Tragically Hip Canada’s R.E.M.

Every country should have its own R.E.M., and Canada does.

On their fourth album, “Day and Night,” The Tragically Hip again serve up catchy melodies and opaque lyrics with ringing guitars, a big beat and a melodramatic delivery. T.T.H. are distinctive only in that lead singer Gordon Downie has a little more hair than R.E.M. lead singer Michael Stipe.

The similarities are hardly tragic, since R.E.M. sits atop the alternative rock pile. T.T.H. play sellout arena concerts north of the border but have yet to become a hit in the United States.

“Day for Night” sounds hippest on rockers such as “Fire in the Hole” and “Inch an Hour.” Another winner is “Scared,” a simple, lovely ballad anchored by an acoustic guitar.