Drummer Johnny Fay once famously quipped to Billboard that being the biggest band in Canada was “like being the world’s tallest midgets.” HipWiki
Gord Downie appears to be flapping out a poutine-induced dutch oven at the beginning of The Hip‘s new video for ‘In View’ – and things go downhill from there. Throughout the course of the clip, he lifts dumbells, has severe communications problems, gets chased through Shanghai after stealing a cell – all in an attempt to phone a woman lass than half his age. I’m not sure what is happening here, but I think my first interpretation which revolved around the protagonist being an aging, Asian-hating pedophile is a little off. Only repeated viewings will tell for sure.
And repeated viewings there will be. It’s a catchy little tune, along the lines of Fireworks or Music at Work, and I can’t wait to hear the rest of the album, World Container, which is being released in Canada on October 16th.
With Bob Rock producing, I’m both afraid and excited. This guy brought Aerosmith back from the brink, gave Metallica their first BIG hit, and created countless other over played tunes.
I guess the Hip were tired of playing to Canada and Australia and have now gone for that elusive U.S. market – hence Bob.
As long as I don’t hear them start doing duets with Avril or the Barenaked FuckWads in order to tweak the Top-40-tinned-ears of the general American population, I will be OK.
When will Gord and Neil sit down, crack open a 2-4 and start writing together? It seems like a perfect fit to me. Perhaps Gord could take him back to his poet life and drag him away from this Joan-Baez-Down-with-vitenam ghost he’s been channeling of late.