Customer Reviews

Battle of the Nudes

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Gordon Downie, lead singer of the Tragically Hip, offers a highly personal musical statement with his second solo album. Downie's songs are uncompromisingly innovative and experimental; his work with the Hip seems mainstream by comparison.

Downie courageously begins the album with the quiet "Into the Night," a moody and atmospheric tone poem. He revs up the tempo with the aggressive "Figment" and the infectious holiday number "Christmastime in Toronto." "Willow Logic" has a nice melody, though I find its spoken word sections contrived and annoying. "Pascal's Submarine" is a near work of genius, a colorful and upbeat track whose catchiness belies its grave subject matter, the sinking of the Russian submarine Kursk. (This song continues Downie's obsession with maritime tragedies, previously illustrated by The Hip's "Nautical Disaster," "50 Mission Cap" and "The Dire Wolf").

After the incendiary "11th Fret," the second half of the record downshifts into mellower territory, with mixed results. The stream-of-consciousness poetry of "Who by Rote" runs out of steam quickly, leaving the listener wandering in a wilderness of experimental tone color. "Steeplechase" features some impressive dynamics; I would have preferred further musical development to the hockey spiel that abruptly ends the track. The dissonant harmonies of "More Me Less You" walk a fine line between haunting and grating. The commentary of "Hardcore" works better in theory than in practice, while "Pillform" doesn't quite gel in either of its two different versions.

Downie takes pride in his poetry, and rightly so. However, his lyrics can't quite carry a song on their own (as they did for that other great Canadian singer-songwriter, Leonard Cohen). Though few, his excursions into spoken word are somewhat disappointing, since they deprive the listener of Downie's greatest talent, his inimitable and idiosyncratic vocal style.

Gordon Downie's experiments in poetry and sound assert his individuality as an artist and constitute a style independent of his work with The Tragically Hip. Some of it works and some of it doesn't, but he succeeds frequently enough to justify the time spent on his extracurricular activities.

Gordon Downie's new album "Battle of the Nudes" is fantastic.

What shines most brilliantly is Gordon's songwtriting. He manages to bring poetry back to music in the proper manner.

One of my major complaints with modern music is that it seems to follow a certain formula. The breaks in the rythym, the inclusion of the chorus, and the often used word combinations. Both musically and lyrically most music is predictable. It is rare to find an album which challenges the listener like this one can. It is hard to explain in terms of popular music what is meant by challenging. If this were Jazz, it would rank near Monk's work. Monk would play his melody, explore every musical facet around it and eventually bring it round-a-bout'. Gordon does this throughout the album; never straying far enough away from the melody to confuse but rarely just playing it straight. If this music was Classical I would compare its' anticlimatic nature to that of Beethovens work. Many times teasing with a conventional sound only to deliver something far more creative and expressive. This music makes you feel!

Of course there are a few songs recorded on this album that show Gordon's routes as a rock musician; most noteably singing with the Tragically Hip. Coincidentally these are not my favorite songs but are quite catchy and well performed.

In a time a where rock stars and Idols are litterally cast on a telivision program or created by using a formula this album may not find listeners easily. However, If you are one of the minorities who love to stray away from convention and loathe the new age Idols, then buy this album.

Just got back from seeing Gord live in Detroit and WOW! They played most of the songs on the cd and I gotta tell ya I'm a fan for life. AND he's super nice to boot, signed autographs etc.(although the thread would have been great)..Pick up this cd if you want some serious quality both lyrically and musically. Very well done!

Although it often sounds like Downie is trying to teach some arcane philosophy course put to bewildered students' music, winners like "Pascal's Submarine", a jumpy yarn that loves to unspool, and the closer/reprise's infectious jitteriness/incisive lyrics make it worthwhile.

MM,
June 7/03

First off I'm a huge fan of the Tragically Hip and Gordon Downie. After the 2001 "Coke Machine Glow" (Gordons first solo release) I was expecting more growth and better quality. Boy was I wrong! Words can't describe what is wrong with this CD. I truly hope that Gordon put this together in one day or was suffering from a mental breakdown. I reccomend that you don't purchase this album. But I did enjoy a few tracks and they we're "Pascals Submarine" and "Christmastime in Toronto" So if your looking for a Hip type sounding alubum this product doesn't do that so I suggest any Hip album out there. And also keep Gordon in your prayers so he doesn't make another solo album again.

I am a HUGE Hip fan and have never heard any of Gord's solo songs until I saw him and The Country of Miracles perform in Milwaukee on 7/20/03. Gord and the rest of the group blew me away! I agree with Sabina that Gord is amazing live and that he's super nice. He signed my copy of Battle of the Nudes. It was really nice to meet him. The songs on this album are very poetic and beautiful. The order that the songs are in are perfect and flow together nicely, almost as if they are taking you on a journey. All of the songs have great lyrics.

-Into The Night- this song seems sad for some reason, I like it because it makes you feel.
-Figment- Great lyrics. I like the guitar solo at the end.
-Christmastime in Toronto- I love the dissonance of the guitars in this song.
-Willow Logic- a poem set to music. Half of the song is spoken. One of my favorite songs on this album.
-Pascal's Submarine- Another favorite of mine. The song has a nice upbeat sound to it. It tells the story of Nadezhda Tylik, the women who was injected with a sedative when she demand to be told the truth of how and why her son and the crew of the Kursk died.
-11th Fret- I like the sound of Julie and Gord's voices singing together.
-Who By Rote- I love this song, it's another one of my favorites. It's another poem set to music. The shovel sound is great and it sets the scene perfectly. It has a good rhythm and great lyrics. "I'm here because you're here, and when you go I'm going too."
-Steeplechase- I like how Who By Rote blends right into Steeplechase. Julie's voice in the background is almost haunting in this song.
-More Me Less You- haunting yet beautiful.
-We're Hardcore- "We're not hobbyists or dabblers anymore! We're Hardcore, Hardcore, we're Hardcore!" fun song to rock out to.
-Pillform #2- catchy tune that gets stuck in my head. Great lyrics. Another favorite.
-Pillform #1- ditto

The second solo album by Gordon Downie simply stays unique. The tracks are all unique some rocks tunes, low beat tunes, and all are excellent. Specially the lyrics of a poet Gordon Downie, which run threw me as Im amazed at the beauty. There are no highlight songs in this album because its solid from begginging to end. The song MORE ME LESS YOU is a song which has the best line of the album " is he good lookings? what am i saying? were all good looking?" The song INTO THE NIGHT is a ping-pong match between growing up and growing apart. This is one of the best opening tracks an album can have. This album works well with the original Coke Machine Glow, which both are masterpieces that Gordon should be proud of. So please pick this album up as soon as possible your in for a real treat.

ok. So, here I am. I am a lost Tragically Hip fan in Austin, TX. Why do I say that? Well, most people North of here have heard of the Hip (North of Texas that is). I really liked Gordo's (like I know him) first solo shot. In my review of that cd, there were a lot of 'textures' on that album. This one is full of expression. Trying to convey meaning in different methods. Using different tones, instruments, and voicings. I am not a music snob by any stretch of the imagination. I have a secret love of Kid Rock!! I was not even aware that there was a second release when Mr Downie (I'll be more formal) came to Austin to support the release. I got the cd after the live show, and I must say that I was overwhelmed (you have to add that I got to see him with about 99 other people in a small venue - JEALOUS????). If you have ever been in a 'life-crisis' (not to be confused with a mid-life crisis - I don't have a HUMMER!!) you can feel and appriciate the music. It is not often that an artist gets to stick themselves out like this. It is like looking at something you think you know, but seeing a whole new side. If you are looking for experimentation and a willingness to accept, then tread here - otherwise go buy a Jessica Simpson cd or break out Lynard Skynard (they are all dead by the way even though there is a tour)for the upteenth-million-time.

I too am a huge Hip fan and I adore Coke Machine Glow (it was my favorite album for quite awhile). But Battle of the Nudes is almost impossible to listen to. Yes, the lyrics are all Gord (quirky and and interesting) but do yourself a favor and don't be "The Completist" and buy this CD. It is just about the worst collection of tuneless noise I've ever tried to tolerate.