[Chris Tanz]

Jus' wondering (and if your opinion is that this is a Dumb THread, I don't wanna hear about it) ...

in your mind, what is the status of "Forest Edge", "Problem Bears", "Ultra Mundane" and "Oh Honey"? Are these part of the Hip Canon, or are they mere B-sides floating around as "Hip-tangents", if you will.

I think the HipClub's quick release of PB and UM bestowed on them more "official" status, than the late, almost ignored addition of FE. Also, the fact that Throwing Off Glass survived from the Men with Brooms soundtrack while Oh Honey never resurfaced gives the latter a strange not-wanted-on-the-voyage status.

Let's put it this way ... when your making lists (mental or otherwise) of Hip songs, do these four make the list?

CT

[grooveless touque]

Problem Bears has some of Gord's best lyrics,a nd Ultra Mundane has a wicked groove and coule have brought IVL a few notches up in my opinion.

I could never stand Forest Edge and Oh Honey is one of the worst toss-offs I've ever heard. I try to forget it's a Hip song. The "not wanted" allusion is well stated!

One man's opinion!

[jkdiamond]

i really enjoy all 3 of the unreleased songs

[joshwayy]

Ultramundane is one of my favorites, if I could hear a live take of it I would be ready to take that long voyage to the Grey Havens. I really enjoyed all the IVL castaways and how the IBE one's will be out soon.

[Stephen Dame]

I really like 'em all and I certainly consider them a part of the package... I'm still waiting for the IBE B-Sides we were promised.

[Hairbird]

I love them all, but that's probably besides the point. Of course they're all part of the Hip canon as you put it. They were all penned, played and recorded by the Hip. You can try to forget them, or pretend they don't exist if you don't like them, but they're all still out there.

[Jenna_Bird]

While all of those recordings are out there, and are certainly part of the hip catalogue, the canon is another matter altogether. A canon is generally seen as essential works by which all others are judged...that being said, I think this could turn into a pretty complex question, and it could all come down to a matter or taste, and when any given listener first tuned into the band.

-Jenna

[scottitude]

I probably like Forest Edge the least of the three IVL DLs, but I do like them all for what they are. When my mother (who was as "into" movies as we are music) thought a particular actor was incredibly talented she'd say "I'd watch him read the phonebook!" That's kind of how I feel about The Hip; they move me, command my attention and demand my interest. Some songs are better than others and some have us questioning their origins and existence, but they're all part of who and what The Hip are (or is?).

It doesn't mean that I'm willing to accept mediocrity on a Hip CD, but it means that if they write it, play it, record it, whatever, I appreciate it, if for nothing more than their effort and that they saw it worthy of writing, playing, recording.

~Scott

[K-Town Lassie]

I probably like Forest Edge the least of the three IVL DLs, but I do like them all for what they are. When my mother (who was as "into" movies as we are music) thought a particular actor was incredibly talented she'd say "I'd watch him read the phonebook!" That's kind of how I feel about The Hip; they move me, command my attention and demand my interest. Some songs are better than others and some have us questioning their origins and existence, but they're all part of who and what The Hip are (or is?).

It doesn't mean that I'm willing to accept mediocrity on a Hip CD, but it means that if they write it, play it, record it, whatever, I appreciate it, if for nothing more than their effort and that they saw it worthy of writing, playing, recording.

~Scott

Well said, Scott.

[skippy the wonder dog]

I don't think the Hip have managed to do anything "canonical" since Phantom Power, with the possible exceptions of My Music at Work and Lake Fever. IVL was a wasteland in that respect and IBE, although solid all the way through, lacks that special punch.

Mind you, that's not atypical. Most artists muddle along for a while between bouts of genuine brilliance. We need that so we can tell brilliant when we see it.

[Stephen Dame]

Mind you, that's not atypical. Most artists muddle along for a while between bouts of genuine brilliance. We need that so we can tell brilliant when we see it.

I'd disagree. Five main tenants of a counter argument would be: Leave, Are We Family, Vaccination Scar and Good Life.

[skippy the wonder dog]

I'd say those are good, but with the possible exception of Are We Family, none is brilliant in the way that, say, Nautical is brilliant. Mind you, no two listeners will agree on this.

But I still like the stuff that isn't "canonical."

[tough talkin' goalie]

I'm a huge fan of Problem Bears. To this day, I can't figure out why they left that tune off the album. IMO it's better than half the tracks on IVL. It's a shame it never got a chance to be heard by millions.