[direwolf74]

Personally, I have little use for re-issues unless they come equipped with substantial 'new' material from the vaults: demos, alternate tracks, unreleased songs, etc.. I'm not interested in the Hip as a nostalgia band.

A nostalgia band is what they are now. The whole Fully Completely thing was totally in that vein. One unreleased song (Radio Show). Plus a different version of So Hard Done By. Which is to say, a nostalgia re-release. I don't like it either. But it's what they are now.

I wouldn't exactly call them a nostalgia band yet, as they're still cranking out new material every few years. And to be fair, every time they tour a new album, the set is usually pretty heavy on the newer material-- at least during the first leg. The reissue thing doesn't bother me. Every band does it these days, including the mighty Pearl Jam. That being said, the Hip's reliance on lazy, radio-friendly setlists over the last few years has them sitting dangerously close to nostalgia act territory. I pray it doesn't get to that point, but man, they really need to get this new album out soon and do a proper tour. And for the love of humanity, would it kill them to play some deep cuts once in a while? All we want is a little variety. Give the setlist duties back to Gord Sinclair where they belong.