[Drez7]

I came across this review on yahoo's LAUNCHcast radio network. I got a good laugh out of this one. For the first time I heard Gord referred to as "fair to OK" songwriter. Read what they say about Gord's vocals! I would love to hit this guy in the back of the head with a nice big raw piece of meat! Wow. I guess everybody looks at things differently. Here it is.


ALBUM REVIEW - Phantom Power
07/14/1998

By Bill Holdship

True story: Just as I was sitting down to begin this review, I checked my phone messages to hear one from MyLAUNCH columnist Jim DeRogatis, who was just checking in but mentioned not to phone him back tonight 'cause he's off "to review a terrible band...from Canada...what's their name?--The Tragically Hip...."

Which really isn't a fair way for a reviewer to dive into the job at hand. But, c'mon, Jim, I bet The Tragically Hip weren't that bad--I mean, relatively and comparably speaking, if you know what I mean. In fact, I bet The Tragically Hip opened with "Poets," also the opener on the latest LP from the band--and as openers go, it certainly sounds just about right for a big rawk show.

Of course, as the closing refrain to "Save The Planet" (I kid you not) repeats again and again: "What's left to captivate us?" And there sorta lies the rub in regards to The Tragically Hip. The band remains huge in their native land, with a nice but relatively small following in these here States (where the band is now on their third label, following stints with Atlantic and MCA). They remain quite competent musicians, with a fair-to-OK songwriter (Gordon Downie), whose lead vocals alternate between unique and irritating. They used to tour a lot with an American band called Flies On Fire who were really good--two million times better in a Stones sort of way than the Black Crowes have ever been. And they're supposed to be very powerful live, in a Heartland rock sort of way, but I've never had the pleasure. Maybe you may wanna check with Jim after tomorrow... Still, Phantom Power will do nothing to change the band's basic success equation. In other words, if you're not already a fan, nothing here is going to, in Gordon Downie's words, really captivate you.

[fingernailsonhull]

I love Gord's voice. I think it can be very powerful at times. However, I have heard other people say that his voice is irritating. Am I just viewing him through rose-coloured goggles? I don't know. I converted my girlfriend into a raging Hip fan and she says one of the things she likes most about the band is Gord's unique vocals.

Jeff

[grooveless touque]

I know people who like Billy Corgan (of Smashing Pumpkins) and still hate Gord's voice...so people who hate his voice are FULL OF SHITE!

[thompsongirl21]

That review is very dissapointing, almost makes me want to find that guy and critique his view of quality music. I don't see where he gets off calling gords voice "irritating". You're right drez it is amazing how differently people look at things...... :x

[fireinthehole]

I think most music critics listen with rigid pre-conceived notions on what is good music, and if it sounds different they don't give it a chance. That's why, generally speaking, music critics suck.

[direwolf74]

I love Gord's voice. I think it can be very powerful at times. However, I have heard other people say that his voice is irritating. Am I just viewing him through rose-coloured goggles? I don't know. I converted my girlfriend into a raging Hip fan and she says one of the things she likes most about the band is Gord's unique vocals.

Jeff

Agreed. Gord arguably has the most unique singing voice in rock right now. There's nobody out there that sounds even remotely like him. I've heard American critics say that he sounds a bit like Michael Stipe, but personally I've never understood that comparison. I don't hear it at all. Speaking of different opinions, one of my best buddies who is a pretty big Hip fan thinks that Gord's voice has gotten worse and more irritating over the years, while I'm of the opinion that his voice has gotten better. To each their own I guess. (but for the record, I think his opinion sucks, hehe)

[thug_in_perpetuity]

I agree with the view that critics have a 1 track mind. I remember for a while about 5-6 years ago (when this review of Phantom Pwer was written) that most of the mainstream music critics were in the mindset that if you weren't Radiohead or Tool or Nirvana or Dave Matthews, then you sucked. It is alot like that today, except you can add Creed, the White Stripes etc. to that list.

I think Americans have a 1 track mind too. Kinda like they don't like bands until they are all over the radio/MTV, and then they worship every song released by said artist from then on whether its good or not.
I travel to the states often, and I always slip my mixed Nickelback disc in when I'm around yankee co-workers. The first few tracks are old stuff like Breathe and Leader of Men. Everytime, one pipes up "This Canadian music sucks, then I skip up to How you Remind me ... "Sweet man, Nickleback!"

I don't get mad people that don't like the Hip. The way I see it, it's them that are missing out, plus it's just one less person I won't need to fight with to get tickets!

[scottitude]

That guy's observational skills are "pathetic to non-existent", although he was kinda half-almost-right about Flies on Fire..they're better than Black Crows. "Baptize Me Over Elvis Presley's Grave" is one of the hippest non-Hip songs ever.

It kind of reminds me of some of the wish-I-could-articulate-a-clear-thought reviews of Hip albums you'll find on Amazon.com. Talk about a perplexing plethora of contradictory perspectives...

~Scott

[skippy the wonder dog]

Notice the guy doesn't actually say anything concrete in his review. Just that they're terrible, that Downie is irritating, and they aren't captivating.

So? Opinions are like assholes; everyone's got one.

Critics are supposed to give you something more. So that's a bad review in more sense than one.

[Douglas]

Cram it with walnuts Bill. I love the 2 million times better than the Black Crows line. Why not a zillion kabillion? ASS-CLOWN!

[direwolf74]

Cram it with walnuts Bill. I love the 2 million times better than the Black Crows line. Why not a zillion kabillion? ASS-CLOWN!

I love the term "Assclown". The first time I heard it was in the movie Office Space:

"There was nothing wrong with being named Michael Bolton until I was about 13 years old and that no-talent assclown became famous and started winning grammys. Why should I change when he's the one who sucks."

[lord brazle]

For starters, "everybody's entitled to an opinion" and "one man's trash is another man's treasure." blah blah blah. Now that I got the technical shit out of the way; Bill Holdship is a big f**kin no-name loser from LA who wouldn't know good music if he ate deep-fried Neil Young, washed it down with a Jimi Hendrix shake and green-apple-splattered a vicious orchestra of rapture onto his crisp clean pearly-white wall. Am I biased cuz I'm a Hip fan? Yes. Is he the all-knowing music jukebox deliberator who's opinion is valued enough to warrant us all to claim him God Of The Ricefields? Nope. Hey, I'm going to make a new chapter in reality TV! "Kill Bill Vol 3"

:x

[mxsteve]

I don't hear it but I live in LA and work with people from all over the U.S. who say that Gord sounds like Elmer Fudd! One of the guys is music-literate and hails from CT, he has heard of the hip and says Gord sounds like Elmer Fudd. Other co-workers find his voice "very irritating", in fact they over power me and do not let me play the hip at work. I don't hear it and maybe its cause we all grew up with him , so we're used to it. These people are all different, with different tastes in music, but they ALL find Gord irritating. Oh well, SCREW'EM!

[jen]

I think Americans have a 1 track mind too. Kinda like they don't like bands until they are all over the radio/MTV, and then they worship every song released by said artist from then on whether its good or not.
I travel to the states often, and I always slip my mixed Nickelback disc in when I'm around yankee co-workers. The first few tracks are old stuff like Breathe and Leader of Men. Everytime, one pipes up "This Canadian music sucks, then I skip up to How you Remind me ... "Sweet man, Nickleback!"

Easy with the generalizations of Americans. Geez, you haven't been around here long enough to know that Hipbase has alot of them and we actually DO enjoy music other than that mainstream crap that you were talking about. :?

[thompsongirl21]

As your fellow American Jen, I'll have to second that. :thumb: We're not all the general sterotype, although I do understand where that comes from.