[ceebuler]

My favourite moment of the record occurs on In Sarnia, 1:02 - 1:04. Blink your ears and you'll miss it.

[Dire Wolf]

It's just so heavy man. Knowing it's the final Tragically Hip album may be tainting my judgment. As it stands right now I'm pretty sure this album is freaking brilliant.

Maybe I'm being far too optimistic.... but nobody in the band has said that or ever indicated that.

Hell, they could be in Bath laying something down as we speak.

I agree. I don't think the boys will be so quick to disregard the tracks that didn't make the album this time around, plus I'm guessing health willing, Gordie will want to record as much as he possibly can.

[spottrax]

Random Comments about MMP. The band was purposely headed in a modern direction with the production of the album. Peel the layers and it is still the same band. Many of these songs could've been from the IBE era IMO. GD is given a lot of room and liberties here. Clearly, there is some attempt to make this album as mystical and abstract as possible. By far the most "out-there" release the band has ever done. All of this is meant in a good way. Like several people have said, the album takes a couple of listens (and I recommend reading along to the lyrics) to really fix into the listeners head. Gonna be interesting to see how the album works live. So many effects on the vocals and keys layered. I'm guessing they will have a side musician (ala 2009 tour). There are no hit (hook filled) singles on the album. Nothing to really sing along to like on WATS or other attempts at arena rock. This is an all-out Indie album. Very DCFC.....


Here In The Dark and Hot Mic.....are....absolutely EPIC. I have to believe these songs will be a staples on the tour. BTW Hot Mic is one SNARLY tune. Get past that little mellow intro and it really rocks.

[Dire Wolf]

I really like how Johnny's drums are much more prevalent in the mix, not buried/muddied in the mix like on the last few releases. We're not talking Don Smith here, but a huge improvement...IMO

[Tubaros]

Loving the album here, great feeling of arching narrative, and as @sherpa said, the end of the last track is similar to the start of the first. Good approach if it was intentional - as otherwise the final bars of the (maybe) last album would fade away, this way, the loop back to the start. Quite a few faves, In a World is still my favourite even though Ive been listening to that and Tired as since they were released. Good, professional, solid album, with and band (and producers) who really know what theyre doing.

[jtr101]

Anyone have the lyrics posted anywhere yet?

Love to read them while I'm listening through, vinyl hasn't arrived yet.

[paulster2626]

Why do I keep bumping up the volume, ever so slightly....

Sunshine, 30 degrees, plans with family, and a new Hip album. This is going to be a great weekend. Cheers to all! :thumb:

[cochise]

It's just so heavy man. Knowing it's the final Tragically Hip album may be tainting my judgment. As it stands right now I'm pretty sure this album is freaking brilliant.

Maybe I'm being far too optimistic.... but nobody in the band has said that or ever indicated that.

Hell, they could be in Bath laying something down as we speak.

I agree. I don't think the boys will be so quick to disregard the tracks that didn't make the album this time around, plus I'm guessing health willing, Gordie will want to record as much as he possibly can.

I know (well "know" in a very loose sens of the term) a local Kingston musician that does a lot of work with the boys., in fact she just had a show last night with Rob and Gord S. Anyways, she happened to make a comment on a post about the Kingston show.

"stop referring to it as 'the final show'. Nobody from The Hip front lines has said such a thing"

This gave me a glimmer of hope that something more is to come.

[direwolf74]

There was a line at the record store this morning. All for The Hip.
When is the last time any artist had a line at a record store on release day?
God, I am going to miss this.

I picked up both the CD and vinyl at HMV this morning. There was a pretty big lineup at the till, and everyone had copies of MMP in their hands (along with the new Chili Peppers and Radiohead). They also had the Hip blaring on the store's sound system. The guy at the till said it was the biggest release day for music in a long time.

[KarmaKrazy]

The star on this album for me is Johnny Fay. He is consistently awesome throughout the whole album. His parts are interesting, very musical and add excitement to songs that for me, really aren't that exciting. Take the Gord thing out of this and this album is really flat. Most songs sound, to me, sound like jams that weren't nurtured enough, they meander and there's no forward motion or sense of them really going anywhere. There's no "yah!!" moments. Gord sounds like he's trying a bit too hard and with that the simplistic beauty that made us all love the Hip has been lost. Now with that said, it usually takes me 15-20 listens to get the shivers from the subtle nuances... so chances are I will be correcting myself on this post in a few days. I do however love the fact that they are stretching out and moving to a new musical place. Musically, thats all you can do as a band, the Hip have always been one of the greats at recreating their sound and not being boxed in. The layered production and a lot of the experimental tones used on the guitars and drums are really cool. I get what they are doing here, but I just think the songs are missing something with the exceptions being Tired as Fuck, Hot Mic, and Ocean Next.

[scottitude]

Sometimes less is more.

In this case, for me anyway, less is epic.

[canuckeh]

Lyrics have all been posted on the official website, looking forward to my next playthrough while following along with Gord's musings

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[paulster2626]

Will there be more vinyl copies available at some point? Or is that all she wrote?

[direwolf74]

I'm glad they put the lyrics up on thehip.com, as the lyric sheet is a bit of a mess. It looks really cool, but Gord's handwriting is difficult to read in spots.

[paulster2626]

Gord's handwriting is difficult to read in spots.

An accurate reflection of his singing style and lyrical meanings. How poetic.