Year in Rock 2012 Nominee: The Tragically Hip

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THE TRAGICALLY HIP
At Transformation
From: Now For Plan A
Released: October 2

With over twenty-five years in the business under their belts and their legacy cemented, it would be all too easy for The Tragically Hip to ride off into the sunset or, worse, become the band that rehashes the past, resisting any urge to create and collecting cheques while doing a show at the local casino every couple of years and playing the same set every night for the rest of their lives. Thankfully, The Hip aren't about to stop contributing just yet. Now For Plan A is yet another evolution for the band, incorporating new elements to their sound and tweaking their art/bar band aesthetic for a new generation of fans. It is not the sound of a band growing weary, nor a band being comfortable. Now For Plan A may not go down as an overly essential Hip album but, by showcasing a band that continues to challenge themselves and refuses to sink into the creative quicksand that traps bands half their age, it's the clearest example in years of why they've become Canada's most enduring and respected band.

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