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Langlois ’ slinky and intertwining guitars , channeling a bit of the Rolling Stones ’ vibe a la “ Gimme Shelter .” Johnny Fay ’ s snare drum clangs like an industrial sheet metal punch , accompanied by the slacker vibe of a shaker reminiscent of the Dandy Warhols ’ “ Bohemian Like You .” Downie ’ s deadpan lyric skewers corporate takeover of the working class , bundles in commentary on climate change , and laments the bias confirmation promoted by editorial news outlets . He also blasts patriarchy and male fantasy disguised as progressive governance . It ’ s a lot to chew on for a catchy four-minute rock and roll song . The relentless “ Save the Planet ” is among the band ’ s great full-tilt rockers alongside earlier fare like the title track to Fully Completely . “ Fireworks ” is propelled at a headlong pace by Fay ’ s manic percussion in support of Gord Downie ’ s Canadian love story with a side order of hockey . Following a jazzy guitar intro , the mellow “ The Rules ” settles into an expressive showcase for Downie ’ s relatable observations and combination of conversational and artistically obscured prose . The song drifts along with Bob Egan ’ s hazy pedal steel as the song laments being mired in fatalistic and mundane circumstances . The hypnotic " Escape Is at Hand for the Travellin ' Man " is a tribute to Jim Ellison of Chicago power-pop trio Material Issue . Ellison took his own life at age 32 . Downie remembers their loose connection as acquaintances on the
job and wonders whether they shouldn ’ t have delved deeper . The song seems to involve missing that natural kinship while regretting missed opportunities for the closer friendship that could have been . Five previously unheard tracks from the Tragically Hip ’ s vault populate the 2xLP set ’ s final side , extending Phantom Power to doublealbum length . “ Bumblebee ” is a growling rocker . “ Insomniacs ” rambles with country-rock twang . “ They said , ‘ Don ’ t be dragging those flimsy similes around here ,’” sings Downie in “ Songwriter ’ s Cabal ,” quoting the judgmental artistes at the local open mic night . It ’ s certainly evocative enough to have made the final album , and the song features an otherworldly instrumental coda with reverb-drenched saloon piano atop bluesy slide guitars . The grim scenery of “ Vegas Strip ” and the forlorn acoustic track “ Mystery ” ( wherein Downie channels his inner Michael Stipe circa New Adventures in Hi-Fi ) have similar strengths and reveal the deep well that the Tragically Hip was drawing from in 1998 . Like anniversary boxes for Fully Completely and Road Apples , the deluxe Phantom Power set includes a live show from the period to remind listeners that the Hip was a white-hot rock band with a frontman on par with the aforementioned Stipe or Mick Jagger . Downie keeps the audience at Pittsburgh ’ s Metropol engaged and enrapt with his seemingly effortless improvisational diversions during favorites including “ Twist My
Continued on page 14 newreleases July 5
Fink Beauty In Your Wake Kasabian Happenings Kiasmos II Kokoko ! BUTU Wilco Hot Sun Cool Shroud
July 12
Ani DiFranco Unprecedented Sh ! t Brijean Macro Cassandra Jenkins My Light , My Destroyer Chris Cohen Paint A Room Cigarettes After Sex X ' s Clairo Charm Future Utopia Djangoʼs High Joe Goddard Harmonics Johnny Blue Skies Passage Du Desir Remi Wolf Big Ideas
July 19
Dr . Dog Dr . Dog Glass Animals I Love You So F *** ing Much GUM / Ambrose Kenny-Smith III Times Jimin Muse Los Campesinos ! All Hell
July 26
Alex Izenberg & The Exiles S / T Crack Cloud Red Mile Cults To the Ghosts Humanist On The Edge Of A Lost And Lonely World Ice Spice Y2K Porter Robinson SMILE ! : D
Wilco
Cults
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