[Dire Wolf]

I was reading a post regarding how Gord's new solo project is arguably better than the last 4 Hip albums, so I decided to play it back to back with IBE. Not even a fair fight IMO. I had forgotten how good an album IBE is. A great listen from start to finish. The entire band shines on this record, with great drums and Rob is unbelievable, not to mention the Gordie of days gone by.

[direwolf74]

Robby's face-melting guitar work on Heart of the Melt is easily my favorite moment on that record.

[chancellor]

I recently re-discovered this album and been loving ever listen since. So many good tracks on it.

[spottrax]

I need to give IBE a fair, all-the-way-through listen. It's always (and still is) at the bottom of my Hip collection. When I've listened to it in the past, I've always thought, what would've been like with a more demanding producer. I think the guys got away with too much "lets not fix that" on IBE. Too many out of tune guitars, too many vocals off key and melodies that just don't jive for me. Possibly the lyrical content and the sheer power (I do dig JF's drums on IBE) of the tunes can outweigh such things....gonna try.

[direwolf74]

I need to give IBE a fair, all-the-way-through listen. It's always (and still is) at the bottom of my Hip collection. When I've listened to it in the past, I've always thought, what would've been like with a more demanding producer. I think the guys got away with too much "lets not fix that" on IBE. Too many out of tune guitars, too many vocals off key and melodies that just don't jive for me. Possibly the lyrical content and the sheer power (I do dig JF's drums on IBE) of the tunes can outweigh such things....gonna try.

I'm also not a huge fan of this album. There are a few moments and songs I really like (Vaccination Scar, Heart of the Melt, Gus, Josephine, Johnny's drumming). But it's far from my favorite Hip album. I also agree the production is way too lax. And don't get me wrong. I'm all for the raw live-off-the-floor approach, but I too have noticed a few mistakes and some off-key singing from Gord. The whole album just feels rushed. If you compare Adam Kasper's production on IBE to some of his other work (Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters) it's not even close.

[Escape@Hand]

I need to give IBE a fair, all-the-way-through listen. It's always (and still is) at the bottom of my Hip collection. When I've listened to it in the past, I've always thought, what would've been like with a more demanding producer. I think the guys got away with too much "lets not fix that" on IBE. Too many out of tune guitars, too many vocals off key and melodies that just don't jive for me. Possibly the lyrical content and the sheer power (I do dig JF's drums on IBE) of the tunes can outweigh such things....gonna try.

I'm also not a huge fan of this album. There are a few moments and songs I really like (Vaccination Scar, Heart of the Melt, Gus, Josephine, Johnny's drumming). But it's far from my favorite Hip album. I also agree the production is way too lax. And don't get me wrong. I'm all for the raw live-off-the-floor approach, but I too have noticed a few mistakes and some off-key singing from Gord. The whole album just feels rushed. If you compare Adam Kasper's production on IBE to some of his other work (Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters) it's not even close.

Different strokes...that's my favourite sounding Hip album by far. There's one spot (in verse 3 iirc) in Nashville where there is some microphone feedback, and I love it. It's something that everyone would fix, but they left it in and it adds a little something to the song. If I were to make an album myself, IBE would be at the top of the list of references for my sound.

Nobody records albums that sound this way anymore; the use of triggers/drum replacement, auto tune, heavy editing from pro tools, etc..and this album avoids all of that.

[direwolf74]

I need to give IBE a fair, all-the-way-through listen. It's always (and still is) at the bottom of my Hip collection. When I've listened to it in the past, I've always thought, what would've been like with a more demanding producer. I think the guys got away with too much "lets not fix that" on IBE. Too many out of tune guitars, too many vocals off key and melodies that just don't jive for me. Possibly the lyrical content and the sheer power (I do dig JF's drums on IBE) of the tunes can outweigh such things....gonna try.

I'm also not a huge fan of this album. There are a few moments and songs I really like (Vaccination Scar, Heart of the Melt, Gus, Josephine, Johnny's drumming). But it's far from my favorite Hip album. I also agree the production is way too lax. And don't get me wrong. I'm all for the raw live-off-the-floor approach, but I too have noticed a few mistakes and some off-key singing from Gord. The whole album just feels rushed. If you compare Adam Kasper's production on IBE to some of his other work (Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters) it's not even close.

Different strokes...that's my favourite sounding Hip album by far. There's one spot (in verse 3 iirc) in Nashville where there is some microphone feedback, and I love it. It's something that everyone would fix, but they left it in and it adds a little something to the song. If I were to make an album myself, IBE would be at the top of the list of references for my sound.

Nobody records albums that sound this way anymore; the use of triggers/drum replacement, auto tune, heavy editing from pro tools, etc..and this album avoids all of that.

I agree, producers use way too much of that stuff these days. World Container and We Are the Same suffered the most from that approach. Bob Rock's production is way too polished and excessive, and those albums sound like they were pieced together from multiple takes as opposed to the band playing together in a room. My favorite sounding Hip album by far is still Road Apples, followed closely by Phantom Power. In my opinion they've never been able to capture that sound in the studio since then. IBE and NFPA probably come the closest, but I'm not a big fan of the mixes on those albums. For me, the new Gord/Sadies album has absolutely perfect sound. It's got that raw edge to it that we all love, but it also has just enough polish to give it a nice warm and inviting sound.

[WesleyC.]

I guess, im a bit different because I have no albums to "rediscover" I listen to each and every one of them all the time. Its easier to say I dislike the ep the most, after that at any given time the order changes from 1 to 13 as to which is my most fav to least fav.

[robbroncs]

just revisited the record. first 7 songs gave me chills...it's definitely been a while. that being said. i still love it. though it is pretty front loaded.

[cochise]

just revisited the record. first 7 songs gave me chills...it's definitely been a while. that being said. i still love it. though it is pretty front loaded.

Always liked the rawness of this album, but fully agree.... to me it really wanes off midway through. Same goes for M@W, to me it just dies after Stay. Just my opinion though, I know its others favourite album.

[fingernailsonhull]

It does wane in the second half...but you need to stick it out for Josephine. Fantastic tune.

[Pipeline guy]

"It's all if a song can't save us then nothing will"
Love every song of it.
Heart of a Melt, what a pissed off rocker!

[sean.bonner]

It does wane in the second half...but you need to stick it out for Josephine. Fantastic tune.

I love the second half of IBE...
Mean Streak, Are We Family, You're Everywhere, Josephine, Copenhagen and Heart of the Melt are all fantastic tunes.

[sean.bonner]

... but then again, I've realized I can't really have a meaningful opinion on anything Hip... I am way too biased.
For example, I don't understand why everyone gets up in arms over Coconut Cream lol

[robbroncs]

I'm not saying the second half is bad. it's just not as good. Are We Family......or not?