Man Machine Poem

Man Machine Poem arrived just weeks after singer Gord Downie publicly disclosed the brain cancer that would eventually claim him. But even without that somber context, his final effort with The Hip stands as a significant release for the band. The record was coproduced by Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew, who smudges The Hip’s rugged rock with psychedelic flourishes, luring the slow-motion mosey of “Man” into a haze of dreamlike textures and disorienting vocal loops. But the amorphous atmosphere only enhances the vigor of Downie’s performances, particularly on “In Sarnia,” a fiery, spiritual sequel to their campground classic “Bobcaygeon.”