"Now For Plan A" Leak Discussion Thread - Printable Version
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Re: "Now For Plan A" Leak Discussion Thread - The Horrible Esthete - 09-28-2012
chris Wrote:As do I.googolplex Wrote:I like it better this way. Sorry Paul.I concur.
To each his own and all that jazz, but how does one not love Harmer's wonderful voice backing Downie? Especially on these cuts? Seems like such a great fit to me.
Re: "Now For Plan A" Leak Discussion Thread - The Horrible Esthete - 09-28-2012
direwolf74 Wrote:I've been spinning this sucker constantly for the last few days. I honestly think this is the best record they've made since the Music@Work/In Violet Light era. Yea, that's right. I said it. Is it up there with the likes of Day for Night or Phantom Power? Not quite. But it's an excellent late-career gem, and while I like some tracks better than others on this disc, there isn't a single song that I skip. Front to back, this is quality material.
I may wind up in agreement, but I can't say for sure quite yet. I need to spend more time with her in fine clothes and makeup (press quality and good speakers), in more intimate and captive enviorns (my car).
No conclusions until she's traveled approximately 250 miles in my automobile.
Re: "Now For Plan A" Leak Discussion Thread - cortezthekiller - 09-28-2012
thedarkestone Wrote:- Man Machine Poem is epic. Yeah the strings are a little silly, but I can live with it.
- We want to be it is epic.
- This is the first record since Henhouse where I haven't skipped any songs. Although, other records have some real jems (Depression Suite, Your not the Ocean, If New Orleans Is Beat, Dire Wolf, etc.), I honestly think this is the strongest collection of songs as a whole that they have released in years.
- Right now I feel that Streets Ahead and Done and Done are the weakest links, but certainly still enjoyable.
- I find it funny that some people don't like About This Map. That was one of the songs that immediately jumped out at me and is among my favourites. How could you not like that chorus?
- We want to be it and Lookahead should be singles. Lookahead gets radio stations double Cancon points, but seriously...it's just so damn catchy.
...and mentions Jeff Beck. Bonus marks for that!
Re: "Now For Plan A" Leak Discussion Thread - bow_of_defeat - 09-28-2012
The Horrible Esthete Wrote:chris Wrote:As do I.googolplex Wrote:I like it better this way. Sorry Paul.I concur.
To each his own and all that jazz, but how does one not love Harmer's wonderful voice backing Downie? Especially on these cuts? Seems like such a great fit to me.
Certainly, everyone is entitled to his/her opinion. Sarah Harmer is fine. But she's not a member of The Tragically Hip. Always dug tunes like Chagrin Falls, where Paul was prominently featured.
Keep the guests to the solo albums. Just my opinion.
Re: "Now For Plan A" Leak Discussion Thread - jkdiamond - 09-28-2012
bow_of_defeat Wrote:Certainly, everyone is entitled to his/her opinion. Sarah Harmer is fine. But she's not a member of The Tragically Hip. Always dug tunes like Chagrin Falls, where Paul was prominently featured.
Agreed. Not digging the album so far, can't pinpoint why. It's not bad, it's just not my sound preference right off the bat. I have 5 hours of driving I have to do tomorrow so I'm going to see if it grows on me. I hope so in time for the concert on Saturday.
In any event I think I need to lower my expectations some. Every time I listen to a new album I keep hoping it's going to be Phantom Power - which is a masterpiece IMO.
Modern Spirit is the only sung I've really dug right off the bat.
Re: "Now For Plan A" Leak Discussion Thread - arseface88 - 09-29-2012
I personally was pleasantly surprised by this album, and I think it's one of the band's better records since Phantom Power. I think it's the first time the band have really successfully incorporated Gord's acoustic guitar playing into the interplay of the instruments. My only problem is that this is more of a folk rock record, much like We Are the Same, and I was hoping there would be more out and out rock songs. I also think this album bears the influence of Gord's solo work, bringing a looseness to their sound that doesn't really hurt the songs, but keeps them from locking into a tight groove and rocking out like the old days. Come to think of it, I don't think there's a single song on this record that rocks as hard as, say, Little Bones. They're still playing a little too much like an indie rock band, but they're just better at it than they were on the last record. You get the feeling that they started with chord changes, not big rock riffs. Rob Baker's leads sound incredibly pretty on this album. It's just that he's also capable of second-to-none stadium rock riffs, and it seems like that's a side of the band's personality that's been left behind, maybe forever. The album has a lot of hooks, they just don't necessarily feel like the work of The Hip. You can tell the band has been listening to a lot of other people's music. That's both a good thing and a bad thing, making the album sound fresh and lively, but also a lot less ballsy than the insistently grooving rock hits that made The Hip huge.
Re: "Now For Plan A" Leak Discussion Thread - jgardz - 09-29-2012
Arseface, you perfectly explained how I'm feeling about this record. There's some great parts, but it just doesn't feel like a "hip" record to me...I'm okay with artist growth and all that, but I like the hip to rock, I love the power they generate when they lock in. To me, there's just too much "beauty" and not enough "balls".
Re: "Now For Plan A" Leak Discussion Thread - thebends - 09-29-2012
Been listening to NFPA pretty steady for about 3 days now and, like all Hip albums in the past, the tracks are starting to stick and are slowly becoming part of my life soundtrack. I find myself thinking of different riffs, melodies and lyrics, the stunning guitar work on the title track at the most unexpected moments; buying dinner in the frozen food section, or the washing of the dishes. It’s inevitable, about three days in and the songs start getting under my skin.
Re: "Now For Plan A" Leak Discussion Thread - direwolf74 - 09-29-2012
To me this album incorporates 25 years' worth of musical growth and experience into a single album. All of the styles they've dipped their toes into over the years are represented here. The old school Hip sound of the mid-to-late 90s can be heard in 3 of the tracks: Transformation, Attiwapiskat, and with it's simple 4/4 bar-rock groove and the way the guitars sound, Take Forever could be a long lost outtake from Phantom Power or even Road Apples.
The rest of the album takes little bits and elements from the last 4 or 5 Hip albums and mixes them all together, and I think the results are outstanding. So far the big complaint about this record seems to be the lack of balls-to-the-wall 'rawk'. Like many here, I was expecting more of a throwback album this time out, mostly because of comments from Paul earlier this year hinting that the album in progress was sounding more "rockin and upbeat" than the last album. And really, if you're comparing it to WATS, then he wasn't lying. This album definitely has more of an edge to it, and the songs are catchier and more up-tempo. But for a band that always talks about pushing forward and not resting on their laurels, maybe it was naive of me to expect them to release Phantom Power Part II. And the more I think about it, they already made their throwback album in 2004 (In Between Evolution). And if you wanted more of a heavy alt-rock sound, then World Container offered that up in spades.
For me, it's all about the songs. When it really comes down to it, I could care less what style they write in as long as the songs are strong and memorable. And in my humble opinion, this is the strongest collection of songs they've put together in over a decade. I understand people's disappointment that they don't make 90s-style alternative rock anymore. As Hip fans we all have such incredible memories of that time, and it was awesome. But that was 15 years ago, folks. They're not that band anymore and I don't think they ever will be again. They're all in their mid to late 40s now, they all have families, they're 13 albums into a 25+ year career, and their songwriting comes from a totally different place. When Gord was on Q with Jian Gomeshi in '09, he was asked how much he remembers about the writing and recording of "Coke Machine Glow", and he mentioned that he doesn't know who that guy is anymore, and that he could never make that album the same way again at this stage in his life, because he's a different person and it wouldn't turn out the same. I assume the Hip use the same philosophy. Who knows? Personally I'm just happy that these guys are still churning out such brilliant music this late into their career. Whether it's the hard-rock sound of At Transformation, the breezy folk of the title track, or the catchy power-pop of the Modern Spirit, this album bleeds with passion and emotion, and proves that this band isn't just mailing it in. Clearly they still care a lot about their craft, and that's very encouraging and inspiring to me. I'm really enjoying this record.
Re: "Now For Plan A" Leak Discussion Thread - Summiteer - 09-29-2012
direwolf74 Wrote:To me this album incorporates 25 years' worth of musical growth and experience into a single album. All of the styles they've dipped their toes into over the years are represented here. The old school Hip sound of the mid-to-late 90s can be heard in 3 of the tracks: Transformation, Attiwapiskat, and with it's simple 4/4 bar-rock groove and the way the guitars sound, Take Forever could be a long lost outtake from Phantom Power or even Road Apples.
The rest of the album takes little bits and elements from the last 4 or 5 Hip albums and mixes them all together, and I think the results are outstanding. So far the big complaint about this record seems to be the lack of balls-to-the-wall 'rawk'. Like many here, I was expecting more of a throwback album this time out, mostly because of comments from Paul earlier this year hinting that the album in progress was sounding more "rockin and upbeat" than the last album. And really, if you're comparing it to WATS, then he wasn't lying. This album definitely has more of an edge to it, and the songs are catchier and more up-tempo. But for a band that always talks about pushing forward and not resting on their laurels, maybe it was naive of me to expect them to release Phantom Power Part II. And the more I think about it, they already made their throwback album in 2004 (In Between Evolution). And if you wanted more of a heavy alt-rock sound, then World Container offered that up in spades.
For me, it's all about the songs. When it really comes down to it, I could care less what style they write in as long as the songs are strong and memorable. And in my humble opinion, this is the strongest collection of songs they've put together in over a decade. I understand people's disappointment that they don't make 90s-style alternative rock anymore. As Hip fans we all have such incredible memories of that time, and it was awesome. But that was 15 years ago, folks. They're not that band anymore and I don't think they ever will be again. They're all in their mid to late 40s now, they all have families, they're 13 albums into a 25+ year career, and their songwriting comes from a totally different place. When Gord was on Q with Jian Gomeshi in '09, he was asked how much he remembers about the writing and recording of "Coke Machine Glow", and he mentioned that he doesn't know who that guy is anymore, and that he could never make that album the same way again at this stage in his life, because he's a different person and it wouldn't turn out the same. I assume the Hip use the same philosophy. Who knows? Personally I'm just happy that these guys are still churning out such brilliant music this late into their career. Whether it's the hard-rock sound of At Transformation, the breezy folk of the title track, or the catchy power-pop of the Modern Spirit, this album bleeds with passion and emotion, and proves that this band isn't just mailing it in. Clearly they still care a lot about their craft, and that's very encouraging and inspiring to me. I'm really enjoying this record.
:thumb:
Re: "Now For Plan A" Leak Discussion Thread - screw_ball - 09-29-2012
SoylentGreg Wrote:Honestly, maybe this is just from the fact that my other favorite band (The Mountain Goats) is streaming their new album that comes out the same day and it just happens to be one of the best albums of their career, but i'm not feeling the patience I normally have with a new Hip release. I maybe like half of this album, tops. At Transformation, The Lookahead(tbqh I like this one because it sounds like something from Grand Bounce), We Want to Be It and the title track are the only ones I could see going on a Hip mixCD in a year. "About This Map" might be the worst song they've ever recorded - the metaphor isn't clever at all and is just grating (the map is of our relationship! and we're all 'about' it, the way lawn darts are strewn 'about' a lawn!) And I dunno, but hearing some middle-aged guy in a rapidly aging rock band shrieking about he's gonna go find 'The Modern Spirit' just leaves me cold. Maybe it'll grow on me in a week (I really hope it does), or maybe it'll sound better when I hear a good chunk of it live in November, but right now this ranks right at the bottom of the Hip catalogue IMO.This is exactly it. 'Transcendental Youth' is absolutely beautiful.
Edit: Also, and I hope y'all don't e-crucify me for this, but The Mountain Goats are probably the only band I have seen live which exude more energy and charisma than The Tragically Hip when they play. When I saw them John Darnielle (the singer) was grabbing girls' heads and menacingly singing into their faces it was just ridiculous. And it's just 3 guys. John Frusciante, Scott Walker...I don't know who else...are the only people, along with John Darnielle, whose music has become better in such ridiculous exponential levels as their career progresses. For The Mountain Goats...I'd heard one, MAYBE two of their full band albums before I saw them live a few years ago. Most of what I'd heard was one guy with occasional accompaniment by one or two people singing really, really good folk songs with incredible lyrics recorded on an old boombox. He did this for a while. When I saw them, though, I was greeted with this (minus the death metal intro)
[youtube]mXX7MURxFX8[/youtube]
Blew my mind. It is probably the only show I have been to where I have not known most of the songs that has kept me so f.ucking hyped the whole time. I knew two, perhaps three of the songs they played that night, and they played for a while (also, a lot of their songs sound really similar.)
The reason I'm going on this rant is that I've been feeling this lately and since Greg mentioned the album I thought I'd get some of this off my chest, but also that in the past weeks I've heard three brand new albums that I've been really excited about, one of which is the new Mountain Goats, which is amazing and I love, one of which is PBX Funicular Intaglio Zone by John Frusciante, which may be one of the most groundbreaking rock albums of the past decade, and And Now for Plan A, which seems to be a record by a band running out of steam, whereas despite also being around for more than 20 years these other two albums are by artists in their prime. Just been thinking about this a lot. And though The Hip have been around for almost a decade more than the Mountain Goats, John Darnielle has put out 14 studio albums, 4 demos collections, 6 cassettes, 18 EPs/singles, 4 rarities compilations, and 6 collaborative singles/EPs. He's also been on a shitload of compilations. So he's no newbie, you know? He's made a lot of music and a lot of it sounds similar but he still finds a way to make it compelling, which is what I miss about The Hip. Or maybe it's all just in my head and my tastes are changing as I grow older.
Re: "Now For Plan A" Leak Discussion Thread - Tthip - 09-29-2012
spottrax Wrote:Agree to an extent re Pauls backgrounds. He's there in many spots, just not as up in the mix as older albums.
bow_of_defeat Wrote:I've only listened to the record a couple times but does anyone else notice Paul's backing vocals being phased out? I really dig his solo album and wish he had more vocal opportunities.
googolplex Wrote:I like it better this way. Sorry Paul.The background vocals, to me, are one of the most beautiful, essential parts of The Hip. Mostly Paul.
First time I 'noticed' was 50 mission cap - and the background makes that song.
And the great, great, great backing vocals to Chagrin Falls.
And Lake Fever (I love singing Pauls parts)
And Poets
And, it goes on and on and on...
Re: "Now For Plan A" Leak Discussion Thread - screw_ball - 09-29-2012
I agree totally. Imagine "Grace, Too" without the background vocals. Shit, "600ft Ceiling"?
Re: "Now For Plan A" Leak Discussion Thread - spottrax - 09-29-2012
I don't want to turn this into the "Pauls singing" thread but I finally have had the chance to listen to a bunch of Pauls tunes on Sirius today.... I really like his voice...raspy and Dylanesce... Gonna have to pick up his solo album.
Re: "Now For Plan A" Leak Discussion Thread - direwolf74 - 09-29-2012
spottrax Wrote:I don't want to turn this into the "Pauls singing" thread but I finally have had the chance to listen to a bunch of Pauls tunes on Sirius today.... I really like his voice...raspy and Dylanesce... Gonna have to pick up his solo album.
His album is awesome. And last I heard he was doing some more recording at the Bathouse and slowly working on a follow-up in between work with the Hip. Can't wait to hear what he has in store next.