Album Review: Away is Mine by Gord Downie

On October 17, 2017, Gordon Edgar Downie died at the age of 53, after a short battle with glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer. Tragically gone too soon. Gord Downie released both solo albums and was the lead singer of the Canadian rock band the Tragically Hip.

Gord’s brother, Patrick Downie, claimed that Gord worked throughout his entire cancer battle, as his passion for music was what kept him sane. All the songs in Away is Mine were written after his diagnosis. They were the last 10 songs that he both wrote and recorded.

His second, but not final, posthumous album, Away is Mine is two albums in one. First, a regular collection of new songs, and the second half are the same songs, yet entirely acoustic recordings. It was released on October 16, 2020. Marking 3 years after Downie’s death. The album is uplifting and unexpected for a posthumous album. The unedited acoustic version is raw and pure, focusing on his voice rather than the music. His entire album evokes emotion and his voice is a perfect way to reminisce, this album filled with the last songs he sang before his death.

The final song in the album, “Untitled,” is my personal favourite; it is also the one that touches on his disease. All 10 songs were recorded over a period of 4 days in July 2017 just two and a half months before his passing. I recommend listening to the acoustic section before the others if you plan to listen to the whole thing.