[fireinthehole]

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!"

First of all I'd like to say I don't discriminate against any Nickleback songs, I think they all suck as do really broad generalizations about Americans. :wink:

I don't think if something is played on the radio it necessarily makes it bad music. A lot of it is, but a lot of the stuff they don't play on the radio is crap too.

Oh yeah and who get's to decide what is good? What if someone told you your favorite album stunk. You'd probably tell them where to shove it right?

That being said, anyone who writes a review like that about phantom power has their head way up their ass. :thumb:

[Billy]

To each their own, my friends. Be happy and rejoice in what you KNOW to be such a fantastic band.

[tigerthelion]

The reason people don't like Gord's voice is I don't KNOW actually! I don't hate the critic though. All reviews can't be positive ones. People just have to decide for themselves if they want to listen to something. Simple as that.

I think that anything that is slightly different is perceived as bad, with a few exceptions (Radiohead,etc). If Gord sounded like Chad Kroeger the Hip would probably be a household name in the US. Gord doesn't possess the "typical alternative rock" voice. His voice has some character to it, for lack of a better word.

Like I've said before, I'll take Downie, Dylan, Young over any mainstream voices anyday. I'll take soul and integrity over a marketing tool any day.

[das_hips]

The reason people don't like Gord's voice is I don't KNOW actually! I don't hate the critic though. All reviews can't be positive ones. People just have to decide for themselves if they want to listen to something. Simple as that.

I think that anything that is slightly different is perceived as bad, with a few exceptions (Radiohead,etc). If Gord sounded like Chad Kroeger the Hip would probably be a household name in the US. Gord doesn't possess the "typical alternative rock" voice. His voice has some character to it, for lack of a better word.

Like I've said before, I'll take Downie, Dylan, Young over any mainstream voices anyday. I'll take soul and integrity over a marketing tool any day.

Thats just it though, isn't it? Is Gord Downie's voice nearly as radio-friendly as, say a (insert Maroon 5's lead singer here) or (insert Three Doors Down singer here)... no... it isn't... but Mr. Downie is certainly more creative with range and lyrics, and more energetic with dance moves and such. A music review isn't an easy thing to write, in my opinion. Besides the fact that the writer is limited to a small article in the backside of a magazine, or in the last page of a newspaper, music is about taste. This particular writer obvioulsy walked in with a bit of a bias, and also didn't deliver any particular reasoning behind his dislike for the band (he talked more about Canadian fans, their tendencies, and bands resembling the Hip then the Hip themselves). I've always found Gord Downie's voice fantastic... its comfortable, a bit edgy, and his live singing is almost always perfect... most bands can't bring that. But as it is, critics can be ignorant (although I haven't read a bad review of IBE yet)... and I'll never forget some American dude I talked to on a cruise I went on in May, who said he hated "the band, but that singer... he would be an awesome Metal rock band singer".... that kinda blew my mind...

[chucky]

Who was it who said "Talking about music is like dancing about architecture"? I think it might have been Frank Zappa. Anyway, that's what I think of whenever I read a music review.

[Killer Whale Tank]

I've heard that line attributed to Elvis Costello.

I certainly can see where people would indeed find Gord's voice irritating. I've found him rather shrill at times, at least on record (e.g., 'All Tore Up')...but I loved the early, leather-lunged Gord of Road Apples et al. and I'm completely cool with the fact that, while he's not *technically* impeccable, he, like Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson and many other greats, is a vocal stylist. He's got his unique sound and---most importantly---gets the songs over. If people who think that idiot from Nickleback is a great vocalist, well...why does Gord, or a fan, need their approval anyway?