[Rye]

If you want The Hip to play bar room music, go watch a local cover band.

The new songs sound great live. The problem is when they bust out "old favorites" like New Orleans Is Sinking that Gord just butchers and screams through. I hate that the band feels obligated to play these songs when Gord clearly isn't interested. For whatever reason they feel like they have to play these hits. They should be following Neil Young or Pearl Jam and if they're bored of a song, retire it and don't bother. Again, Gord doesn't butcher the new songs, it's the old ones.

And the comment a few posts above about Pearl Jam still sounding like the same core as their early records couldn't be more off base. Almost nothing they out out resembles anything off Vs and especially Ten.

[cochise]

On a similar note to my last post, I just read an interview from Dave Grohl about the new Foo Fighters album and upcoming single being released:

"The day I’m really excited about is for people to hear the first song, because it’s unlike anything we’ve ever done before, but it’s instantly recognizable as our band. If we’ve ever gone out on a limb with a rock song, it’s this song. And you play it for people and when that last chord goes, ‘Woooosh!’ and ends, they go, ‘What the f--- was that?"

This guy has it right, he has had it right his entire career.

Interesting article, even a little Hip nod in there as well. Glad to see The Foos are familiar with some Canadian bands!

Sonic Highways, the TV series directed by Grohl, documents the making of the Foos’ latest album in eight U.S. studios in eight weeks — Austin, Chicago, Los Angeles, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. — plus the history of each city’s musical roots, scenes and the studio itself.

So maybe the Foos could do the same thing in Canada — such as travel across the country recording one song in a different studio each week while filming it for TV?

“Well, I’m never f---ing doing it again but I honestly think...” he said before Shiflett interjected: “Arcade Fire can do it — there you go.”

Grohl joked: “They should make a record about the suburbs.”

Added Smear: “Or The Tragically Hip could do the Canadian series.”

Interjected Grohl: “Imagine if Sloan went across the country!”


Whole article can be read here:

http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/2014/10/01/21979321.html

[direwolf74]

If you want The Hip to play bar room music, go watch a local cover band.

The new songs sound great live. The problem is when they bust out "old favorites" like New Orleans Is Sinking that Gord just butchers and screams through. I hate that the band feels obligated to play these songs when Gord clearly isn't interested. For whatever reason they feel like they have to play these hits. They should be following Neil Young or Pearl Jam and if they're bored of a song, retire it and don't bother. Again, Gord doesn't butcher the new songs, it's the old ones.

And the comment a few posts above about Pearl Jam still sounding like the same core as their early records couldn't be more off base. Almost nothing they out out resembles anything off Vs and especially Ten.

Agreed on all counts. In fact over on the Pearl Jam forum, a lot of fans were bitching that their newest album wasn't "rock" enough, and that there were too many mellow/acoustic tracks. That band doesn't sound anything these days like they did in 1991, and neither do the Hip. Bottom line, these bands are never going to sound like their younger selves again, no matter how much fans want them to. These guys are artists. They've evolved not only as musicians, but as people as well. Gord Downie at age 50 is not the same dude he was at age 25. His songwriting comes from a totally different place now. Eddie Vedder is in his late 40s, and he's a father of two kids. That angry/aggressive younger guy who was stage diving and climbing the rafters in the 90s is gone, and I doubt he'll be coming back anytime soon.

From a songwriting standpoint, I've been quite happy with the Hip's recent albums (with the exception of WATS, which I thought had way too much filler). NFPA was a late career gem in my opinion. For those of you who think that record doesn't rock enough, listen closely to Transformation, Attawapiskat, Modern Spirit, Take Forever, and Streets Ahead...all of which harken back to their rock-oriented roots, while brilliant songs like Man Machine Poem and the title track push their sound forward into new, unexplored territories. Hell, Modern Spirit wouldn't sound out of place on Road Apples or Fully Completely. As songwriters, I think the Hip still have it. As mentioned in numerous threads, it's not the albums, but their live show that's in desperate need of repairs.

[YYZDave]

Wow, I'm surprised to hear so much bashing of The Hips live show performances on here. Maybe it has a lot to do with The Hip playing such large stadiums over in the US/Canada (not that they have much choice mind) and perhaps it has something to do with Gord being less able to "connect" so easily with the large crowd. There's been a lot mentioned about the break down of his live voice, so maybe he is making adjustments to fill the space he is performing in, trying (and failing) to make his voice fill the stadium, and it ends up affecting the performance. Just a thought. As a Canadian living in the UK, I see them every time they swing by my neck of the woods (despite the fact it forces me to travel into that dreadful place known as London) and they have never failed to blow me away. I have to admit I feel pretty privileged seeing them play smaller club gigs in this country (there's gotta be some benefits!), but every time I've seen them they've put on such an incredible show they easily enter my top 5 for live band experiences and this opinion never wanes. Gord is such a killer frontman, that it really amazes to hear so many people complain about their live show experiences on this forum. Sorry to hear it, but if you get the chance to fly over to Europe to see them at a smaller venue then I'd highly recommend it. Maybe it would change your mind.

[hippie]

Wow, I'm surprised to hear so much bashing of The Hips live show performances on here. Maybe it has a lot to do with The Hip playing such large stadiums over in the US/Canada (not that they have much choice mind) and perhaps it has something to do with Gord being less able to "connect" so easily with the large crowd. There's been a lot mentioned about the break down of his live voice, so maybe he is making adjustments to fill the space he is performing in, trying (and failing) to make his voice fill the stadium, and it ends up affecting the performance. Just a thought. As a Canadian living in the UK, I see them every time they swing by my neck of the woods (despite the fact it forces me to travel into that dreadful place known as London) and they have never failed to blow me away. I have to admit I feel pretty privileged seeing them play smaller club gigs in this country (there's gotta be some benefits!), but every time I've seen them they've put on such an incredible show they easily enter my top 5 for live band experiences and this opinion never wanes. Gord is such a killer frontman, that it really amazes to hear so many people complain about their live show experiences on this forum. Sorry to hear it, but if you get the chance to fly over to Europe to see them at a smaller venue then I'd highly recommend it. Maybe it would change your mind.

i've seen them every time they've played on PEI since 2007 and they've always been great

[Escape@Hand]

So does anyone have any news on this new album? I wonder how long it will take to put out now that they're releasing the remastered FC. It doesn't make sense to do a full tour for the re-release, and then come out with a new album right after and tour again. I'm kind of fearing it could be a while before there is anything new from the band, and while I'm looking forward to the FC tour and re-release, I'd much rather hear something new from them.

[sean.bonner]

I'm guessing a few festival shows with a new song or two in the set. Maybe even a new tune during the FC tour. I'm hoping this sets up for a small theatre tour. Metropolis in Montreal, Phoenix in Toronto, Commodore in Vancouver.

I'd go home to Saint John for an Imperial Theatre show.

[chives]

I would bet maybe a new song during the FC tour, but most likely Summer Festival shows, new songs, new CD in the fall of 2015 with tour to follow. And yes it will be more intimate with smaller venues.

[eatmecompletely]

there is no new album
they will just keep remastering all their albums
once they have worked there way through
they will remaster are remaster

it is the perfect model

[robbroncs]

so.

anyone want to speculate that maybe they hit a rut during the new writing? for them to go back and revisit the past....will they continue and do a second record remaster/tour?

[opiated49]

Road Apples will be next

[WesleyC.]

Wishlist:

- Back to basics, grass roots bluesy rock that made them who they are
- just the boys, no additional strings, pianos etc
- maybe even let Paul take lead for a song
- produced by Mark Howard

Love your wishlist. I'm not sure about the Paul lead vocals one though. It would definitely be interesting but his vocals are mediocre.

My Wishlist is all based on their roots. I wish they'd finally make an album like the ones that made them famous. I have always appreciated the way the band lets themselves evolve but there comes a point where they should really do one for "the fans". I don't think they have ever actually made one for the fans and I think it's about time.

- RIFF based guitar songs like NOIS, Little Bones, Cordelia, I'll Believe in You, Bring It All Back, Locked in the Trunk... etc.
- Swampy Gord vocals like on their first 3 albums.
- Just the boys, no additional strings, pianos etc. (good one cochise)
- 12 songs minimum, with the album at least 45 minutes long. NFPA was too short.
- Some really good songs that build up like Locked in the Trunk of a car or Nautical Disaster.

I feel like they are probably well aware of their fans concerns as of late. Gords recent work with younger artists seems to demonstrate that he still has it. I'm glad that they've gotten right back into the recording process. Fast and furious has always produced their best work.

Agreed. They did Fully Completely only one year after Road Apples and the majority of people still consider it their best.

How many of Pauls solo shows did you see to come up with that opinion?