Have Not Been the Same: The CanRock Renaissance

Have Not Been the Same chronicles Canadian indie rock music from 1985 to 1995, documenting the rise of alternative bands like Blue Rodeo, The Tragically Hip, and Sloan. The book captures a pivotal decade when Canadian musicians developed their own sound and identity separate from American influences. Through interviews and historical research, the authors trace how campus radio, small venues, and independent labels helped build a distinctly Canadian music scene. The narrative follows multiple bands and industry figures as they navigate the shifting landscape of Canadian music during this transformative period. The book examines the impact of MuchMusic, government funding for the arts, and changing radio regulations on the growth of domestic talent. Regional music scenes from Halifax to Vancouver receive detailed coverage, highlighting how geography and local culture shaped different sounds across the country. This exhaustive history reveals how Canadian rock music evolved from a marginal cultural force into a significant artistic movement. The book makes a case for this period as a renaissance that permanently altered Canada's musical identity and relationship with its own culture.

Readers appreciate the book's detailed documentation of Canadian indie rock from 1985-1995, with many noting its value as a historical record. Multiple reviews highlight the authors' research and interviews with musicians. Positives: - Comprehensive coverage of obscure bands and regional scenes - Strong focus on the business/industry side of Canadian music - Useful discographies and reference material - Personal stories and quotes from artists Negatives: - Writing style can be dry and academic - Some readers found the chronology hard to follow - Coverage skews toward Ontario/Toronto bands - Too much focus on certain artists (Tragically Hip, Blue Rodeo) while others get brief mentions Ratings: Goodreads: 4.13/5 (46 ratings) Amazon.ca: 4.6/5 (5 ratings) "An exhaustive look at Canadian rock that fills an important gap in music journalism" - Goodreads reviewer "Dense but rewards careful reading" - Amazon reviewer "Could have used better editing but remains the definitive source" - LibraryThing review

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🍁 The book's title comes from a line in the Rheostatics song "Record Body Count" and chronicles Canadian indie rock from 1985 to 1995, a period the authors dubbed the "CanRock Renaissance" 🎸 At nearly 800 pages, it was the first comprehensive documentation of Canada's alternative music scene, featuring interviews with members of Blue Rodeo, The Tragically Hip, Sloan, and dozens of other influential bands 📻 The book explores how changes to Canadian content (CanCon) radio regulations in the 1980s helped create opportunities for independent Canadian artists to reach wider audiences 🏆 Originally published in 2001, the book was updated and reissued in 2011 with new interviews and expanded content, winning praise from both music critics and artists featured in its pages 🎼 Co-author Michael Barclay went on to write the acclaimed biography "The Never-Ending Present: The Story of Gord Downie and the Tragically Hip" (2018), further cementing his expertise in Canadian music history