Hipeponymous
The Tragically Hip · 2005
225 min · 96 tracks · alternative rock
A sprawling collection of anthemic rock songs infused with reflective lyrics and a distinctly Canadian sensibility.
Top tracks — play these first
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No Threat Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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Courage (for Hugh MacLennan) — This track exemplifies the band's ability to blend personal storytelling with broader societal themes, capturing the essence of the Canadian experience.
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Ahead by a Century — With its introspective lyrics and anthemic chorus, this song stands out as a defining moment in The Tragically Hip's catalog, resonating deeply with fans.
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New Orleans Is Sinking — This track is a fan favorite that showcases the band's signature sound, combining poetic lyrics with a powerful rock instrumentation that reflects their musical roots.
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Grace, Too — The emotional depth of this song, paired with its captivating melody, highlights the band's lyrical prowess and resonates with listeners on multiple levels.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases The Tragically Hip's evolution with strong songwriting and varied arrangements, though its compilation nature affects cohesion.
What we noticed
- The album features a diverse selection of tracks spanning the band's career, with songs ranging from upbeat anthems to more introspective pieces.
- Several tracks incorporate layered instrumentation, creating a rich soundscape that enhances the lyrical themes.
- The running order alternates between high-energy songs and slower ballads, maintaining listener engagement throughout its extensive length.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic exploration with emotional peaks
- reflective moments for deep thinking
- for long road trips
- engaging narratives that invite reflection
- a soundtrack for nostalgic reminiscing
Maybe skip if you
- prefer quick, standalone tracks
- seek high-energy party anthems
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This compilation solidified their status in Canada, achieving commercial success.
- Career context
- Hipeponymous, released in 2005, came at a crucial point for The Tragically Hip as they celebrated their 20th anniversary. This compilation album featured key tracks from their extensive catalog while showcasing the band's evolution and enduring popularity in the Canadian music scene. It served as both a retrospective and a bridge to new audiences.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Blue Rodeo· The Weakerthans· Gord Downie
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 No Threat Start here 2:57
- 2 Grace, Too 5:34
- 3 My Music at Work 3:06
- 4 38 Years Old 4:19
- 5 Gift Shop 5:02
- 6 Ahead by a Century 3:45
- 7 Vaccination Scar 2:56
- 8 Three Pistols 3:48
- 9 So Hard Done By 3:29
- 10 Fiddler’s Green 4:26
- 11 Looking for a Place to Happen 4:32
- 12 Cordelia 4:11
- 13 ‘It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken’ 4:26
- 14 Blow at High Dough 4:37
- 15 Wheat Kings 4:19
- 16 Fifty‐Mission Cap 4:09
- 17 New Orleans Is Sinking 4:18
- 18 Escape Is at Hand for the Travellin’ Man 5:50
Disc 2
- 1 Fully Completely 3:32
- 2 Twist My Arm 3:56
- 3 Courage (for Hugh MacLennan) 4:24
- 4 Lake Fever 4:30
- 5 Poets 4:02
- 6 Fireworks 3:56
- 7 Boots or Hearts 3:40
- 8 Bobcaygeon 4:59
- 9 Nautical Disaster 4:42
- 10 Highway Girl 3:31
- 11 Gus: The Polar Bear From Central Park 4:09
- 12 Scared 5:06
- 13 Something On 3:25
- 14 At the Hundredth Meridian 3:23
- 15 Long Time Running 4:24
- 16 The Darkest One 4:42
- 17 Locked in the Trunk of a Car 4:40
- 18 Little Bones 4:45
- 19 The New Maybe 2:58
Disc 3
- 1 Vaccination Scar 2:46
- 2 Fully Completely
- 3 Grace, Too 6:18
- 4 Summer’s Killing Us 3:35
- 5 Ahead by a Century 5:21
- 6 Silver Jet 4:31
- 7 As Makeshift as We Are 3:40
- 8 Courage (for Hugh MacLennan) 5:13
- 9 Bobcaygeon 3:58
- 10 Nautical Disaster 4:36
- 11 Gus: The Polar Bear From Central Park
- 12 Poets 5:07
- 13 At the Hundredth Meridian 3:16
- 14 It Can’t Be Nashville Every Night 3:50
- 15 My Music at Work 4:25
- 16 New Orleans Is Sinking 5:17
- 17 Heaven Is a Better Place Today 4:20
- 18 ‘It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken’ 4:43
- 19 Little Bones
- 20 Gift Shop
- 21 Springtime in Vienna
- 22 Three Pistols
- 23 Boots or Hearts
- 24 Blow at High Dough
Disc 4
- 1 Last American Exit
- 2 Small Town Bringdown
- 3 New Orleans Is Sinking
- 4 Blow at High Dough
- 5 Little Bones
- 6 Locked in the Trunk of a Car
- 7 Courage (for Hugh Maclennan)
- 8 At the Hundredth Meridian
- 9 Nautical Disaster
- 10 Thugs
- 11 Greasy Jungle
- 12 Grace, Too
- 13 Ahead by a Century
- 14 Gift Shop
- 15 Bobcaygeon
- 16 Something On
- 17 Poets
- 18 My Music at Work
- 19 ‘It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken’
- 20 Silver Jet
- 21 The Darkest One
- 22 Vaccination Scar
- 23 It Can’t Be Nashville Every Night
- 24 Macroscopic – A Film by Christopher Mills
- 25 Cooking in Wartime
- 26 Piano Spider
- 27 Speakersong
- 28 Air Plane
- 29 Sub Way
- 30 Edible Paper
- 31 What’s Umm Mean?
- 32 Leaving the Island
- 33 Land Scape Clouds
- 34 Mind Fame
- 35 The Right Whale
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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