[Lizard King]

So far I think Bob Rock is two for two at the helm...

The band are 2 for 2 and are the only reason this guy (Rock) gets any accolades are because of the bands he works for. I'd say he's 0-2, his messy fingerprints are all over this album as much as on WC. But thankfully the bands great songs save the day again, just like on WC does one or two bad apples spoil the bunch? No, definitely not in this case, this is a fantastic album, Im already in love with it. Ive been listening to this album non-stop for a week and I just cant put it down.

Just a few random thoughts..

For me Morning Moon is still my favorite of the bunch
Despite Rock's production I love Country Day, I think it deserves a video
Speed River is a blast, am I the only one who thinks it starts out like a Kim Mitchell tune? I love it.
Queen of the Furrows, great rocking tune, Robby kills it.
Frozen In My Tracks, (see above)
The Depression Suite, epic, songs this long are usually great or garbage, this one is great.
Honey Please, is it In View 2.0? So far I dont hate it so thats a plus, but its down on the pecking order with The Exact Feeling, probably the two worst songs on the album imo. But they're better than most "bad" Hip songs for lack of a better word.

The jury is still out on the others...I need more alone time with them.

[Summiteer]

STU->FUCKING>PENDOUS :music :music :music

[daylight]

As predicted, Coffee Girl is one of my faves. I think it'd make a decent single, too. Dig the name drops and the trumpet-y bits! I wonder who will handle that live (if anyone)?

[Jessica]

Ive been listening to this album non-stop for a week and I just cant put it down.

A week huh.

[direwolf74]

As predicted, Coffee Girl is one of my faves. I think it'd make a decent single, too. Dig the name drops and the trumpet-y bits! I wonder who will handle that live (if anyone)?

I'll have to wait and see the liner notes to be sure, but my guess is that Andy Maize of the Skydiggers is the man with the trumpet. He played on Coke Machine Glow, so I wouldn't be surprised if that's him on "Coffee Girl".

[Dark Canuck17]

Download complete...How can anyone not listen after reading all of your reviews :nooooo

[ceebuler]

My bet is the trumpet is played by - and will be played live by - Spencer Evans, the crazy Kingston musician who knows every song ever written, and who played with the Hip at their Phoenix Christmas show a few years back.

[The Heron Outside]

Might be safe to say that all these thumbs up are the result of being starved for new tunes. And in that respect, I give another thumb up. Though we all know it takes around 6 months to fully digest a new Hip record, after my first spin, I'll toss my two cents into the busker's hat:

I can't help but compare this record to World Container. As stated, it's got Rock's fingerprints all over it. I wonder if in a few years, the boys will be the subject of some debate raging: "Did Bob Rock kill The Hip just as he did with Metallica?" But all that's irrelevant in the face of a record as grand and sweeping as We Are The Same.

Honey, Please could have easily been a simple, Copenhagen-esque track. But it's laden with keys, strings, layered vocals and all kinds of other shit we haven't really been that privy to in past Hip. Sure, they're not the same band that recorded with Don Smith, and you could argue that they're hiding their age beneath Rock's production. But I think Honey, Please would have been a better representative single than Love Is A Whatever it's called...because this is a sound that is sweeping. This is a band that doesn't seem afraid to take chances. I think Bob Rock must be terribly refreshing for the band, as he likely sees something in them that many producers don't. Look what Adam Kasper did on IBE; recorded them rehearsing, essentially. That's not challenging or inspiring. After 20 years of making LP's, why wouldn't they give strings and horns a shot?

Bah, I'm rambling. All I wanted to say is that, in comparison to WC, the good songs on WATS don't hold up. The middleweight tunes mop the floor with WC and the weaker tunes are immensely better. (Pretend? Really? A permanent D-side)

Anyway, I know we'll all hear it soon enough, and most of us will form opinions that'll be hard as the rock this band still somehow proliferates. Let's meet again in 6 months.

[mojo_mattv]

Download complete...How can anyone not listen after reading all of your reviews :nooooo

I'm holding strong. All this talk of trumpets shook my will slightly, but I've found a stronger resolve.

[borgs]

lots on new instruments... last "evening with" tour, the hip brought along a female vocalist and some keys (chris and kate) has anybody entertained the idea that we might get to see some strings or horns sitting in with the band (perhaps for one of the sets)?

wouldn't that be rad?!

[spottrax]

:thumb:

Might be safe to say that all these thumbs up are the result of being starved for new tunes. And in that respect, I give another thumb up. Though we all know it takes around 6 months to fully digest a new Hip record, after my first spin, I'll toss my two cents into the busker's hat:

I can't help but compare this record to World Container. As stated, it's got Rock's fingerprints all over it. I wonder if in a few years, the boys will be the subject of some debate raging: "Did Bob Rock kill The Hip just as he did with Metallica?" But all that's irrelevant in the face of a record as grand and sweeping as We Are The Same.

Honey, Please could have easily been a simple, Copenhagen-esque track. But it's laden with keys, strings, layered vocals and all kinds of other shit we haven't really been that privy to in past Hip. Sure, they're not the same band that recorded with Don Smith, and you could argue that they're hiding their age beneath Rock's production. But I think Honey, Please would have been a better representative single than Love Is A Whatever it's called...because this is a sound that is sweeping. This is a band that doesn't seem afraid to take chances. I think Bob Rock must be terribly refreshing for the band, as he likely sees something in them that many producers don't. Look what Adam Kasper did on IBE; recorded them rehearsing, essentially. That's not challenging or inspiring. After 20 years of making LP's, why wouldn't they give strings and horns a shot?

Bah, I'm rambling. All I wanted to say is that, in comparison to WC, the good songs on WATS don't hold up. The middleweight tunes mop the floor with WC and the weaker tunes are immensely better. (Pretend? Really? A permanent D-side)

Anyway, I know we'll all hear it soon enough, and most of us will form opinions that'll be hard as the rock this band still somehow proliferates. Let's meet again in 6 months.

I like the line about Adam Kasper. I know some people on here really like IBE but I think that album was exactly like you said...recording Hip rehersal.. This cd is is really a concience effort by ALL involved to make something out of the material that is written.

IMO.......MM and the first part of Depression Suite are absolutley among the best work the band has ever done... So incredibly melodic and driving. That segment of DS gave me chill tonight. Sometimes you just connect with a musical interlude....and I did with that segment.... :thumb:

[direwolf74]

lots on new instruments... last "evening with" tour, the hip brought along a female vocalist and some keys (chris and kate) has anybody entertained the idea that we might get to see some strings or horns sitting in with the band (perhaps for one of the sets)?

wouldn't that be rad?!

Not for me. Chris & Kate were awesome and added a cool dynamic to the overall sound, but I'd rather leave the strings and horns for the album versions. I absolutely LOVE this album, but when I see the Hip live I want it to be raw and visceral. I wanna be rocked and rolled. The strings are for when I'm at home relaxing with my headphones on. Like any Hip album, the songs are always much punchier in a live setting, and that's what I'm hoping for.

[borgs]

lots on new instruments... last "evening with" tour, the hip brought along a female vocalist and some keys (chris and kate) has anybody entertained the idea that we might get to see some strings or horns sitting in with the band (perhaps for one of the sets)?

wouldn't that be rad?!

Not for me. Chris & Kate were awesome and added a cool dynamic to the overall sound, but I'd rather leave the strings and horns for the album versions. I absolutely LOVE this album, but when I see the Hip live I want it to be raw and visceral. I wanna be rocked and rolled. The strings are for when I'm at home relaxing with my headphones on. Like any Hip album, the songs are always much punchier in a live setting, and that's what I'm hoping for.

ya i hear that, but i think it would be cool for one of the sets. first set - most of the new tunes with some guests, second set - a good ol' fashion hip show.

[thinkdontpray]

i dont know why some people say it takes time for a hip album to be digested. for me, ive always gravitated to their music and felt an instant connection to almost all the songs. i can digest a hip record in a day and to be honest this album went from being holy shit this is great to HOLY SHIT THIS IS AMAZING.

this is a perfect record to play after a night out, just sitting back with your feet up, maybe smoking a sesh and enjoying the vibe.

and maybe its just because i've been listening to crazy amounts of the smiths and morrissey lately, but i can hear a morrissey vibe in some of gord's singing and even a little in the music/arrangements

[screw_ball]

F.uck it, I'm caving.

Edit: This is so good, though. Easily the best since M@W.