11-30-2017, 12:05 PM
Music@Work: Released June 6, 2000
"My Music at Work"
"Tiger the Lion"
"Lake Fever"
"Putting Down"
"Stay"
"The Bastard"
"The Completists"
"Freak Turbulence"
"Sharks"
"Toronto #4"
"Wild Mountain Honey"
"Train Overnight"
"As I Wind Down the Pines"
It was an "art versus commerce" discussion thread on this album that made me think it could be interesting to run through the albums in a thoughts and insights approach.
Steve Berlin returned to produce his second album. I recall Rob had a comment about producers always able to get one good album out of the band (understanding he's also quite self-deprecating). This is possibly my most confusing Hip album. My opinion, the first five tracks are great. Tiger The Lion was something different, and I love belting out (badly) that intro. I'll bump The Completists up into that top track category, along with Toronto #4 and As I Wind Down The Pines.
Listening to the album recently thinking about this thread, I don't dislike any of the other tracks (there's no Coconut Cream) but they've never drawn me in. I can't really say why, and I recall having the same impression when the album was released. It's likely the album I've listened to the least.
I've always considered this a Hip turning point, where following the huge success of Phantom Power they made a record that then starts to move away from the more standard Hip song template. REM, another favorite band of mine, had done something similar earlier where following the huge success of Green they moved away from jangle guitar rock to release two primarily acoustic albums. With hindsight, it's a bit of a mid-career reset for both bands. Add in to the mix for The Hip is Coke Machine Glow. We can do a separate thread for that album, but I do put that first solo album also into the category of a "reset".
I also think this is the last big seller (at time of release -- exclude last summer) for the band. Intentional or not, beyond the lead single there's not a lot of radio play songs on the album, I don't recall a second single? -- I assume Lake Fever. Despite all this, I remember these tours were huge. The two sets was a draw to hear some older songs. The addition of Kate Fenner worked in some areas, less in others IMO. I think they figured out the keys better when Jim Bryson joined the WATS tour, but Brown added some interesting elements. My lasting memory of this tour will be a version of Meridian in Ottawa, with a single spotlight on Gord when he did the "if I die section".
I'll add, the remastered vinyl version of this is really good, and brought a new level of appreciation for an album I've always struggled with. "As I Wind Down The Pines" is incredible.
"My Music at Work"
"Tiger the Lion"
"Lake Fever"
"Putting Down"
"Stay"
"The Bastard"
"The Completists"
"Freak Turbulence"
"Sharks"
"Toronto #4"
"Wild Mountain Honey"
"Train Overnight"
"As I Wind Down the Pines"
It was an "art versus commerce" discussion thread on this album that made me think it could be interesting to run through the albums in a thoughts and insights approach.
Steve Berlin returned to produce his second album. I recall Rob had a comment about producers always able to get one good album out of the band (understanding he's also quite self-deprecating). This is possibly my most confusing Hip album. My opinion, the first five tracks are great. Tiger The Lion was something different, and I love belting out (badly) that intro. I'll bump The Completists up into that top track category, along with Toronto #4 and As I Wind Down The Pines.
Listening to the album recently thinking about this thread, I don't dislike any of the other tracks (there's no Coconut Cream) but they've never drawn me in. I can't really say why, and I recall having the same impression when the album was released. It's likely the album I've listened to the least.
I've always considered this a Hip turning point, where following the huge success of Phantom Power they made a record that then starts to move away from the more standard Hip song template. REM, another favorite band of mine, had done something similar earlier where following the huge success of Green they moved away from jangle guitar rock to release two primarily acoustic albums. With hindsight, it's a bit of a mid-career reset for both bands. Add in to the mix for The Hip is Coke Machine Glow. We can do a separate thread for that album, but I do put that first solo album also into the category of a "reset".
I also think this is the last big seller (at time of release -- exclude last summer) for the band. Intentional or not, beyond the lead single there's not a lot of radio play songs on the album, I don't recall a second single? -- I assume Lake Fever. Despite all this, I remember these tours were huge. The two sets was a draw to hear some older songs. The addition of Kate Fenner worked in some areas, less in others IMO. I think they figured out the keys better when Jim Bryson joined the WATS tour, but Brown added some interesting elements. My lasting memory of this tour will be a version of Meridian in Ottawa, with a single spotlight on Gord when he did the "if I die section".
I'll add, the remastered vinyl version of this is really good, and brought a new level of appreciation for an album I've always struggled with. "As I Wind Down The Pines" is incredible.