Rating: NNN
For much of their career, the Tragically Hip represented the typical Canrock band, adored by bros in backwards baseball caps chugging bottles of Blue. But now that that title has gone to Nickelback, many of us realize how underrated the Hip actually were in their heyday. It was pretty cool that the generic Canadian bar rock sound was exemplified by a quirky Kingston band fronted by an eccentric poet who spits out surrealist lyrics in an unconventional voice over punked-up blues rock riffs. And as the Hip showed this week with their Kensington Market residency publicity stunt, they still hunger to connect with audiences on a more intimate level than bands of their calibre are usually allowed.
Their 12th studio album goes for a rough and unpolished live-off-the-floor feel, which is exactly what you’d want to hear from a band like this. On the downside, despite the pleasing raw quality of many of the songs, they’ve lost the urgency that once caught the nation’s ear. They sound more tired than excited. Don’t discount them, though. There are strong songs here, and some of the softer ones prove that they’ve still got the ability to surprise.
Top track: Now For Plan A
