ashtrayrock Wrote:after many listens i still stand by my original comments about LOVING this cd
i like what bob rock did to it and also his involvement in WC
i havent even seen the new songs live yet so i can only think my opinions will improve
ONLY song i don't fully connect with is frozen in my tracks
and ummmmm
I CAN'T GET THIS LYRIC OUT OF MY HEAD
When all 'the poetry of the earth'
Might be all there is
It might still have some worth
Yeah, but I can't dance to it
it's just so overwhelming poignant
that lyric stood out on my first listen as well
I think WATS is a great album. It's grown on me very quickly (listened to it about 8-10 times).
Honey, Please
Last Recluse
Now The Struggle Has a Name
The Depression Suite
Frozen in my Tracks
All amazing songs. There's another 3-4 good ones. The only ones I'm not thrilled with are Morning Moon, Coffee Girl, Love is a First, and Country Day. I'm shocked by some of the comments on here that some of you don't like it, but everyone's taste's are different.
To me, The Hip keep getting better. I'm not a traditional fan though. In fact, I used to hate them, but ever since In Violet Light, they've won me over. I've seen them live 7 times or so now.
Anyway, just my thoughts.
How many other bands on their 9th 10th or 11th release are still putting out songs and albums that many consider to be among the best they've ever done? Not many. I'm a huge fan of the band Marillion and their 13th album "Marbles" and last year's 15th "Happiness Is The Road" are two of the best they've ever done - and they're both double albums.
A7X Wrote:I think WATS is a great album. It's grown on me very quickly (listened to it about 8-10 times).
Honey, Please
Last Recluse
Now The Struggle Has a Name
The Depression Suite
Frozen in my Tracks
All amazing songs. There's another 3-4 good ones. The only ones I'm not thrilled with are Morning Moon, Coffee Girl, Love is a First, and Country Day. I'm shocked by some of the comments on here that some of you don't like it, but everyone's taste's are different.
To me, The Hip keep getting better. I'm not a traditional fan though. In fact, I used to hate them, but ever since In Violet Light, they've won me over. I've seen them live 7 times or so now.
Anyway, just my thoughts.
Has there every been a Hip album as polarizing as WATS? I find Recluse, Struggle and Depression rather mundane, although I do like Honey Please and Frozen is the best song on the album IMHO.
sherpa Wrote:How many other bands on their 9th 10th or 11th release are still putting out songs and albums that many consider to be among the best they've ever done? Not many.
Agreed. Everybody's tastes are different of course, and there are certainly a few fans and critis who dislike the new record, but the majority of reviews I've read so far have been overwhelmingly positive with many people calling it a "classic". That's pretty rare for a band that's been around for over 20 years. I really admire how this band continues to push themselves in terms of their craft. They could easily just rest on their laurels and churn out album after album of the same fist-pumping alternative rock that made them famous, but they rarely ever do. For me, the only time they've ever truly re-visited their past was on IBE, which was obviously an attempt by the band & the producer to make a straight-up Road Apples style rock record. I was ok with that at the time, as there's nothing wrong with dipping back into your past every now and then. But as a longtime fan, I'm glad that they continued to change things up again for WC and WATS.
Escape@Hand Wrote:Has there every been a Hip album as polarizing as WATS?
Yup. I remember the reviews for IVL were pretty much split down the middle when it came out.
After playing WATS in my car for my girlfriend who has been skeptical of the Hip in the past, she has taken a liking to the band and has uploaded: Honey Please, Coffee Girl, Love Is A First, and Country Day onto her iPod. She also noted that she would be interested in going to a Winnipeg Concert with me. How sweet is that?!
direwolf74 Wrote:Escape@Hand Wrote:Has there every been a Hip album as polarizing as WATS?
Yup. I remember the reviews for IVL were pretty much split down the middle when it came out.
So basically when the Hip release mediocre albums, real music fans realize it while the rest blindly follow the Hip and pronounce everything they do to be the greatest?
Igottago Wrote:Hi guys, been a fan for a long time, and needed to express my opinion on this album. Great site by the way.
The hip need to stop working with Bob Rock. This album has some decent material but it gets f'd up so bad with his overproduction. Is it different? Yes. Is it good? Not necessarily. I feel like all the stuff that is supposed to be "different" is done in a really superficial way. He hit us in the head with strings, vocal layers, horns. Didn't matter if the songs needed them or not.
I can appreciate the fact that the Hip wanted something different, and I am not one of those old school fans who wants the same old same old again and again. I want quality songs, and quality production. If they really wanted something "different", they should work with someone who has fresher ideas than Bob Rock, who is a relic of big corporate rock. I dont think he is challenging the band at all, unless the challenge is to make stuff that sounds like top40 middle aged rock, with a few superficial production techniques, giving off the illusion of growth and experimentation. If the Hip aren't careful they will become more like Great Big Sea than the great band they truly are.
An example of something "different" that works...Coke Machine Glow...a masterpiece. Now that was taking chances. I hate to say it but sometimes I think Gord Downie should focus on his solo career, he was doing some amazingly interesting things with it.
EPIC POST! :jump :jump :jump
I don't hate WATS. In fact, some some songs I can't get out of my head and in general, I actually like the album. For some reason though, I feel like the songs won't last the test of time. Of course, I can't predict the future, but that's just my intuition. WATS has some beautiful songs, and I don't even hate the strings, either. Thing is, I do agree with your general premise about Bob Rock and his methods. The band will probably work with him again, and good for them if they desire to do so. As strictly a fan, I would be happy if I never heard of Bob Rock again in my life.
Re: Coke Machine Glow-- yes it is a terrific album. I love The Hip, but there are times when I really just want to see what Gord comes up with in his solo efforts more than I want to hear The Hip.
direwolf74 Wrote:They worked with Lanois' protege Mark Howard on Day for Night (not to mention working with Daniel himself on the charity single "Land" from the '93 ARA tour). I'd say it's a definite possibility that they could hook up with Lanois on a future album. It would certainly be cool to hear the results.
Day For Night is far and away the best album the band has ever made.
what you have to love about the band. they write the song once. if this band were still making/writing albums/songs like Road Apples, they would be a caricature of themselves.
Escape@Hand Wrote:So basically when the Hip release mediocre albums, real music fans realize it while the rest blindly follow the Hip and pronounce everything they do to be the greatest?
Or maybe when the Hip release albums that sound a little different from prior releases, real music fans recognize its redeeming qualities while those hoping for Road Apples Volume 8 write it off as 'mediocre'.
:thumb:
The Horrible Esthete Wrote:Escape@Hand Wrote:So basically when the Hip release mediocre albums, real music fans realize it while the rest blindly follow the Hip and pronounce everything they do to be the greatest?
Or maybe when the Hip release albums that sound a little different from prior releases, real music fans recognize its redeeming qualities while those hoping for Road Apples Volume 8 write it off as 'mediocre'.
:thumb:
bingo !!!!
The Horrible Esthete Wrote:Escape@Hand Wrote:So basically when the Hip release mediocre albums, real music fans realize it while the rest blindly follow the Hip and pronounce everything they do to be the greatest?
Or maybe when the Hip release albums that sound a little different from prior releases, real music fans recognize its redeeming qualities while those hoping for Road Apples Volume 8 write it off as 'mediocre'.
:thumb:
Believe me, the last thing I want is another Road Apples. The Hip have released lots of different material and I love them because they continually evolve, but are able to stay quintessentially "The Hip". For what it's worth, my favourite songs of theirs are usually not the arena rockers (Escape @ Hand, Dark Canuck, Toronto #4 for example). I just think that with this album they didn't do a great job; I find the songwriting medicore at times, and somewhat boring. I just don't connect with this album like I have with past ones. I'm not saying it's bad, there are some really good tracks on it, but I really would like them to go in a different direction next time, away from the pop sounds that are prevelant with the last two albums.
It's one thing to try and change and grow as a band, but you also have to know what you're good at and what your band is about. When you get down to it, the Hip are a pretty basic guitar based rock band. What has always excited me about them was how they stayed within themselves musically, but kept bringing new ideas to the table. With WATS, it seems (to me) that they lost that a bit. There are some tracks where had you never heard the Hip before, you would have no idea they are a 2-3 guitar piece band. Some of the guitars are mixed so low, and drowned out by other instruments that you would have no clue that there are actually 3 guitar players in the band. While I'm all for changing musical textures, I think you need to be smart about it and not just throw instruments in just to be different.