Phantom Power

07/14/1998 3:00 AM, Yahoo! Music
Bill Holdship

True story: Just as I was sitting down to begin this review, I checked my phone messages to hear one from MyLAUNCH columnist Jim DeRogatis, who was just checking in but mentioned not to phone him back tonight 'cause he's off "to review a terrible band...from Canada...what's their name?--The Tragically Hip...."

Which really isn't a fair way for a reviewer to dive into the job at hand. But, c'mon, Jim, I bet The Tragically Hip weren't that bad--I mean, relatively and comparably speaking, if you know what I mean. In fact, I bet The Tragically Hip opened with "Poets," also the opener on the latest LP from the band--and as openers go, it certainly sounds just about right for a big rawk show.

Of course, as the closing refrain to "Save The Planet" (I kid you not) repeats again and again: "What's left to captivate us?" And there sorta lies the rub in regards to The Tragically Hip. The band remains huge in their native land, with a nice but relatively small following in these here States (where the band is now on their third label, following stints with Atlantic and MCA). They remain quite competent musicians, with a fair-to-OK songwriter (Gordon Downie), whose lead vocals alternate between unique and irritating. They used to tour a lot with an American band called Flies On Fire who were really good--two million times better in a Stones sort of way than the Black Crowes have ever been. And they're supposed to be very powerful live, in a Heartland rock sort of way, but I've never had the pleasure. Maybe you may wanna check with Jim after tomorrow... Still, Phantom Power will do nothing to change the band's basic success equation. In other words, if you're not already a fan, nothing here is going to, in Gordon Downie's words, really captivate you.