Customer Reviews

World Container

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you've ever loved a Hip album, you'll love this one too. If you've never loved a Hip album, you may love this one because it is a bit different.

Like most Hip fans, I've become so infatuated with the music and the stories that anything the boys do is pretty much alright with me. The main difference here it that Bob Rock has made his mark on the sound - mainly due to the keyboards. Still, there's no mistaking that this is authentic Hip stuff. At least 4 and maybe even 5 of these songs are destined to become core concert material. You can just feel the high-power stadium potential pulsing from Lonely End Of The Rink, The Kids Don't Get It and The Drop Off just to name a few.

On the downside, I find the keyboards a bit of a turn off - too Journey circa 1985 - but it hasn't stoped me from listening to this disk over and over again which is the real test I suppose.

If you're interested enough in the band to read this far into the review, you may as well go ahead and buy the CD now; its only going to be a matter of time.

An outstanding album finally released in the states. World Container starts off moving at a solid pace in "Yer Not the Ocean" and does not let up. The band certainly has progressed since their Road Apples and Fully Completely days. Songs such as The Lonely End of the Rink have instrumentals that sound like they just came out of a Killer's album, not the hip. But it still works!!!

The middle of the CD with tracks such as Luv (sic) and In View keep everyone's head in the room happily bobbing to the beat.

The end is highlighted with songs like the feverishly paced The Drop Off where Gord's voice seriously raises the intensity of the album. The title track, World Container may be considered this generation's "Piano Man" if only it were a minute or two longer. Truly an epic Hip song.

Overall, excellent. Why are you reading this and not clicking "Add to Cart?"

Following The Tragically Hip for the last few years has been following a sinking ship. Seemingly entering the twilight of their career, remembering better records and more of the moment releases was the common feeling when listening to Music at Work, In Violet Light and In Between Evolution. Good albums, but not the bands best nor inspiring in the ways of previous records.

World Container reveals what was missing from the last few Hip albums, boldness. Great Hip records of the past were a continuing expansion of the group's hard-rock sound. Something tells me Gord Downie and company didn't know how their fans would respond to Day for Night or Trouble at the Henhouse, but were more interested in continually pushing the envelope of their style. That Hip shows-up on World Container as the songs show a willingness to further move the band forward with their blues based guitar rock.

Songs such as The Kids Don't Get It reveal this new energy as a previously unheard affection for The Police shows up with the reggae based guitar hooks from the 80's icons put front and center. Now don't mistake this record as a dance record, but it is decidedly more upbeat with the music, and possibly the band, having more of what we call fun. Bob Rock's inclusion as producer insures the record isn't shy about hooks and choruses, but the biggest plus Rock brings to the proceedings is his additional dashes on top of the proven, and in Canada anyway overplayed, core Hip sound. In View is a good example of this as the addition of some keyboard over this toe tapping rocker creates one of the Hip's catchiest songs ever. Yer Not The Ocean also benefits from some piano thrown into the mix allowing the song to seem like a familiar Hip song while still sounding fresh.

Whether Tragically Hip fans allow World Container to right the Hip ship upward remains to be seen. The title track however, which see's Gord Downie jump full into anthem mode as his poetry flows over a piano ballad in a sometimes ridiculous but none-the-less brave closing track reveals a band with the confidence to enjoy the ride wherever it may take them.

Indeed: this is the best Hip album in years; there are songs here as strong as anything else the band has written -- I'd put "The Drop Off" up against pretty much any song that the band has penned since "Nautical Disaster," anyhow. I didn't like their previous disc, In Between Evolution, at all -- it sounded like the band were wandering lost, repeating themselves; Bob Rock appears to have whipped'em into intense focus. Tho' there is a bit of filler-feeling stuff (I haven't learned to love "Luv (sic)" yet, f'rinstance), I'd agree that this is their strongest release since Phantom Power; and damn, seeing these guys live is a phenomenal experience -- tho' "The Kids Don't Get It" is an odd and provocative experience indeed in the concert hall!

This album has The Tragicallt Hip back to more of a rock sound than the more melodic tones of theie more recent albums. Recommended as essential for those Hip fans.

I found the Hip's latest CD to be inferior in quality to their more mellow, melodic efforts such as In Violet Light and the standout tracks on Phantom Power. World Container seems to resort to formulaic pop riffs and yelling and screaming a bit too often. That said, I think the Hip are one of the best bands out there and some of these tracks are pretty solid. Personal favorites: Last Night I Dreamed You Didn't Love Me, In View, Yer Not the Ocean.

Some variation on the Hip sound and punchy production from Bob Rock make for a big improvement over IBE. Only the lacklustre "Pretend" lets the album down in a big way. It's the new "The Rules."

My only question is why Amazon are charging this much when it's half the price at the official Hip store!

This is the best Hip album since Phanton Power. Maybe since Fully Completely. If you've lost interest in The Hip over the last couple releases, you'll relish this return to form.

i bought this cd for my husband who's a big fan of this canadian band and he can't stop listening to it!
thanks

I would give this a CD five stars if there was a way to give Fully Completely, Day for Night, and Trouble at the Henhouse six stars. I love the hip!