Read: Canadian Rock (1985-95) Book

Recently published by ECW Press, this expanded edition of Have Not Been the Same: The Canrock Renaissance 1985-1995 (by Michael Barclay, Ian A.D. Jack, and Jason Schneider) now features a section covering Arcade Fire, The New Pornographers, Neko Case, The Weakerthans and others.

By Randy Harward

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.

We bow to Rush as Canada's kickass export next to Moosehead, heckle Ryan Adams about playing Bryan Adams' "Summer of '69," and marvel at the grasp The Daily Show's Samantha Bee and Jason Jones have on the American political zeitgeist. Oh sure, we know all about Broken Social Scene and their various branches and even pre-Grammy The Arcade Fire. Maybe we're just cool enough to have gotten hip to Trailer Park Boys before Netflix, and have seen Fubar at least once. But a lot of us still mistake Neil Young for an American.

There's a wealth of Canadian art that we miss out on, especially music. Originally published in 2001, Have Not Been the Same doesn't aim to right that wrong. Instead, it chronicles a vast, varied music scene that has long existed as if in a parallel dimension to the rest of the world. Over 700+ pages, the authors don't simply profile individual bands (as Michael Azerrad did in Our Band Could Be Your Life); they isolate a decade where Canadian bands began to get their due. We're taken into clubs, arenas and streets of Canada at a time when labels started to mine the frozen tundra, and bands like The Tragically Hip, Lone Justice, The Pursuit of Happiness, NoMeansNo, Voivod, Sloan and Skinny Puppy rose to achieve international acclaim but mostly domestic success.

Barclay, Jack and Schneider don't treat this as a tragedy. At home, many of these bands are arena rock giants - criminally under-appreciated The Tragically Hip being a fine example. Some are more recognizable than ostensible household names and faces like Metallica's James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich. In a telling story from the book, producer Bob Rock - whom Americans may know from producing scads of hair metal albums as well as Metallica juggernaut Black Album, relates an instance when a waiter asked for his autograph instead of theirs. And the Hip still packs arenas on their home turf, as opposed to clubs in the States.

Updated with an epilogue that covers a second wave of the Canrock Renaissance, the post-Internet age where BSS, The Arcade Fire, The New Pornographers, Neko Case, The Weakerthans and scores of other bands carry the torch, Have Not Been the Same is a statement of musical patriotism. "This book," state the authors in HNBTS's opening disclaimer, "is dedicated to all the musicians, fans, technicians, engineers, promoters, clubs, journalists, indie labels, campus radio geeks and industry weasels who set these events in motion, put their lives and careers on the line and gave this book a reason to be. It is also for the next generation." Canadians and their bands don't need validation from America or any other country because, as the authors write, "Canadian music is no longer an underdog; it's successful on every level around the world and respected at home as well."

This is true. However, so many of us missed out on the bands from the 1985-1995 era. Do yourself a favor and look ‘em up. It'll open up a whole new world of incredible music, and you'll spend several happy years catching up.