[Escape@Hand]

Looking at riffs, that really is one of the big transitions from UTH/RA/FC and everything that came after. There are at least half a dozen great riffs each on those first three albums and then practically none on DFN. I think the only one I would count on that album would be So Hard Done By. Grace, Too certainly has a very recognizable opening but I'd classify that as more of a "groove" than a riff (semantics, I know). It seemed to move very quickly from a "raw" sound on RA to an "atmospheric" vibe on DFN, and I think the riffs, or lack thereof, play a huge role in that change.

I'd have to disagree, to a degree, about their newer material lacking riffs. I'd define a riff as any melody (non-chord progression) that the song, or part of the song (ie verse or chorus) is structured around. "Grace, Too" has an iconic riff, but Robbie doesn't play it. Impossibilium has a great riff, but I believe that Paul plays it. Scared has a couple of really nice ones too, that again, Paul plays.

M@W would be the opposite, for example, as it's based around the E-B-A chord progression, rather than a particular melodic idea (I hope that makes sense, it's hard to talk about music without listening to the music you're describing!).

Another great riff of Rob's is Poets, can't believe I didn't mention that one before.

[potsie]

Looking at riffs, that really is one of the big transitions from UTH/RA/FC and everything that came after. There are at least half a dozen great riffs each on those first three albums and then practically none on DFN. I think the only one I would count on that album would be So Hard Done By. Grace, Too certainly has a very recognizable opening but I'd classify that as more of a "groove" than a riff (semantics, I know). It seemed to move very quickly from a "raw" sound on RA to an "atmospheric" vibe on DFN, and I think the riffs, or lack thereof, play a huge role in that change.

I'd have to disagree, to a degree, about their newer material lacking riffs. I'd define a riff as any melody (non-chord progression) that the song, or part of the song (ie verse or chorus) is structured around. "Grace, Too" has an iconic riff, but Robbie doesn't play it. Impossibilium has a great riff, but I believe that Paul plays it. Scared has a couple of really nice ones too, that again, Paul plays.

M@W would be the opposite, for example, as it's based around the E-B-A chord progression, rather than a particular melodic idea (I hope that makes sense, it's hard to talk about music without listening to the music you're describing!).

Another great riff of Rob's is Poets, can't believe I didn't mention that one before.

To clarify, I agree that the later songs aren't without riffs, I just don't think they are prominent or as defining for the song. There aren't as many what I would call a "classic" riffs. For sure there are some sprinkled in there (some albums more liberally than others) but after FC there were fewer that quickly wormed their way into your ear. There are numerous reasons why many people prefer "old Hip" and I believe one of them is that the riffs on the first few albums hit you upside the head much more than the later material. It takes more effort to listen to and like the Music at Work or In Violet Light albums than it does to like Road Apples. When people say they wish the Hip would make another album like Road Apples, I think part of what their asking for is more riffs, or at least more that are clearly identifiable. As for Grace, Too, I have a hard time separating Sinclair's bass from the guitar riff(s), which clouds my view of it being a classic riff. It's fantastic for sure but it seems like more of a team effort on that one.

[cochise]

Is it OK to pick a least favourite riff?? If so, my vote would go to "Are You Ready". Being the first track on IVL, I have to admit when I first heard it, for a second I thought I had a defective CD, it just sounded warbled and out of tune. I am all for alternate tuning, play with them myself, but whatever this might be just doesn't catch me. Even now when I hear it, it still sounds out of tune to me.

[potsie]

Is it OK to pick a least favourite riff?? If so, my vote would go to "Are You Ready". Being the first track on IVL, I have to admit when I first heard it, for a second I thought I had a defective CD, it just sounded warbled and out of tune. I am all for alternate tuning, play with them myself, but whatever this might be just doesn't catch me. Even now when I hear it, it still sounds out of tune to me.

"Are you Ready" is certainly is a strong contender for least favourite riff and, for me, least favourite chorus. When looking at the string of album openers from '87 to 2002 (Smalltown, Little Bones, Courage, Grace, Giftshop, Poets, My M@W, Are You Ready), one really sticks out as not belonging. The first 10 seconds of any of those 7 albums is a great Hip moment but for IVL my hand goes straight to the skip button when "Are You Ready" starts up. I think it would have changed the tone of that album had there been a stronger lead off song.

[sean.bonner]

I'm not saying 'Are You Ready' should have been trashed from the album entirely...

However, that drum track creeping in during the Use It Up intro... perfect album opening material if you ask me.

[direwolf74]

Another great riff of Rob's is Poets, can't believe I didn't mention that one before.

Damn, good call on Poets. I forgot to mention it as well.

[cochise]

Need to give some love to "Gus" too. I love that gritty, dirty, grungy opening riff.

Edit: Oh and "The Darkest One" too.

[Green Mountain Bot]

Little Bones is without question my favorite Rob riff. And the Paul riff that goes with it is fuckin' righteous, too.

[Summiteer]

Bring It All Back.

[carebread]

Lonely End of the Rink.

[sean.bonner]

No Threat

[potsie]

Little Bones is without question my favorite Rob riff. And the Paul riff that goes with it is fuckin' righteous, too.

I'm with you on this. To my ears, this seems like Hip's "heaviest" riff. This one gets heads banging and would get mosh pits bouncing back in the day.

[Escape@Hand]

Need to give some love to "Gus" too. I love that gritty, dirty, grungy opening riff.

Edit: Oh and "The Darkest One" too.

Gus is a good riff, but Paul plays it.

[sean.bonner]

Happy Birthday Rob!

...and Rory.

[pstratman]

Love the guitar interplay on Pigeon Camera- one thing that I like about most of the Hips material is their guitar tones- beautiful Fender tones-Rob plays some tasty material through the whole song but love it after the bell rings on the outro- some interesting playing on the fade out of the Wherewithal- almost sounds like Ritchie Blackmore- of course I agree with everyone else's picks as well- they are the obvious winners.