Search - Tragically Hip :: In Between Evolution

You Can't Be Young Again

Wade Tomlin | Toronto, Ontario | 01/05/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"There is a reason why musicians make their most energetic, angry music when they are young. Often times, bands come out with a bang and seem to fade away as the years progress, the bands that stick around, see Green Day, are the one's who seem to realize that as they mature, so should their music.



Anyone doubting this theory only needs to listen to In Between Evolution (IBE) by the Tragically Hip. After releasing the more subtle and nuanced In Violet Light (IVE), maybe the Hip thought they had to rev their engines and go back to the hard-rocking days of their early records. IVE attained only platinum status in Canada, while some bands may have called that a career highlight, the Hip at one stretch had five records in a row go well over the 4-times platinum mark with two of those records reaching diamond status.



The need to make a statement shows up all over In Between Evolution (IBE), as songs such as Summer Is Killing Us jump off the speaker with an energy the band has not shown in a number of records. Unfortunately the Hip are no longer angry young men brimming with testosterone and the attempts at rollicking rock come across as out of their grasp. The last truly great Hip songs in my opinion (Lake Fever, The Darkest One) have a mature energy to them and show a band brimming with confidence. The sense of that mature older band rarely shows up on IBE.



Instead, for the first time I have experienced when listening to the Hip, the songs on IBE have a sense of been there and done that much better. Gus: The Polar Bear From New York seems like a retread of the dark and murky sounds heard on Day For Night and Heaven Is A Better Place today seems like a cast-off from the meat and potatoes rock of Fully Completely. The last time the band sounded this familiar the end results was Phantom Power a record whose sheer diversity and song quality made the record sound like an aim for perfection, on IBE, the band seems to be throwing things at the wall and hoping they stick.



Now some songs do stand-out; Vaccination Scar manages to sound fresh while maintaining the Hip's rep for writing quirky and unique songs. It Can't Be Nashville Everynight meanwhile has a nice driving drum beat with a sing-song quality chorus making this loud, thrashing tune the one time where the Hip pull off their attempt at angry rock. Unfortuately there are not any other songs I can think of on IBE that truly stand out as memorable.



Here's hoping the next Hip record reveals a band that accepts what it is: an older, established rock band who has embraced what stage their lives are at and where their music should be.

"

Ahhh the Wonderful Hip

B. Kemper | Madison, WI United States | 06/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Oh what's to say? Great quirky songs, wonderfully just-off-center lyrics and Gord. Sign me up for every CD these people release from now until eternity."

Ummmm ... no.

rg61 | Boston, MA USA | 08/18/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a Hip junkie. Been enjoying their music since Up to Here. I own all the other TTH releases, and they all have something to commend them. But In Between Evolution does not contain the thoughtful, melodic rock that I've come to enjoy from the Tragically Hip.



The band kicks, but the tracks just aren't as musical as in the past. And Mr. Downie's singing is the worst I've heard. (Thankfully, this appears to have been temporary -- Gord's back in fine form on World Container.)



Perhaps more importantly, to my ear, Gord's writing and phrasing just don't fit the music this time around.



There *are* a few tracks that I enjoy (I'd give If New Orleans a solid 8/10) but, overall, not much sticks with me. And I *have* tried a few times. But I shouldn't have to try so hard.



Many bands would be happy to have created this CD, but the bar's higher for the Hip. If I give Up to Here, Road Apples, Fully Completely & Day for Night 5 stars (and I do), Phantom Power, In Violet Light & World Container 4 stars, then In Between Evolution rates 2.



[I'd give it 5 out of 10, but Amazon's scale doesn't allow that. And this CD does not merit 60%.]"