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According to the authors of
Have Not Been the Same--the first comprehensive history of contemporary Canadian rock--1985 was a pivotal year for Canadian music. Generic rockers like Loverboy, Triumph, and Bryan Adams would no longer rule the roost. Instead, "a newer generation looked inside their own country and started to create art for themselves, for the right reasons." The ensuing 10-year window was an amazingly creative and productive time, and artists like the Tragically Hip, Blue Rodeo, Sloan, and the Rheostatics finally made the words "Canadian" and "cool" a plausible combination. The authors examine the history, motivations, and achievements of the era's musicians--both the famous and the undeservedly obscure--with great diligence. Due to the book's considerable girth--nearly 800 pages!--
Have Not Been the Same may appeal mainly to fans who were deeply into the underground music scene of the time and still need to know what inspired Eric's Trip to make the album
Love Tara or want to learn the weird story of Vancouver proto-grunge band Slow, who made the song for which this book is named. Other readers will be surprised to find out just how much was going on in Canada, and how it was suddenly possible for a band like the Rheostatics to sing songs about hockey hero Wendel Clark and the province of Saskatchewan and be revered for their efforts.
--Jason Anderson
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Review
"Barclay, Jack and Schneider are all musicians and write about Canadian music from the inside. They survey the music from the perspective of informed fans, as opposed to dispassionate critics, and they do it with energy, enthusiasm and devotion." —Waterloo Record (June 25, 2011)
"There is, without a doubt, no better book on the rise of popular Canadian music in the 1980s and 90s than Have Not Been The Same. . . . [It] tells the story of a country learning to love the sound of its own voice. Recommended." —Scene (July 14, 2011)
"Maybe it's American egotism that makes us treat Canada like our toque-sportin' retarded cousin who on occasion says or does something cool or funny. Fact is, if we paid enough attention, we'd see that the poor little hoser has quite a lot to say, and most of it's insightful and stimulating. Hell, the spaz may only have ADD or something." —www.Blurt-Online.com
Product Description
Capturing the spirit of Canadian rock from the late 20th century, this history tells the stories of the musicians and bands that made an indelible mark on Canadian culture and the global stage. Regarded by critics and musicians as the definitive history of the era, this massive tome has been updated to include brand-new interviews and up-to-the-present histories of the bands from Canada’s homegrown music industry, including Blue Rodeo, the Tragically Hip, Sarah McLachlan, Sloan, Barenaked Ladies, Daniel Lanois, and many others. Rich, extensive first-person interviews pair with a treasure trove of rare photos in this one-of-a-kind masterpiece, making it one of the seminal works in the field of Canadian music writing and a must-read for any Canadian music fan.
From the Publisher
An astoundingly comprehensive discussion of the greatest decade of Canadian music. "Have Not Been The Same" captures the spirit of Canadian rock from 1985 to 1995, a time when it became cool to be Canadian. Indie labels flourished, campus radio exploded, MuchMusic changed the way we look at our music, major labels tapped into the underground, and an exciting new generation of artists created a new canon of CanRock that altered the musical landscape for generations to come. Bands like The Tragically Hip, Blue Rodeo, and Sloan created a fever pitch for Canadian music, but there were also numerous others in the underground who created equally exciting work. Have Not Been The Same is a vital, lively, and entertaining examination of this groundbreaking decade, with vivid original photographs and interviews with all the major players. It's a must-read for any fan of Canadian music.
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
About the Author
Michael Barclay is a musician and sings on Arcade Fire’s album Funeral. He blogs at Radio Free Canuckistan and has written for a variety of Canadian newspapers and magazines, including CBC.ca, Exclaim!, Eye Weekly, Magnet, and Maclean’s, where he currently works. He lives in Toronto, Ontario. Ian A. D. Jack is a teacher and songwriter. He records and performs with the Loft Party and Headpets. He lives in Port Hope, Ontario. Jason Schneider is a writer whose work can regularly be seen in Exclaim! He has been a contributor to the Globe & Mail, the Toronto Star, and many other publications. He is the author of 3,000 Miles and Whispering Pines. He lives in Waterloo, Ontario. Gordon Downie is a Canadian rock musician and a writer. He is the lead singer and lyricist for the Canadian rock band the Tragically Hip. He lives in Kingston, Ontario.
