Since We Have A Topic On Canada's Worst Band...

[Guest Mr. Potato Head]

Arrogant, Ruki. Arrogant.

And they stop being so awesome once people turn 16.

Also, Basha, The War of 1812 is by Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie, not the Worms.

[Mr Evil Guy]

If Steeb were here, we'd run BSS and Stars all over the lot of you. Long live Emily Haines.

[Cactus Drags]

The Tragically Hip are one of those bands I hear about, but never get round to checking out, where'd be the best place to start?

Hmmmm, well if you're looking albumwise then you can't go wrong with Up To Here or Fully Completely. For songs, it's best to start with (and every Canadian will argue over this), New Orleans Is Sinking, 38 Years Old, Bobcaygeon, Little Bones, At The Hundredth Meridian and Fifty Mission Cap.

[New Damage]

Alexisonfire are Canadian aren't they?

With knowing only them and the 'Back as Canadian bands for sure in my playist...

go Alexisonfire. I <3 Crisis.

Yes, Crisis is the only album from them I hav.e

[gunnar hendershow]

BSS are definitely Canada's finest export.

[Toe]

[RPS]

The Tragically Hip are the most overplayed, overrated bands to come out of Canada. The Tragically Hip? Seriously? They make average radio singles and their CDs are boring as fuck. I mean, I can name at least two dozen bands who would deserve the title of best Canadian Band. Sloan? The Arcade Fire? Broken Social Scene? Feist? Final Fantasy? Billy Talent? Alexisonfire? K-OS? Heck, I don't even like the Weakerthans and I'd put them above the Hip anyday...

[Guest Mr. Potato Head]

On another note, if we have to talk indie rock, the New Pornographers should at least get a mention.

[Ananas]

The Hip are kind of like our Dropkick Murphys, only whereas the Dropkicks make music after the hearts of New Englanders, Gord Downie and Co. make music for all of un-urban Canada. It's even oddly universal too how they're able to appeal to the rural folk as well as the cottage loving urbanites because the stories are just so appealing and uniquely Canadian. Love The Hip and all the tracks Clawson mentioned, but I'm all about "Poets". Maybe just from the memory of how awesomely it was used in "Men In Brooms", but a wicked song nonetheless. The new album is all gravy too, and I honestly believe that "The Lonely End of the Rink" is a better hockey anthem than "The Hockey Song".

[Guest Mr. Potato Head]

Dude, I've told you this. It's not even the Hip's best hockey anthem.

If there's a goal that everyone remembers

It was back in ol' '72

We all squeezed the stick and we all pulled the trigger

And all I remember is sittin' beside you

You said you didn't give a fuck about hockey

Well I never saw someone say that before

You held my hand and we walked home the long way

You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr

[Ananas]

I was just listening to Fireworks like half an hour ago

Still, "Lonely End of the Rink" wins for being universal

[Clawson]

I'm drawing a blank on their other hockey songs besides TLEOTR, Fireworks, and Fifty Mission Cap. I know there is that one about Dan Snyder but I can't recall others.

[Gabriel]

What the deuce is an "Urban Canadian"?

I don't think I've ever met anyone who likes The Hip. The biggest city I've ever lived in is Vernon, BC... and we're full of the country pigfucking type here.

The only people who have ever told me they enjoy the Tragically Hip are here at EWB...

As an Irish Canadian (albeit, very minutely Irish...) I'm much more inclined to enjoy the Dropkick Murphys. I'm proud to be Canadian, but I'm ashamed that The Tragically Hip are probably the most widely known Canadian band of the 90s.

[Ananas]

Urban Canadian would be a Canadian who lives in an urban area. Which is not what I said. To the embodiment of many classic elements of Canadiana, The Hip are fantastic. I hardly ever suggested that the Hip were some sort of universally beloved Canadian band, just like I'd question whether most New Englanders even know of the Dropkicks, much less like them. What I said was that outside of the smug cosmopolitan image many of us in Vancouver, Toronto or Montreal have of ourselves, the Hip are representatives of a more traditional (although not stereotypical) view of Canadiana. I also said I like them. The first point is perhaps debatable, but I'm pretty confident I'm right about the latter.

[Guest Mr. Potato Head]

Although I'm not the type to do so, the Hip are the sort of band to which Canadians would sit outside their cottage, look at the lake, and drink a beer. And I know plenty of people who would definitely do the last three.

[YI]

If Steeb were here, we'd run BSS and Stars all over the lot of you. Long live Emily Haines.

[Mr Evil Guy]

On another note, if we have to talk indie rock, the New Pornographers should at least get a mention.

[Ananas]

New Pornographers are actually my favorite Canadian band. Every song more unique than the last, plus Dan Bejar's drunken genius and Neko Case. Holy fuck, Neko Case. I think that's the best way to describe her vocal contributions to the band.

[Guest Mr. Potato Head]

I don't know if the stuff off Challengers would fit into "every song more unique than the last"...it was still a great album, but it didn't have the variety that they usually do. Myriad Harbour is really the only track I can think of off the top of my head that could be described as diverse.

[King Ellis]

You guys couldn't have saved this topic until Ringo returned from his vacation?

Still, it's probably for the best. He'd probably explode going over everything he thinks is wonderful.