Secret Path
Untitled | |
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Pitchfork Media | (8.0/10) [1] |
Secret Path is the fifth studio album by Gord Downie and the final album released during his lifetime, being released on October 18, 2016.[1] The album was accompanied by a graphic novel of the same name, written by Downie and illustrated by Jeff Lemire,[1] as well as an animated television film aired on CBC Television on October 23, 2016.[2] A concert version from Roy Thomson Hall aired on CBC on October 22, 2017.[3]
The project is a concept album about Chanie Wenjack, a young Anishinaabe boy from the Marten Falls First Nation who died in 1966 while trying to return home after escaping from an Indian residential school.[4] All proceeds from the album and book are being donated to the University of Manitoba's National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation project.[4]
The album won two Juno Awards at the Juno Awards of 2017, for Adult Alternative Album of the Year and Recording Package of the Year, and Downie won Songwriter of the Year for the songs "The Stranger", "The Only Place to Be" and "Son". The album was also a shortlisted nominee for the 2017 Polaris Music Prize.[5]
Track listing
All tracks written by Gord Downie unless otherwise noted.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "The Stranger" | 5:33 |
2. | "Swing Set" | 3:20 |
3. | "Seven Matches" | 3:31 |
4. | "I Will Not Be Struck" | 4:02 |
5. | "Son" | 3:17 |
6. | "Secret Path" (Downie, Kevin Drew) | 4:12 |
7. | "Don't Let This Touch You" (Downie, Drew) | 5:05 |
8. | "Haunt Them, Haunt Them, Haunt Them" (Downie, Drew) | 5:02 |
9. | "The Only Place to Be" | 2:55 |
10. | "Here, Here and Here" (Downie, Drew) | 4:13 |
Personnel
- Vocals, Acoustic and Electric Guitars by Gord Downie
- All other instrumentation by Kevin Drew and Dave Hamelin
- Charles Spearin – Bass
- Ohad Benchetrit – Lap Steel & Additional Guitar
- Kevin Hearn – Additional Keys
- Dave “Billy Ray” Koster – Drums
Additional personnel
- Engineered by Nyles Spencer
- Mastered by Eric Boulanger, The Bakery, Culver City, California, USA[6]
Charts
Chart (2016) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[7] | 4 |
References
- ^ a b "Gord Downie to release solo album, graphic novel next month". CTV News, September 9, 2016.
- ^ "Gord Downie Announces 'Secret Path' Solo Album, Graphic Novel and TV Special". Exclaim!, September 9, 2016.
- ^ "Tragically Hip doc, 'Secret Path' concert to air on TV in coming days". Canadian Press via the National Post, October 18, 2017.
- ^ a b "Gord Downie to release album, graphic novel about residential schools". The Globe and Mail, September 9, 2016.
- ^ "Polaris Music Prize shortlist includes Leonard Cohen, Gord Downie". The Globe and Mail, July 13, 2017.
- ^ http://secretpath.ca
- ^ "Billboard Canadian Albums: Top Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
External links
- Pages with empty short description
- 2016 albums
- 2016 graphic novels
- 2016 television films
- Gordon Downie albums
- Canadian graphic novels
- Canadian animated films
- First Nations novels
- 2016 animated films
- Canadian television films
- First Nations music
- First Nations films
- Arts & Crafts Productions albums
- Animated television films
- CBC Television shows
- Juno Award for Adult Alternative Album of the Year albums