[edgoffin]

I liked the versions where they were more reinterpretation versus covers. Tim Baker/Hey Rosetta, Hannah Georgas (nice song choice), Sarah Harmer, Jim Bryson, Darcys, Iskwe, Hawksley Workman were standouts for me. I really like Stars What Blue, and their choice to do a new song and the reason why. The Dears more loungey Tired as Fuck was cool. Los Poetas was really interesting.

I was less keen on The Trews, Steven Page, Greys, and Limblifter, just because they were more on the covers side (the singer from the Trews does a great Gord though, and Page has a wonderful voice that's been missing from BNL). I'll put Kasador in there was well -- cool connection with the son and nephew -- but a bit close to the vest, though a fantastic guitar solo at the end. The one thing that stood out listening to others do the songs, Gord has a very unique vocal delivery and range that's hard to replicate. Delivery I realized, he has a really neat phrasing at times, but only when hearing others did I really appreciate the highs and lows he works in.

If I could buy the tracks with some $$ going to a charity I'd pick up 25-30 of those -- hopefully minus the George moaning in the intro and outro.

FB group -- lots of gravel with the occasional piece of gold. In the past few days Sammy Kohn from the Watchmen posted a backstage shot from when they opened for The Hip. I do like seeing the SJWs pile on people for daring wonder how Gord is doing, for fear that Gord and his family are obviously reading Facebook, usually followed by that poster spinning out of control with a series of rants. Apparently the holy grail of Hip vinyl is a Japanese bootleg single of Poets pressed from CD onto a picture disc of the Phantom Power cover? Did not know that, when I'm next in Asia I'll load up on all the terrible bootlegs and make a mint.

[hotmetal401]

[quote="Scotty12"

Lowlights ... Strombo pretending to be a huge hip fan. Not as bad as him trying to be a "hockey guy" on HNIC... but not by much. Found it very annoying how he kept stuffing "this is not a eulogy" into our ears, even worse was his talking over the music.
[/quote]

I really disagree with this statement, along with just about all the other George hate in this thread (not to think that I'm making this personal, because I'm not). He has a real appreciation for this band, and for Gord. I've been beside him at concerts where Downie has played solo or The Hip have played full band. He's a genuine dude and a genuine fan. Same goes for the production staff that helped put it together. I was at the same event at one of his producers the day after the Victoria show in July. We talked for ages about how important the band was, the tour that was forthcoming and things of that regard.

I'll argue the same about Strombo's love of hockey too. You'll be hard pressed to find a bigger Habs fan in all of Toronto.

As for talking over the songs - which, again, many people have lamented - he's running a radio program. This isn't college radio or an internet station. He's a DJ, and still a good one. DJ's have been talking over music since music could be talked over.

I think what might be getting lost here is that, so far, there isn't another Canadian media personality that has tried to bring this many people together to celebrate this band or another person that is actually capable of pulling it off. It's the second time in less than a year that this band got to take over a public broadcaster, commercial free, for four hours.

And, all in all that four hours was tremendously entertaining. Boots, Emperor, Thompson, What Blue, Chancellor/ABAC, Blow, Plan A/Stay and The Rock are my highlights. Both Bobcaygeons were indicative of the bands that played them, and the surprising difficulty of that song. The takes on Poets, Grace and Thugs were right out of left field and fun. No Threat and The New Maybe proved to be worthy inclusions, both in the catalog and in this collection. Having PS I Love You do Smalltown Bringdown was perfect.

Gus didn't really work for me (until near the end) and I think Gems was the wrong song for Choir! Choir! Choir! to do. But, hey, its batting average was still pretty strong.

[edgoffin]

[quote="Scotty12"

Lowlights ... Strombo pretending to be a huge hip fan. Not as bad as him trying to be a "hockey guy" on HNIC... but not by much. Found it very annoying how he kept stuffing "this is not a eulogy" into our ears, even worse was his talking over the music.

I really disagree with this statement, along with just about all the other George hate in this thread.[/quote]

I did not like his occasional moan over an outro, and he can be bit forced poetic at times though that's just modem day media. I was a regular listener of his Sunday show and he introduced me to a lot of old and new music, though I got out of the habit of listening. I actually thought he was an OK choice for the NHL broadcasts. They need to find a way to appeal to a younger audience, and not necessarily a "hardcore hockey fan" audience. Don's dated for a younger audience, and I like Ron but he can be a hit too melancholic (though his end of year segment including Gord and The Hip was amazing).

I missed the first 30 minutes or so or Sunday, and a few other segments. Was there mention that this was over a year in the making, i.e. planned before the news about Gord?

[rocketsan22]

Okay, here we go again. I listened through and made changes to four tracks. Feel free to re-host somewhere more stable and accessible if you like.

Part 1
Part 2
Fixes (for those who already downloaded)

Rather than click on the DOWNLOAD button, if you right click and save it saves the zip file...

[daylight]

I don't think anyone's mentioned the Tanika Charles version of Boots or Hearts yet, and I liked that one a lot.

A bit surprised they didn't get anything from Hayden, Feist, some portion of Broken Social Scene, or Rush.

I'd also have liked to hear contributions from the Great Lake Swimmers, Elliott Brood, Neko Case, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Evening Hymns, Basia Bulat, Aidan Knight...okay, this list could take all day.

[loach]

Well that was more work than I anticipated.

Part 1
Part 2

I managed to de-Strombo all of the songs, but it came at the cost of cutting out some intros and outros pretty significantly. As a result a lot of the tracks start or end abruptly, but I figured that was better than listening to his sex noises. Hopefully a better official version is released in the future.

Thanks for putting the work into this. Enjoying listening to these tracks without hearing Strombo.

I was listening to the version on his website, but then lost my connection during the BNL set. I didn't want to have to listen to his intros again to get to the second half, so this was a blessing.

[direwolf74]

I don't think anyone's mentioned the Tanika Charles version of Boots or Hearts yet, and I liked that one a lot.

A bit surprised they didn't get anything from Hayden, Feist, some portion of Broken Social Scene, or Rush.

I'd also have liked to hear contributions from the Great Lake Swimmers, Elliott Brood, Neko Case, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Evening Hymns, Basia Bulat, Aidan Knight...okay, this list could take all day.

A few more I'd love to hear Hip covers from: John K. Samson, Headstones, Wintersleep, Sam Roberts, Ron Hawkins, Sloan, Arcade Fire, 54-40, Daniel Lanois, Neil Young, Tom Wilson, Pearl Jam. You're right, this could go on forever.

[carebread]

I don't think anyone's mentioned the Tanika Charles version of Boots or Hearts yet, and I liked that one a lot.

A bit surprised they didn't get anything from Hayden, Feist, some portion of Broken Social Scene, or Rush.

I'd also have liked to hear contributions from the Great Lake Swimmers, Elliott Brood, Neko Case, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Evening Hymns, Basia Bulat, Aidan Knight...okay, this list could take all day.

A glaring omission I noticed was Joel Plaskett. There's so much history between the two, and with Joel's "Just Because" release, you'd think he'd be all for it.

[schaggs]

I'm just hearing this now - missed it live, and I'm about 90 minutes in. Sounds like every band decided to do the Sunday Night Chamomile Tea versions of the songs.

Unless it gets a lot more rock and a lot less "afternoon nap", I think I'd like to hear bands do the hip30 with a little more swagger.

Edit: I'm usually pretty positive, but the middle of the show has some pretty unlistenable performances. PS I Love You, The Pack AD, and Sebastian Granger were awful.

[direwolf74]

A glaring omission I noticed was Joel Plaskett. There's so much history between the two, and with Joel's "Just Because" release, you'd think he'd be all for it.

I'm sure many of these artists were likely contacted by the producers at some point, and for various reasons they just weren't available.

[senrab]

I don't think anyone's mentioned the Tanika Charles version of Boots or Hearts yet, and I liked that one a lot.

I really liked that one too

[senrab]

i know i strayed from here to fb group but its great to still come around here and have intelligent conversations instead of " i bought two hip cds at walmart today!" kinda posts

the "OMG where did you find that, i need one", "i love my hip fam", and any link posted with "not sure if this old hip post has been shared yet' are killing me.

Had to get out of there a couple months ago. I got really tired of seeing tattoos, Hip wine, and people asking for the Maclean's magazine.

[pipe77]

Okay, here we go again. I listened through and made changes to four tracks. Feel free to re-host somewhere more stable and accessible if you like.

Part 1
Part 2
Fixes (for those who already downloaded)

Thanks so much for your work on this. Great job cutting out Strombo. I only caught half of the Hip30 show on CBC, but Strombo was ruining it for me, even worse than he ruined Hockey Night in Canada.

[carebread]

i know i strayed from here to fb group but its great to still come around here and have intelligent conversations instead of " i bought two hip cds at walmart today!" kinda posts

the "OMG where did you find that, i need one", "i love my hip fam", and any link posted with "not sure if this old hip post has been shared yet' are killing me.

Had to get out of there a couple months ago. I got really tired of seeing tattoos, Hip wine, and people asking for the Maclean's magazine.

Now with 100% more "listen to my Hip cover band!!!"

[ceebuler]

The standout track for me was Hey Rosetta's "Now For Plan A/Stay" Medley. The whole thing comes across as a beautiful, solitary song - casual fans wouldn't know where one song ends and the next begins. This was by far the most original arrangement without straying far from the original melodies, and unlike many of the other songs, it didn't make me want to turn it off and listen to the Hip's versions. I enjoyed the whole program as a tribute, but this is one of a only a few songs that I will want to listen to again. Honorable mention to Donovan Woods for his performance of Lake Fever that was both reinterpreted and true to the essence of the song.