By The Tragically Hip, 2002

Strange experience, the Hip. Since the release of their first EP in 1987, they've steadily become one of the best-loved and most successful rock bands Canada has witnessed (they do shows with Alanis, for Juno's sake!). If you are American, you're probably just discovering them now, without the context of their nine previous albums.

So when first listening to In Violet Light you can feel disoriented--as if you happened to watch, say, your first episode of Twin Peaks midseason, having never known there was such a thing. This album exists in a slightly more stylized and dramatic world than the everyday--something like an indie-rock opera starring Bryan Ferry, but without the models. It might take a few listens to understand how Gordon Downie can sound like the Talking Heads ("Are You Ready") and then R.E.M. ("Silver Jet" and "Leave") and then the Smiths ("Throwing Off Glass") while still maintaining his own distinct and consistent voice.

But given a few listens, this other world makes more and more sense, and you'll find yourself inhabiting it. --Laura Etling

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