I didn't know it was possible for HIP fans to dislike (or not "like") Silver Jet or IAGL... Interesting. I love them. It's kind of like how weird it seems to me that there are fans who like the song "The Kids Don't Get It." The differentiated taste in HIP songs for HIP fans probably correlates with the overall taste in music and genres in general. Interesting. The HIP, as this all goes to show, transcend genre, composition, and language.
patiodweller Wrote:I didn't know it was possible for HIP fans to dislike (or not "like") Silver Jet or IAGL... Interesting. I love them. It's kind of like how weird it seems to me that there are fans who like the song "The Kids Don't Get It." The differentiated taste in HIP songs for HIP fans probably correlates with the overall taste in music and genres in general. Interesting. The HIP, as this all goes to show, transcend genre, composition, and language.
Ha ha, fair warning - I LOVE "The Kids Don't Get It" :lol:
Killer Whale Tank Wrote:patiodweller Wrote:I didn't know it was possible for HIP fans to dislike (or not "like") Silver Jet or IAGL... Interesting. I love them. It's kind of like how weird it seems to me that there are fans who like the song "The Kids Don't Get It." The differentiated taste in HIP songs for HIP fans probably correlates with the overall taste in music and genres in general. Interesting. The HIP, as this all goes to show, transcend genre, composition, and language.
Ha ha, fair warning - I LOVE "The Kids Don't Get It" :lol:
As long as you don't stick up for "In View", I am fine with that
I'm happy to see the love for this album.
This was the first album released in which I had my driver's license. I slipped over to the nearest Zellers the day of, to not see a single copy anywhere. Upon asking it was simply that they hadn't got in on the shelf yet, and the person working unpacked a large box and it was pretty cool to see 40 or 50 copies of it. I grabbed one and off I went.
I was convinced that no matter what I was going to love this album, I had discovered (or at least had better access to) a number of bootlegs and was determined this would be the year that I finally saw the band in concert.
Thankfully I found this album to be relatively easy to enjoy! I do agree that it feels a little smooth around the edges and there is definitely more that could have been done with a few of these songs.
While the opening combo of Are you Ready and Use it Up may not be the strongest, I'd take them over Heaven and Summer ten times out of ten.
I also seem to hold Silver Jet in higher regard than many. One thing I've never been able to settle on is how strongly I do or don't feel about IAGL...
I will definitely be pushing for Dire Wolf to win the next round - that song is top 5 for me, in 2002 at least the song was often bridged in to from Gems and that always seemed to work really well!
Questions:
I seem to recall that there was a technical reason why Leave was only played live a few times - but no idea why exactly - anyone know why?
I believe the hip were promoting the hip club prior to the release of the album, but I can't recall if there was much said in terms of their ultimate plans/goals for the 'club' - can anyone speak to that? was there anything else?
andrew sharpe Wrote:Moof_Milker Wrote:No love for Forest Edge? For christsakes...it's darkness on the edge of town!
Nah they were right to leave that one off. The melody is nice but GD butchers the verses with a weird low octave vocal.
Different strokes for different folks. Personally I love Gord's low-octave singing on the verses.
kieffer Wrote:Questions:
I seem to recall that there was a technical reason why Leave was only played live a few times - but no idea why exactly - anyone know why??
IIRC; the guitar effect in Leave was created through Paul creating feedback through his amp, and then played in reverse.
Hard to recreate that live. I do believe they played it during an album launch live radio broadcast around the release day though?
kieffer Wrote:I seem to recall that there was a technical reason why Leave was only played live a few times - but no idea why exactly - anyone know why?
Rob answered that one time somewhere -- there's a guitar effect on that main riff that opens the song and runs through it that could not be replicated easily. (I seem to recall it was recorded and then played back backwards to make that sound). I really like the song, but I also wonder if Gord had trouble with the range live?
kieffer Wrote:I believe the hip were promoting the hip club prior to the release of the album, but I can't recall if there was much said in terms of their ultimate plans/goals for the 'club' - can anyone speak to that? was there anything else?
Funny, I was thinking about that with the three bonus tracks. It seems like the label had some vision that petered out after this album. I think this was the rage around the era as labels tried to figure out what was happening with pirating and downloading.
I've been looking (unsuccessfully) for my THC membership card...I know it's in a drawer or box somewhere. Anyone else still have theirs?
Yes, but I purchased two copies of IVL on CD for some reason in 2016. One of them came with the card, the other didn't. I have the card but never bother to see if this club still exists.
The Dire Wolf: The biggest question for this album is "Why the hell wasn't 'The Dire Wolf' a single?" This is the same band that released 'The Completists' and 'Freak Turbulence' as singles from the previous album. How could they leave 'The Dire Wolf' on the bench? When you are attempting a comeback (from the nadir of M@W) you need to make sure Gretzky gets in the game. It's a universal truth that it is an exceptional song that transcends all musical tastes and genres (or at least that's the way I imagine it). A beautiful build-up into a soaring chorus that marked one of the best they had written in years. Gord's singing is exquisite and hits all the right heights without pushing past the ceiling of his range.
Silver Jet: Like it or not (and personally I love it) this song is needed on IVL. It's a tent-pole for the energy level on the album. Without this song and the second half of The Dark Canuck, the album risks a death by drowning in a pool of mid-tempo mush. The problem with Silver Jet is the band had a difficult time getting across a powerful live version (in addition to Gord's tendency to mess up the lyrics).
Leave: A showcase for Gord's full range, low/high register, and possibly the best use of his falsetto voice.
Beautiful Thing: There's a chorus problem here... to my ears Gord comes down too hard on "thing". It's overly emphatic and completely unnecessary and detracts from my enjoyment of the song.
The Dark Canuck: If there is ever a Hip song deserving of the label "epic", it's this one. The mid-song change in tempo is one of my favourite Hip moments. That second half is one of the band's greatest grooves. And how about those metaphors? There could be half a dozen in here. The picks and shovels crew gave up and had to call in an excavator to dig them all out. Commentaries on American exceptionalism/Canadian inferiority complex, the struggle of creating art and growing an audience, the psychological impact of war, etc. So many levels... The only issue I take with this song is Gord's singing of the chorus in the first half.
This album has its flaws and imperfections and I always thought there was something amiss in the sound/production, but mark me down as truly loving it anyway. Dire Wolf gives me chills.
And in one of the biggest comebacks ever, the artwork is super cool. I was able to buy one of the signed prints when they were for sale back in the day, my wife framed it for me and it's been hanging in my office for years. Still waiting for someone to be the first to recognize what it is.
Very interesting to see the disparity of opinions on this album.
I always thought this album was severely under-rated, and I was hoping it would be one of the 4-song sets I'd get in London on the 2016 tour. My most recent attempt at ranking all the Hip albums for myself puts this one at #5, which is probably higher than most would place it.
I have always loved IAGL, and maybe it's because I always have the video in my head when I hear it - reminds me of the things we sometimes have to do to earn a living even though it's not always fueling the passion that might have gotten us into that career in the first place. I think I put this song #1, narrowly edging out Dire Wolf and Dark Canuck, although that may change come poll time...
For some reason, I didn't join the Hip Club (not really sure why) and didn't know about the bonus tracks until years later. I couldn't believe Problem Bears was left off the track list! Equating Shakespeare and Voltaire squabbling to two tough-talking goalies is pure gold - still gives me a chuckle when I hear it. My only complaint is that it is a bit on the short side and could have used another verse.
On the other end, just never liked Silver Jet and put it as my bottom track on the album. I was surprised at the time that song had a video made for it, but seeing as others here love it, I guess it's just an individual taste thing and it worked for others. Along with Freak Turbulence, this song cemented my decision that Gord needed to stick with boats (Nautical, Lake Fever, Titanic, Dire Wolf) and stay away from planes as inspiration.
I have always loved The Dire Wolf. Hypnotic and brilliant.
Wasn't sure about The Dark Canuck. Glad one of my good friends got me to see the error of my ways before that great show at Darien Lake in 2002.
I also think The Darkest One and A Beautiful Thing are pretty great.
Leave is very nice too and I love the forget your skates lyric of Its A Good Life. Yes, I've had that dream.
I agree that All Tore Up and Are You Ready fall flat.
Love Problem Bear (isn't it singular?) and Forest Edge. Those two should have made the album for sure.
Still have my Hip Club card. Those were a real badge for my friends and I.
loach Wrote:couldn't believe Problem Bears was left off the track list! Equating Shakespeare and Voltaire squabbling to two tough-talking goalies is pure gold - still gives me a chuckle when I hear it.
I seem to recall a Gord rant from the early-mid 90s where he mentions this Voltaire/Shakespeare line. I can't remember from where though.
loach Wrote:On the other end, just never liked Silver Jet and put it as my bottom track on the album. I was surprised at the time that song had a video made for it, but seeing as others here love it, I guess it's just an individual taste thing and it worked for others. Along with Freak Turbulence, this song cemented my decision that Gord needed to stick with boats (Nautical, Lake Fever, Titanic, Dire Wolf) and stay away from planes as inspiration.
:lol:
Don't think this has been posted yet. Here's GD's statement about ILV posted on The Hip's website:
http://www.thehip.com/albums/In+Violet+Light/biography/.
This literally came to me in a dream.... the "Are you ready, are you ready, are you ready to love" part....
I woke up middle of the night in the Bahamas singing that exact melody. There was no tune for it until a month or so later when Paul started playing what you hear today. This doesn't make me "a-helluva-guy"; it's just that I've always read about the-wake-up-scrambling-for-a-pen-bit happening to people, but, until then, it had never happened to me. Of course, it's as John Gardner says: "Originality is normally a quality achieved by diligence, not a natural condition." At the risk of sounding immodest, "Are you ready to love" sounds new to me.
Thinking back, I'm reminded of how much 9/11 hung over everything around this time. No exception here. "Leave" has obvious allusions to 9/11 but I also seem to recall Gord taking about 9/11 influencing more on this album - the love theme of "Are you ready?", elements of "Good Life", etc. I seem to recall Gord talking about this at the time. Am I remembering this correctly -- or I am just inferring this based on my own interpretations.
Also, it's always interesting to me to hear when some song ideas spring up seemingly instantaneously - like "Are You Ready", whereas some ideas percolate over years even decades. As I mentioned in my previous post, the Voltaire/Shakespeare thing seems to have been in Gord's head for years...same with the reference to
laminar-flow that first appeared in ARA '93 rants and ended up in lyrics on Coke Machine Glow.
Oh, and another quickly little observation from IVL, if you include "Forest Edge", we get two Springsteen references. "
And come together on more than Springsteen/Though most days it's been enough" from "Use It Up" and the "
darkness on the edge of town" line from "Forest Edge"