The Tragically Hip – World Container (2006)

Do you have a bucket travel list?

I’ve heard of people wanting to see a game in every MLB stadium, or wanting to visit as many countries/continents as they can.

Personally, I’d like to check out as many Hip name-checked geographic locations as possible. This summer’s progress:

Springside Park (An Inch an Hour) in Napanee? Check.

Bobcaygeon (Bobcaygeon)? Got within 25 kilometres or so in late July. Almost.

Mistaken Point, NL & Moonbeam, ON (From World Container’s Fly)? Well, based on the google maps below, slightly trickier to make a day trip from Kingston!

 

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You may have noticed the CD was absent for the opening photo.

But for a good reason: it is currently in the car CD player, right where it belongs.

Though, admittedly, I rarely listen to World Container by myself.

But for the best of reasons: it’s my wonderful wife’s favourite Hip album, so it is typically enjoyed together!

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Why World Container (WC)?

To quote the WC track, Pretend, “is that your question? Because that one is easy.”

WC is The Hip’s most cohesive record
A true front-to-backer, with recurring themes & repeated lyrics, re-appearing in wildly different contexts, yet somehow totally unified.

Gord Downie = Best English Teacher Ever
Metaphor – “Yer not the ocean, you are just a lake”
Simile – “Holding your fist in the air like if you need me you’re on your own”
Homonym – “Am I lovesick?” from the track Luv (Sic)

The songs
The songs! Without great songs, nothing else matters. Though the eleven tracks work exceptionally well as a whole, I’d be remiss if I didn’t single out the following:

Family Band – The chorus lyric, “we’ll be a shade shy of truly loving this,” could not be less apt. Exceptional, especially the bridge, “into the back seat folded down,” I am truly loving this.

World Container – Yesterday, I asked my wonderful wife what her favourite WC track was. Though she almost instantly listed half of the album, the title track, the album’s closing track, was the first to appear on her list. And if asked the same question, I’d probably reflexively provide the same answer. It’s grand, it’s life-affirming, and two of its final lines say it all:

“What we have here are all flaws in progress”
In 2006, The Hip was still a work in process, just as a Family Band ought to be. Not necessarily pleasing everyone, but thankfully still as creative as ever.

“Where all songs are one song and that song is don’t forget”
Or where eleven songs become one unforgettable record.

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The Hip Tour/My Post Schedule

Jul 22 2016 The Hip played: Victoria, BC. I played: The Tragically Hip (1987)
Check out these TTH (1987) reviews by: Brian, Aaron

Jul 24 2016 The Hip plays: Vancouver, BC. I played: Up to Here (1989)
Check out these Up to Here (1989) reviews by: Brian, Aaron

Jul 26 2016 The Hip plays: Vancouver, BC. I played: Road Apples (1991)
Check out these Road Apples (1991) reviews by: Brian, Aaron, Deke

Jul 28 2016 The Hip plays: Edmonton, AB. I played: Fully Completely (1992)
Check out these Fully Completely (1992) reviews by: Brian, Aaron, Sarca

Jul 30 2016 The Hip plays: Edmonton, AB. I played: Day for Night (1994)
Check out these Day for Night (1994) reviews by: Brian, Aaron

Aug 1 2016 The Hip plays: Calgary, AB. I played: Trouble at the Henhouse (1996)
Check out these Trouble at the Henhouse (1996) reviews by: Brian, Aaron

Aug 3 2016 The Hip plays: Calgary, AB. I played: Live Between Us (1997)
Check out these Live Between Us (1997) reviews by: Brian, Aaron

Aug 5 2016 The Hip plays: Winnipeg, MB. I played: Phantom Power (1998)
Check out these Phantom Power (1998) reviews by: Brian, Aaron

Aug 8 2016 The Hip plays: London, ON. I played: Music @ Work (2000)
Check out these Music @ Work (2000) reviews by: Brian, Aaron

Aug 10 2016 The Hip plays: Toronto, ON. I played: In Violet Light (2002)
Check out these In Violet Light (2002) reviews by: Brian, Aaron

Aug 12 2016 The Hip plays: Toronto, ON. I play: In Between Evolution (2004)
Check out these In Between Evolution (2004) reviews by: Brian, Aaron

Aug 14 2016 The Hip plays: Toronto, ON. I play: World Container (2006)
Check out these World Container (2006) reviews by: Brian, Aaron

Aug 16 2016 The Hip plays: Hamilton, ON. I play: We are the Same (2009)

Aug 18 2016 The Hip plays: Ottawa, ON. I play: Now for Plan A (2012)

Aug 20 2016 The Hip plays: Kingston, ON. I play: Man Machine Poem (2016)