Search - Tragically Hip :: Trouble at the Henhouse

We Live to Survive Our Paradoxes

state | 05/07/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Trouble at the Henhouse was the Hip's 6th album, and, back in 1996 when it was issued, they were the undisputed rulers of the Canadian airwaves. The Tragically Hip captured the Zeitgeist during the 90's from Road Apples (1991)[Canadian slang for beers consumed on a long highway journey], Fully Completely (1992), Day for Night (1994), and completed by this effort and 1998's Phantom Power. These 5 albums form the core of the Hip's legacy with Trouble at the Henhouse being the last of them which conveyed a sense that the Hip were invincible.



The 21st century however has not been nearly as kind to them. Music at Work (2000) onwards is a different phase in their career, and though there is much good in their second full decade, it is their first where they rocked in a way that only the great bands can. What made the Hip great was the quirky and insightful observations of their lead singer, Gordon Downie (for example from "Springtime in Vienna": 'we live to survive our paradoxes'; from "Flamenco": 'maybe a prostitute could teach you how to take a compliment' etc). Even though the lyrics are poetic, even though there is a cleverness to Downie's turns of phrase, these songs are songs about the common man and the common man's problems with the common man.



The first five songs are individually stunning and collectively amazing. Standing by themselves they would serve to make Trouble in the Henhouse a great work; however, what makes it a classic is that, save for "Coconut Cream" and "Put it Off", the rest rate 5-stars. Perfect for the beach on a lazy hot day: let the Hip infect you with that childlike sense of wonder, allow the music to envelop you and soon Gordon Downie will have you singing along. Five ***** stars."