![]() It grows on you and it's generally a decent album. In conclusion, a cool album by a cool band that, by everything I've seen and heard, deserves the title, "the National band of Canada."Ĭhris Elliott: A pleasant if not earth shattering listen. Sometimes just singer Gord Downie's delivery was enough like on the title track or Wheat Kings. Even if I didn't know the backstory, both the narrative and music were compelling ( Looking For A Place to Happen, Fifty Mission Cap, Locked in the Trunk of a Car). Listening to the album felt like auditing a course on Canadian history taught by an inscrutable lyricist with, fortunately, an excellent and accessible bunch of musicians.Īfter my friend's endorsement, I bought the two-disc compilation Yer Favorites, which as the name implies, had songs chosen by fans and more than half of Fully Completely made the cut. It's easy to pick up on that vibe from the lyrics of Fully Completely. They're like the national band of Canada." The CD included Bobcaygeon and I emailed her what an awesome song that was and she responded "Oh yeah. Mike Canoe: A friend from Toronto turned me onto The Tragically Hip after mailing me the soundtrack to the Trailer Park Boys movie (she had also turned me onto the show). With more than half of this album's songs being released to Canadian radio, it established the Hip as a mainstream contender and rescued them from their bar band persona." ( Pop Music) Lead singer Gord Downie sounds crisp and full of life, and the songs he verbally dramatizes are rich in lyrical sharpness and instrumental color. ![]() " Fully Completely is where Kingston, Ontario's Tragically Hip finally come to the apex of their talent. And though this might never get the attention it deserves south of the border and the lyrics may not be entirely relatable to non-Canucks, this album can be appreciated by any fan of rock." ( Sputnik Music) "Mixing different styles like the sleek, driving rock sound to acoustic to alt rock and pop, The Hip really reached their peak with this record and would only build on it with 1994’s Day for Night. The Tragically Hip prove on Fully Completely that their level of maturity and musical craftsmanship have finally come to fruition." ( AllMusic) Letting Downie glide into each song with his complex philosophical idioms was a step in the right direction, a feat that was almost mastered on 1991's Road Apples, but fell just inches short. The astuteness of Wheat Kings comes off as one of their best slow songs, once again elevated from Gord Downie's peculiar unequivocalness. It never rang true for any of us, so I think Gord wanted to write about the Canadian experience. “We watched all these Canadian wannabes sing about their experience at Hollywood High or surfing USA and all that kind of bullshit. “As a Canadian band, we watched all our Canadian heroes – the Neil Youngs and Joni Mitchells and Leonard Cohens – they all had to go south, cross the border to have a career,” guitarist Rob Baker told Classic Rock. ![]() ![]() There were songs of deep pride, too – Looking For A Place To Happen scoured Canada for the perfect home, and At The Hundredth Meridian saw Downie wishing to be buried " where the great plains begin". Fifty Mission Cap paid tribute to Toronto Maple Leafs ice-hockey player Bill Barilko, who died in a float-plane crash in 1951 Courage (For Hugh McLennan) honoured the titular Montreal author Locked In The Trunk Of A Car was a killer’s eye view of the kidnap and murder of Quebec’s deputy premier Pierre Laporte in 1970 Wheat Kings concerned the 23-year false imprisonment of Winnipeg’s David Milgaard for murder. He’d stun audiences with cryptic lyricism, live-wire behaviour, stories, speeches, impromptu David Bowie covers or debuts of new songs.īy 1992’s third album Fully Completely, Canadian themes began to dominate. Out front, singer Gord Downie was a gripping showman, equal parts Michael Stipe and Michael Hutchence. The band's brand of blues rock was infused with the collegiate charm of R.E.M., the roadhouse grit of Midnight Oil and The The, and the melodic sprightliness of The Smiths. ![]()
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