"The Darkest One" - The Tragically Hip

I remember a time when I absolutely hated The Tragically Hip. I'm talking a hate so strong I would switch radio stations when I heard "Poets" or "New Orleans is Sinking". I think my issue was, being from a small Canadian Town, the Hip might as well have been the Rolling Stones, based on the amount of radio play and fame they acquired from the locals. Eventually I heard some Hip songs that received lesser commercial success like "The Darkest One" and "Long Time Running". I listened more and more to their lesser known songs and something strange happened... all of that hate that I had turned into love and admiration; for that grizzly, redneck, Gord Downie.

The USA can have you Avril

There are a few things I especially like about Gord Downie.

1. He is Canadian. Not Canadian in a sell out way like Avril Lavinge for example. She grew up in a small Ontario town, got famous (somehow??), and never looked back. She lives in LA and dates Brody Jenner from the Goddamn "Hills" while her hometown probably has her face and name plastered all over their welcome sign as their claim to fame. No, Gord Downie is certainly not like that, not about that.