In A World Possessed By Mediocrity - Printable Version
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Re: In A World Possessed By Mediocrity - Smithco85 - 04-19-2016
The hip will never write an album "for the fans" and I sincerely hope they don't. Because if they do, that's when you know they've given up.
Re: In A World Possessed By Mediocrity - NWOntario - 04-26-2016
I'm 35. I'm a much different person than I was when I was 20, 25, 30--and thank goodness for that, because otherwise I think I'd be pretty boring and I think I'd be pretty bored as well.
That, in essence, describes how I feel about my favourite bands as well. If I want to listen to "classic" Pearl Jam, for example, it's not like Ten and Vs. have gone anywhere. But if Eddie were still singing lyrics like "Leash" at 51 I'd have turned off of them long ago. Same with Springsteen. Same with the Hip. It's evolution, baby, and it's a wonderful thing.
Re: In A World Possessed By Mediocrity - direwolf74 - 04-26-2016
NWOntario Wrote:I'm 35. I'm a much different person than I was when I was 20, 25, 30--and thank goodness for that, because otherwise I think I'd be pretty boring and I think I'd be pretty bored as well.
That, in essence, describes how I feel about my favourite bands as well. If I want to listen to "classic" Pearl Jam, for example, it's not like Ten and Vs. have gone anywhere. But if Eddie were still singing lyrics like "Leash" at 51 I'd have turned off of them long ago. Same with Springsteen. Same with the Hip. It's evolution, baby, and it's a wonderful thing.
What he said.
:thumb:
Re: In A World Possessed By Mediocrity - gsmacleod - 04-28-2016
NWOntario Wrote:I'm 35. I'm a much different person than I was when I was 20, 25, 30--and thank goodness for that, because otherwise I think I'd be pretty boring and I think I'd be pretty bored as well.
That, in essence, describes how I feel about my favourite bands as well. If I want to listen to "classic" Pearl Jam, for example, it's not like Ten and Vs. have gone anywhere. But if Eddie were still singing lyrics like "Leash" at 51 I'd have turned off of them long ago. Same with Springsteen. Same with the Hip. It's evolution, baby, and it's a wonderful thing.
Agreed! I listened to Yield the other day for the first time in a while and was floored by how awesome it was - but if all they had done was try to remake Ten every time they went to the studio, I probably wouldn't still be following them. Lightning Bolt is not Yield or Ten but I really enjoy it and am looking forward to hearing a little bit of everything next Sunday!
Same with the Hip - I enjoy all their albums and all for different reasons. At the beginning of the year, I started listening to the catalogue front to back during my commute. Found myself smiling, singing along and tapping out the rhythm on the steering wheel to every song.
Shane
Re: In A World Possessed By Mediocrity - MattPower - 04-29-2016
Smithco85 Wrote:The hip will never write an album "for the fans" and I sincerely hope they don't. Because if they do, that's when you know they've given up.
Given up? No way. There are many bands that continue their classic sound and stay successful. ...And you know this kind of pisses me off honestly. It's like falling in love with a woman and marrying her, only to realize that she has changed all of the things about her that you fell in love with in the first place. Look, I still love the Hip, but I really frigin' wish that at least just for once, they'd make an album for the fans.
Re: In A World Possessed By Mediocrity - fingernailsonhull - 04-29-2016
MattPower Wrote:Smithco85 Wrote:The hip will never write an album "for the fans" and I sincerely hope they don't. Because if they do, that's when you know they've given up.
Given up? No way. There are many bands that continue their classic sound and stay successful. ...And you know this kind of pisses me off honestly. It's like falling in love with a woman and marrying her, only to realize that she has changed all of the things about her that you fell in love with in the first place. Look, I still love the Hip, but I really frigin' wish that at least just for once, they'd make an album for the fans.
I realize things like this are subjective. And you're totally entitled to your opinion. But my wife is a totally different person than she was ten years ago when we got married. I hope I'm a different person, too. If you're maturing as a person, you're changing. And that kind of change is good. Really good. It's some of the best stuff there is in life. Music is kinda the same thing. If Gord were still writing lyrics about a friend's (girlfriend's?) dad coming home to break up a party (which is to say, high school stuff), I probably wouldn't be listening anymore. The same is true of musical tastes, which should (I think) shift along with the content of the songs.
There are bands like AC/DC that put out the exact same album every few years, and yes they're still successful commercially. But I would say that, artistically, they gave up a long time ago. That's fine. Their fans get what they want. They make a truckload of money. But there's none of that maturing as an artist. That aspect is one of the things I like about the Hip. You disagree. That's cool. But I'm not sure the sentiment is one that should make you angry. That seems odd.
Re: In A World Possessed By Mediocrity - MattPower - 05-05-2016
fingernailsonhull Wrote:MattPower Wrote:Smithco85 Wrote:The hip will never write an album "for the fans" and I sincerely hope they don't. Because if they do, that's when you know they've given up.
Given up? No way. There are many bands that continue their classic sound and stay successful. ...And you know this kind of pisses me off honestly. It's like falling in love with a woman and marrying her, only to realize that she has changed all of the things about her that you fell in love with in the first place. Look, I still love the Hip, but I really frigin' wish that at least just for once, they'd make an album for the fans.
I realize things like this are subjective. And you're totally entitled to your opinion. But my wife is a totally different person than she was ten years ago when we got married. I hope I'm a different person, too. If you're maturing as a person, you're changing. And that kind of change is good. Really good. It's some of the best stuff there is in life. Music is kinda the same thing. If Gord were still writing lyrics about a friend's (girlfriend's?) dad coming home to break up a party (which is to say, high school stuff), I probably wouldn't be listening anymore. The same is true of musical tastes, which should (I think) shift along with the content of the songs.
There are bands like AC/DC that put out the exact same album every few years, and yes they're still successful commercially. But I would say that, artistically, they gave up a long time ago. That's fine. Their fans get what they want. They make a truckload of money. But there's none of that maturing as an artist. That aspect is one of the things I like about the Hip. You disagree. That's cool. But I'm not sure the sentiment is one that should make you angry. That seems odd.
Sure my wife and I have changed a lot too, and we're happily married, but it's not like she's into women now or changed her mind on if she wants a family with me or gained 300 pounds. And maybe the whole wife/band analogy isn't a good comparison! ...I do appreciate that the Hip change and and mature as artists but I find they changed so much that they might as well be an entirely different band now. If it wasn't for their old stuff I would find them like another REM or an average band.
I totally think that they owe their fans a classic sounding album with catchy songs and I feel very justified in saying that. I'll bet that a lot of people would agree too. I'm not an angry person at all, but yeah, when you spend over 20 years being a fan of a band and hoping that they put out another album that made you fall in love with them, and they never do, well it does piss me off a little. Maybe that sounds selfish and a little rude, but the Hip got super famous in Canada because of all those fans who loved New Orleans Is Sinking, Blow At High Dough, Little Bones, Courage, 100th Meridain, Wheat Kings, etc. They've been my favourite band for over 20 years because of those songs. I'm not saying they need to re-do all those classics, but come on... THOSE SONGS are what made them so big, not artsy ones like Morning Moon, At Transformation and the new one. Sure those songs are good, but not great. And for me it has nothing to do with lyrics. Gord's lyrics are as great now as they ever were, it's about song structure, singable memorable choruses, great Bobby solos, and the classic sound. That 4 album stint - UTH, RA, FC & DFN was the ultimate time for them. Why they haven't produced a single album with the magic of those in the last 20 years is beyond me, and they are actually all very different albums.
They did just tour Fully Completely which was for the fans, which was very impressive to me by the way, but was that them giving up? No way. So why don't they go that one step further and turn out another classic sounding album?
I realize that was a rant! Just had to get it out I guess.
Re: In A World Possessed By Mediocrity - cochise - 05-05-2016
MattPower Wrote:Sure my wife and I have changed a lot too, and we're happily married, but it's not like she's into women now or changed her mind on if she wants a family with me or gained 300 pounds. And maybe the whole wife/band analogy isn't a good comparison! ...I do appreciate that the Hip change and and mature as artists but I find they changed so much that they might as well be an entirely different band now. If it wasn't for their old stuff I would find them like another REM or an average band.
Ditto. There is change and then there is CHANGE.
I have changed and matured since my early/mid twenties, but deep down I am still the same person. I have not stagnated or refused to grow up. I have grown and matured, I have accomplished a hell of a lot, I have become a proud father, I have gained profound life experience, I found new interests, I have dropped some old interests, but I'm still the same person inside. A little less hair, but still me.
Back when the Hip came out, I loved them and if I had to compare them to other bands I was into, I would have put them right up there with The Stones or Pearl Jam. If they were a new band now where, say We Are The Same was their first CD, I probably would still like them, but not even near to the same level and definitely would not be drawing similar comparisons.
Keeping a sound/style and not stretching, say like ACDC is one thing, but there is still a way of keeping it and artistically growing and maturing with it. Rush is a prefect example of this. But to me, The Hip have gone from a blues rock group to an adult contemporary group. I still like them and will be buying the new album, but they just do not put out the music like what got me into them.
To each there own in the long run though, this is just my personal opinion. I will fully admit I miss the Hip of old and really don't find the connection to the new stuff like I did with the past. Every CD always has one little nugget in amidst it somewhere that grabs my attention, but it just gets fewer and further between with each CD anymore.
I don't think they owe anything the fans though, they've already brought me enough. They are doing what makes them happy and they have earned the right to do that.
Re: In A World Possessed By Mediocrity - MattPower - 05-05-2016
cochise Wrote:Keeping a sound/style and not stretching, say like ACDC is one thing, but there is still a way of keeping it and artistically growing and maturing with it. Rush is a prefect example of this. But to me, The Hip have gone from a blues rock group to an adult contemporary group. I still like them and will be buying the new album, but they just do not put out the music like what got me into them.
To each there own in the long run though, this is just my personal opinion. I will fully admit I miss the Hip of old and really don't find the connection to the new stuff like I did with the past. Every CD always has one little nugget in amidst it somewhere that grabs my attention, but it just gets fewer and further between with each CD anymore.
You nailed it. You know I was listening to all the Hip's albums on shuffle tonight, with all of this in mind and I was trying to put my finger on exactly what it is that makes their old stuff better, but what you say is true. Blues Rock to Adult Contemporary. That's exactly what it is. This is a general statement but I think it's true for the most part. Heck, Day For Night was even borderline Grunge; That was mighty cool. But now they're a mostly an Adult Contemporary band with just hints of their past styles here and there.
Re: In A World Possessed By Mediocrity - andrew sharpe - 05-06-2016
Come on guys. Every band in the history of music has an album or two of "classic" material, even those with minimal evolution. Lemmy made the same album 23 times and people still wanted to hear Ace of Spades. Are people requesting Rock Or Bust songs at AC/DC shows? They want Thunderstuck! People fall in love with individual songs and albums, I get it. But to suggest the Hip are "mediocre" or "not great anymore" because you only like one or two albums is myopic.
I love this forum but could do with a bit less complaining. "Gord screams too much", "release B-sides", "stop playing arenas", "how about an acoustic album"...isn't this a forum for FANS? If I disliked every album a band put out since 1992 I'd probably just find another favourite band?
Re: In A World Possessed By Mediocrity - sean.bonner - 05-06-2016
andrew sharpe Wrote:Are people requesting Rock Or Bust songs at AC/DC shows?No, but I guess they can request Chinese Democracy?
Re: In A World Possessed By Mediocrity - cochise - 05-06-2016
andrew sharpe Wrote:Come on guys. Every band in the history of music has an album or two of "classic" material, even those with minimal evolution. Lemmy made the same album 23 times and people still wanted to hear Ace of Spades. Are people requesting Rock Or Bust songs at AC/DC shows? They want Thunderstuck! People fall in love with individual songs and albums, I get it. But to suggest the Hip are "mediocre" or "not great anymore" because you only like one or two albums is myopic.
I love this forum but could do with a bit less complaining. "Gord screams too much", "release B-sides", "stop playing arenas", "how about an acoustic album"...isn't this a forum for FANS? If I disliked every album a band put out since 1992 I'd probably just find another favourite band?
I think you are misconstruing "opinion" with "complaining". Its not that I do not like The Hip anymore, or complaining about it. I still like them, but just in a different musical way. The same way that I have both Judas Priest and Dean Martin, two COMPLETELY different musical genres that I still equally enjoy, on my iPod.
I am not complaining in the least, just stating my own personal opinion, and that is the fact that the newer stuff just truly does not grab me like the older Hip material. I am not pining for the old days or stuck in the past, I am just more of a blues rock music fan than I am the type of music they seemed to have drifted over to.
In my own personal opinion, their musical style has changed. There are little hints of that rootsy blues sound that sneaks out once in a while, but all in all, again in own personal opinion, they are a different band. Maybe its just coincidence, but seems like the change slowly began to occur right after Gord's first solo album. But again, just personal opinion, not complaining.
Re: In A World Possessed By Mediocrity - Dark Canuck17 - 05-06-2016
I'am Tired as Fuck with this thread...
Re: In A World Possessed By Mediocrity - cortezthekiller - 05-07-2016
cochise Wrote:MattPower Wrote:Sure my wife and I have changed a lot too, and we're happily married, but it's not like she's into women now or changed her mind on if she wants a family with me or gained 300 pounds. And maybe the whole wife/band analogy isn't a good comparison! ...I do appreciate that the Hip change and and mature as artists but I find they changed so much that they might as well be an entirely different band now. If it wasn't for their old stuff I would find them like another REM or an average band.
Ditto. There is change and then there is CHANGE.
I have changed and matured since my early/mid twenties, but deep down I am still the same person. I have not stagnated or refused to grow up. I have grown and matured, I have accomplished a hell of a lot, I have become a proud father, I have gained profound life experience, I found new interests, I have dropped some old interests, but I'm still the same person inside. A little less hair, but still me.
Back when the Hip came out, I loved them and if I had to compare them to other bands I was into, I would have put them right up there with The Stones or Pearl Jam. If they were a new band now where, say We Are The Same was their first CD, I probably would still like them, but not even near to the same level and definitely would not be drawing similar comparisons.
Keeping a sound/style and not stretching, say like ACDC is one thing, but there is still a way of keeping it and artistically growing and maturing with it. Rush is a prefect example of this. But to me, The Hip have gone from a blues rock group to an adult contemporary group. I still like them and will be buying the new album, but they just do not put out the music like what got me into them.
To each there own in the long run though, this is just my personal opinion. I will fully admit I miss the Hip of old and really don't find the connection to the new stuff like I did with the past. Every CD always has one little nugget in amidst it somewhere that grabs my attention, but it just gets fewer and further between with each CD anymore.
I don't think they owe anything the fans though, they've already brought me enough. They are doing what makes them happy and they have earned the right to do that.
Yep. What he said ^^^^
Re: In A World Possessed By Mediocrity - tthhead87 - 05-08-2016
andrew sharpe Wrote:Come on guys. Every band in the history of music has an album or two of "classic" material, even those with minimal evolution. Lemmy made the same album 23 times and people still wanted to hear Ace of Spades. Are people requesting Rock Or Bust songs at AC/DC shows? They want Thunderstuck! People fall in love with individual songs and albums, I get it. But to suggest the Hip are "mediocre" or "not great anymore" because you only like one or two albums is myopic.
I love this forum but could do with a bit less complaining. "Gord screams too much", "release B-sides", "stop playing arenas", "how about an acoustic album"...isn't this a forum for FANS? If I disliked every album a band put out since 1992 I'd probably just find another favourite band?
This guy has it right. The Hip are a still special band. This song in my opinion is kick ass. Still love the music The Hip puts out and I'm psyched to try and see them at a smaller venue if they play one and I can get tickets. If you're interested in following bands that really push the envelope in terms of putting on incredible live shows and playing different setlists at each show I'd recommend seeing/listening to Phish or Umphrey's Mcgee and jam or prog rock in general. Umphrey's is playing in Niagara Falls on June 3rd, I highly recommend you go to this show.