works its way into my psyche. If I wanted draw-catch rock songs I'd subscribe to the Nickleback Blow Job Network.
And before the hyper-critical pass judgement for the final time, wait for the CD quality studio cuts, and sit down with a pair of headphones. The most subtle differences are often insignificant when a sub-par artist is questioned, but the integrity of a great band can be unfairly compromised unless one is to truly listen.
Queen of the Furrows is absolutely phenomenal, it is stabbing my heart right now.
das_hips Wrote:I am not hesitant to claim that this album is overproduced. I can't think of another album I own that is as heavily produced as this one (and overproduced, of course, is a catch-phrase with multiple applications. In this case I refer to the excessive layering and inclusion of instrumental pieces non-typical of a rock album). Regardless, this is a very satisfying album. Perhaps the naysayers are the last recluse; their sound has obviously changed from album to album. So much so that this almost seems like a natural transition from World Container. The Hip never really fit into the musical landscape that the environment around them subscribed to. With the exception of a grungier 'Fully Completely', and a pessimistic 'Day For Night', it's all really been a median induced toss-up.
This album to me sounds like a mixture of In Violet Light and Music @ Work. While Music @ Work is my favourite album (I'm the kind of fan that prefers "Sharks" and "The Bastard" over "Little Bones" and "Courage") because of it's complexities and genre indifference, I find the passiveness that was quite prevalent on IVL to be present here as well. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Realistically, in 1998 people were comparing 'Phantom Power' to 'Up To Here' and 'Road Apples'. Isn't it time that the hyper-critical move a decade, or a musical generation forward and start comparing 'We Are The Same' to 'Phantom Power' and 'Music @ Work'.
These songs aren't anthemic. They won't burst your fore-arm from the ol' fist-pump. But they are well written songs. And that is all I really want. I want quality music that works its way into my psyche. If I wanted draw-catch rock songs I'd subscribe to the Nickleback Blow Job Network.
And before the hyper-critical pass judgement for the final time, wait for the CD quality studio cuts, and sit down with a pair of headphones. The most subtle differences are often insignificant when a sub-par artist is questioned, but the integrity of a great band can be unfairly compromised unless one is to truly listen.
Great post! I couldn't agree more.
:thumb:
rowdy-raddi Wrote:Gortron Wrote:In Honey, Please what does Gord say here....
"Honey maybe everything we need is on the other side of this ____________"?
I had another burning lyric question earlier but I forget. Guess I'll have to listen through the album again and find it. What a shame. Not.
i hear field. the lyric is used again in another song i cant remember which one. maybe speed river. anyone else catch that?
It is
feeling and the lyric is used again in "The Exact Feeling"
Maybe the exact feeling... is on the other side of this feelin'
I'm actually liking quite a few songs from the album:
Morning Moon
Honey, Please
The Last Recluse
The Exact Feeling
Queen Of The Furrows
Speed River
Frozen In My Tracks
Love Is A First
Honey, Please... The Last Recluse... Speed River... Frozen In My Tracks... Those one are @ the top of my list in terms of enjoyment... The unmentioned songs are either going to take some time to appreciate, or perhaps just don't quite fit my taste right now.
I can't wait for the album to hit stores so I can enjoy it in higher quality

Your rite Hammer, its feeling and used in Exact feeling too.
das_hips Wrote:I am not hesitant to claim that this album is overproduced. I can't think of another album I own that is as heavily produced as this one (and overproduced, of course, is a catch-phrase with multiple applications. In this case I refer to the excessive layering and inclusion of instrumental pieces non-typical of a rock album). Regardless, this is a very satisfying album. Perhaps the naysayers are the last recluse; their sound has obviously changed from album to album. So much so that this almost seems like a natural transition from World Container. The Hip never really fit into the musical landscape that the environment around them subscribed to. With the exception of a grungier 'Fully Completely', and a pessimistic 'Day For Night', it's all really been a median induced toss-up.
This album to me sounds like a mixture of In Violet Light and Music @ Work. While Music @ Work is my favourite album (I'm the kind of fan that prefers "Sharks" and "The Bastard" over "Little Bones" and "Courage") because of it's complexities and genre indifference, I find the passiveness that was quite prevalent on IVL to be present here as well. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Realistically, in 1998 people were comparing 'Phantom Power' to 'Up To Here' and 'Road Apples'. Isn't it time that the hyper-critical move a decade, or a musical generation forward and start comparing 'We Are The Same' to 'Phantom Power' and 'Music @ Work'.
These songs aren't anthemic. They won't burst your fore-arm from the ol' fist-pump. But they are well written songs. And that is all I really want. I want quality music that works its way into my psyche. If I wanted draw-catch rock songs I'd subscribe to the Nickleback Blow Job Network.
And before the hyper-critical pass judgement for the final time, wait for the CD quality studio cuts, and sit down with a pair of headphones. The most subtle differences are often insignificant when a sub-par artist is questioned, but the integrity of a great band can be unfairly compromised unless one is to truly listen.
For sure, Great Post! I think we can all be happy (regardless of what musical direction the band is taking right now) that our beloved Hip is still the same 5 guys making new music and touring after all these years. Guaranteed there won't be any of the bands out there now doing this in 20+ years... year 2020 I promise you that OLP, Nickleback or pretty much any of the bands out there today won't even be making music at all. No matter what, we are lucky... :thumb:
emperor penguin Wrote:Queen of the Furrows is absolutely phenomenal, it is stabbing my heart right now.
Yes. Like every Hip cd, songs stick out to me one at a time, maybe a few after the first few listens.. This song is the first one. The way it picks up, the chorus, the solo...."You are my heart...." I find myself singing that line over and over...
Billy Wrote:meh...that's what I think about this album thus far. I'm not too excited about it, and I'm not even sure if I will make much of an effort to rush out and buy it. I have purchased every album from Fully Completely to World Container the day they were released, I don't think I will for this one.
With Gords screaming in concert, the outrageous ticket prices, and now this lack luster album, I'm quite sad to say the Hip are losing much of the lure they've maintained over me for 20 years now. I sure hope when I do see them in September that this sort of funk will have passed and it will be back to normal adulation for me. We'll see.
Billy I hear you on that. But for the couple times I have listened to this album now, I think it is the best album they have done since Day For Night. It blows the doors off the last three. Give it some time it will grow on you. The last threee albums I liked at first but they had no staying power. I think this has much more life and feel to it.
The boys are getting up their in age (Rock Star Wise) this is an album that suites where they are in their life.
My guess that people that have been fans since the get go will think this is a great album ( although I haven't gone through this whole thread) and there are execptions for sure. This is exactly the type of album I was hoping for.
Not sure how they will come over live but I'm not too concerned about that either at this point.
I see somebody else picked up on the 'Music at Work/In Violet Light lovechild raised by World Container' vibe.
While I'm not a huge fan of World Container, I think it has some redeeming qualities (Title Track, Family Band to name a few) I'm absolutely loving this album.
It's not a hard rocking album which is just fine by me. It is a solid album, great music. I like it as much as IBE (which as I listen to more often I'm more impressed with it). Sure there are no Courage, or NOIS type songs but who cares. Not every album is going to be like the last, bands grow and change as they age.
Speed River and Queen of The Furrows are amazing, and wouldn't Frozen in Your Tracks make a nice concert opener. It's got a lot of energy behind it, and in the probably stripped down concert version of the song it will be probably be rockin'
[It's got a lot of energy behind it, and in the probably stripped down concert version of the song it will be probably be rockin'[/quote]
I think you are bang on with statement. Same hold for a lot of the album I think
1st run through last night, very mellow, but as usual I really like it. I find I only like some songs, then when i hear them while at the shows, I fall in love with them....much more rockin :music