Search - Gordon Downie :: Battle of the Nudes

Hip singer's solo effort is innovative but inconsistent

Eddie Konczal | 04/20/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Gordon Downie, lead singer of the Tragically Hip, offers a highly personal musical statement with his second solo album. Downie's songs are uncompromisingly innovative and experimental; his work with the Hip seems mainstream by comparison. Downie courageously begins the album with the quiet "Into the Night," a moody and atmospheric tone poem. He revs up the tempo with the aggressive "Figment" and the infectious holiday number "Christmastime in Toronto." "Willow Logic" has a nice melody, though I find its spoken word sections contrived and annoying. "Pascal's Submarine" is a near work of genius, a colorful and upbeat track whose catchiness belies its grave subject matter, the sinking of the Russian submarine Kursk. (This song continues Downie's obsession with maritime tragedies, previously illustrated by The Hip's "Nautical Disaster," "50 Mission Cap" and "The Dire Wolf").After the incendiary "11th Fret," the second half of the record downshifts into mellower territory, with mixed results. The stream-of-consciousness poetry of "Who by Rote" runs out of steam quickly, leaving the listener wandering in a wilderness of experimental tone color. "Steeplechase" features some impressive dynamics; I would have preferred further musical development to the hockey spiel that abruptly ends the track. The dissonant harmonies of "More Me Less You" walk a fine line between haunting and grating. The commentary of "Hardcore" works better in theory than in practice, while "Pillform" doesn't quite gel in either of its two different versions.Downie takes pride in his poetry, and rightly so. However, his lyrics can't quite carry a song on their own (as they did for that other great Canadian singer-songwriter, Leonard Cohen). Though few, his excursions into spoken word are somewhat disappointing, since they deprive the listener of Downie's greatest talent, his inimitable and idiosyncratic vocal style.Gordon Downie's experiments in poetry and sound assert his individuality as an artist and constitute a style independent of his work with The Tragically Hip. Some of it works and some of it doesn't, but he succeeds frequently enough to justify the time spent on his extracurricular activities."

Not Quite the "hip" your used to

S. Urquhart | Woburn, Ma United States | 07/30/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Gordon Downie's new album "Battle of the Nudes" is fantastic.What shines most brilliantly is Gordon's songwtriting. He manages to bring poetry back to music in the proper manner. One of my major complaints with modern music is that it seems to follow a certain formula. The breaks in the rythym, the inclusion of the chorus, and the often used word combinations. Both musically and lyrically most music is predictable. It is rare to find an album which challenges the listener like this one can. It is hard to explain in terms of popular music what is meant by challenging. If this were Jazz, it would rank near Monk's work. Monk would play his melody, explore every musical facet around it and eventually bring it round-a-bout'. Gordon does this throughout the album; never straying far enough away from the melody to confuse but rarely just playing it straight. If this music was Classical I would compare its' anticlimatic nature to that of Beethovens work. Many times teasing with a conventional sound only to deliver something far more creative and expressive. This music makes you feel!Of course there are a few songs recorded on this album that show Gordon's routes as a rock musician; most noteably singing with the Tragically Hip. Coincidentally these are not my favorite songs but are quite catchy and well performed. In a time a where rock stars and Idols are litterally cast on a telivision program or created by using a formula this album may not find listeners easily. However, If you are one of the minorities who love to stray away from convention and loathe the new age Idols, then buy this album."

Not one of the Hip's frontman finer moments

Scott | Plymouth, MI USA | 06/05/2003

(2 out of 5 stars)

"First off I'm a huge fan of the Tragically Hip and Gordon Downie. After the 2001 "Coke Machine Glow" (Gordons first solo release) I was expecting more growth and better quality. Boy was I wrong! Words can't describe what is wrong with this CD. I truly hope that Gordon put this together in one day or was suffering from a mental breakdown. I reccomend that you don't purchase this album. But I did enjoy a few tracks and they we're "Pascals Submarine" and "Christmastime in Toronto" So if your looking for a Hip type sounding alubum this product doesn't do that so I suggest any Hip album out there. And also keep Gordon in your prayers so he doesn't make another solo album again."