The Tragically Hip
We Are the Same
Universal, 2009
By Brian Last
Canadian rock legends The Tragically Hip are back! Their new album, We Are The Same, is the band’s follow-up to their 2006 album, World Container. Now, The Hip could cut a polka album and records would still fly off the shelves, but for their 11th record The Hip stuck with their winning formula: great instrumentals and frontman Gord Downie’s always interesting lyrics. It’s been working for them since ‘83, and it’s one of the many reasons these guys are a Canadian institution.
The album kicks off with the beautiful “Morning Moon,” one of the lead singles and a great way to start off the album. The front half of the album maintains the mellow, softer sound of the opening track — trumpet player Derry Byrne contributes to this vibe on the track “Coffee Girl,” bringing a slight jazzy feel. With the addition of strings, the album moves in a different direction around “Now The Struggle Has a Name,” the record’s epic fifth track. This track feels a bit like “Bobcaygeon,” but taken up several notches. This different direction continues with the lengthy “The Depression Suite,” which is essentially a nine-minute run-on sentence. Despite this mid-album low, The Hip bring it back on track for the back half of the album, which, thankfully, feels like a throwback to classic Tragically Hip with its driving instrumentals and the catchy riffs that we love so much. Two more singles are found in this back half, including “Love is a First,” which features Downie’s signature rambling (if you’ve been to a live show, you know exactly what I’m talking about). The album ends with “Country Day,” a softer song, to close out the record the way it started.
Though overall the record is quite good, it isn’t perfect. While previous Tragically Hip albums have been packed with catchy songs, We Are the Same lacks as many hooks. Downie himself is not at his best — while his lyrics are always excellent, he seems to be holding back on his vocal performance. While in the past Downie has passionately belted out his vocals even on the most mellow of songs, this record feels like he’s walking through it. That said, The Hip’s 11th album is a solid addition to their already classic discography.
A fair review. I’d argue that you’ve missed something if you think that “The Depression Suite” is a low point, as I think the three parts build and crescendo with the lyrics “Don’t you wanna see how it ends?” and that Gord is in fine form with the desperation in the lyrics “Athabasca depends” in the finale of the suite. You’re right that the second half of the album is more true to classic Hip, but I think this disc will play nicely for anyone with a dock in cottage country that just wants to chill. Overall an honest and fair review.