thechubb44 Wrote:So what is the hope from a new record? I'm 46 and have been a fan for their entire career. But, the last 4 or 5 records were really not that good.
I'm about the same age, first time I came across The Hip they were playing a local high school dance and picked up the EP (never saw the show, which is a different story involving teenage shenanigans). I though Plan A was a great album to follow up We Are The Same, which is in my opinion their only weak release -- especially the second half. Discounting that album, last five albums have had some of my favorite Hip songs -- Dire Wolf, Lake Fever, Dark Canuck, Josephine, At Transformation, Vapour Trails, Emergency...list is too long.
My favorite album is likely Day for Night, which is maybe that "middle ground" album as they moved towards some of the more abstract lyrics, though they've always been pretty non-linear for the most part. There's a bit of menace to that album, would love to see Emergency return to the set list. Also my favorite era of shows.
I've always wondered about producing themselves, especially now with their own studio and Paul producing a few bands in recent years. Maybe the way they work requires some outside input that they value. Bob Rock has his downside in terms of clean production, but I think World Container is a pretty concise album (where We Are The Same is the opposite). Don Smith I always equate with that Up To Here and Road Apples sound, it must have been quite an experience for the then young band to work with him.
This album, I expect them to continue down the path they're on, I'm not expecting a return to Up to Here. For my non-Canadian friends curious about The Hip, I usually equate them to REM. The first few records have a distinct sound and style, and then they start to veer off in other directions. Both have had mainstream hits that don't generally reflect the band's entire catalogue of songs. A lead signer who sometimes seems to be in a totally different band than the band behind him. Some fans only want to hear that early era, which is fine -- people usually equate those songs to a time and a place with good memories.
After the last Kingston show, I ended up eating breakfast at the table beside Gord. As he finished and was leaving. I just quickly said thanks for the music, coming up on three decades of the band being part of my life. His response was classic, a handshake and "thanks, I think we're maybe on to something."