The Tragically Hip
In Between Evolution

(Zoë/Rounder)

First Appeared in The Music Box, July 2004, Volume 11, #7

Written by John Metzger

The Tragically Hip has never catered to the whims of anyone. Indeed, the band always has followed its own muse, sometimes to a fault, though it clearly must be doing something right since it has sold a collective 6 million albums over the course of its 21-year career. Still, critics and fans alike either love or hate the ensemble, and although its sound is in a constant state of flux, it also is uniquely its own.

The Tragically Hip spent less time than usual recording the tracks for its latest outing In Between Evolution, and the end result is a leaner, meaner set that features some of the group’s most vibrant and infectious material since 1998’s Phantom Power. Produced by Adam Kasper (Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, Pearl Jam), the collection seethes with a raw, edgy intensity as the guitars blaze and the rhythm section roars its way through a gritty blast of hard-hitting rock that demands to be played at full volume. Nevertheless, it’s lead singer Gord Downie’s inimitable vocal style and cerebrally obtuse lyrics that truly shine. No matter what musical emphasis the band places upon its songs, Downie’s lyrics are strangely compelling. Even if In Between Evolution isn’t likely to expand by leaps and bounds the group’s existing base of fans, it successfully extends The Tragically Hip’s streak of crafting consistently satisfying albums. ½

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Ratings

1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!

Copyright © 2004 The Music Box