IN REVIEW: The Tragically Hip - "Man Machine Poem"

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Though it likely wasn't intended as a farewell album, Gord Downie's recent brain tumor diagnosis inevitably hangs over The Hip's 13th album with a harrowing sense of finality. If this indeed is the last LP we ever get from the band, they're at least going out like only they can; exploratory until the end, Man Machine Poem isn't afraid to take chances or veer wildly from conventional trappings. As clouded by recent knowledge as its message is, Downie's lyrics are more poignant and carry greater impact as a result. Add it up, and Man Machine Poem is a challenging and emotional record that may not rival the band's best work but most definitely serves as a reminder of why they're such a cherished Canadian institution.

June 17, 2016 • Universal
Highlights In a World Possessed By the Human Mind • Here, In the Dark • Ocean Next

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