The Tragically Hip introduced to the world their second studio album, Road Apples, on February 19, 1991. It quickly became well-known and was their first album to hit No.1 in Canada and achieved Diamond status. Including three of their biggest hits, Road Apples is considered one of their best releases. The album itself is well-written and is overall feel-good music with down-to-earth lyrics and a hint of blues.
Formed in 1983, The Tragically Hip, often referred to as simply The Hip, is Canada’s most iconic and famous band. Their last concert was on August 20th, 2016, and was a final farewell to the lead singer, Gord Downie. Up To Here, their first studio album, is their most famous, and they released 13 studio albums in the 33 years they were together.
Road Apples was released early in their career and has a lot of blues influence. The overall theme, shown through their lyrics, represents movement without progress, and not everything that looks exciting is always good. The title itself is Canadian slang for horse manure; the term refers to the resemblance of droppings to rotting apples found on the ground.
The album is considered flawless, without any bad songs. All lyrics were written by Gord Downie and have many personal connections, giving it backcountry, rural vibes. It contains the three hit singles, “Three Pistols,” “Little Bones, ” and “Twist My Arm.” Alongside these, there’s “Fiddler’s Green,” a song about Downie’s nephew who passed away from a heart condition at a young age. It’s a tribute to the family and is the most moving song on the album. Out of all 12 songs, there’s only one I didn’t enjoy as much as the others. “Born in the Water” is rather repetitive and boring, but it ties into the rest of the feeling of the album. In general, the Tragically Hip is very unique, so it’s difficult to compare their music to other bands.
Overall, I would rate this classic 4.8/5 stars. The lyrics, the overall vibe, and the songs themselves are all very relatable. As someone who lives in the backcountry, the hint of blues are easy to enjoy. It’s easy listening and pretty much a flawless album.
