SOUNDTRACK: THE TRAGICALLY HIP-The Tragically Hip (1987).
It’s not really fair to review a successful, long-lived band’s first album over 30 years after the fact. I mean, Rush’s first album doesn’t show any of the prog tendencies they’d be known for (not to mention a different drummer/lyricist). In fact, virtually no bands come out fully formed, which is good for all fans.
Having said that, from this album, you’d have very little indication that the Hip would become as dynamic as they eventually did.
This is a 7 song EP full of rocking tracks with overlays of acoustic guitars. Unlike later discs, there’s only a minor indication that they’re from Canada (“Last American Exit”) or overly literate. Mostly they seem like a rocking bar band. The songs are good, somewhat generic, but solid. In fact, “Small Town Bringdown” is still played in concert from time to time.
The biggest surprise is Gord Downie’s voice. By now his voice is pretty distinctive, but on this first disc it seems like he’s still trying to figure out what he’s doing. On “Killing Time” he’s unrecognizable from the frontman of today. He seems to be working in a much gruffer range than he would later use. Lyrically, the songs are also tougher than they would eventually become.
The most memorable song is probably the most embarrassing: “I’m a Werewolf, Baby” is as silly as it sounds, but the riff is really great and it has staying power. Shame about the lyrics. This disc is probably not worth getting since “Small Town” is available on their Greatest Hits. Although if you really want to hear “Werewolf” it’s only available here.
[READ: January 26, 2011] “Live Large”
Just as I settle into the idea of reading 25 back issues of The Walrus for all of the fiction contained therein, I get to this 2004 Summer Reading Issue which features seven stories! Three of them are short stories and the other four are flash fiction.
This first story was my favorite of the bunch. It is a fairly simple story about a down-and-out man who longs for one day of joy. Billy Constable has slowly seen his money evaporate. He has had to sell off a lot of his luxuries, including the membership to the Fairview Golf Club. He has also had a recent medical scare (a minor heart attack) which has made him go straight and clean: no booze or smokes.
Except that things have gotten really bad lately, and who can resist the slide back into temptation. When he gets a call to play a round of golf, from the very man he sold his golf membership to, he is about to tell him where to go, until he realizes that the man is calling him because he genuinely wants him to play in their foursome. He decides why the hell not. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 