Kingston, Ontario natives The Tragically Hip infused gritty Stonesy groove and Crazy Horse crunch with a melodicism and intellect redolent of vintage R.E.M. But the band's enigmatic frontman, Gord Downie, crafted lyrics from a distinctly, unapologetically Canadian perspective, elevating true-life stories of long-forgotten Toronto Maple Leafs (“50 Mission Cap”), wrongly convicted Winnipeg prisoners (“Wheat Kings”) and sleepy Ontario towns heretofore unrecognised in song (“Bobcaygeon”) into myth. Though the Hip remain the go-to rock band for every hockey-lovin' hoser, they're also the respected elder statesman of Canada's post-millennial indie-rock renaissance.