Record Review: Stars

With the concert approaching on Sunday, I decided to look at a project that contains three of the members of Broken Social Scene (Torquil Campbell, Amy Millan and Evan Cranley), Stars. They followed up their successful Set Yourself On Fire with this year’s In Our Bedroom After the War, and for me, it was like talking to an old friend I haven’t seen in a while. Stars keeps the things they are known for, specifically strong lyrics and vibrant orchestrations, and makes it all sound more grown up. Tracks can go from rock mixed with electronic beats to a sparse landscape filled only with melancholic piano chords (check out the title track for a prime example) and each choice in sound just seems to fit, especially when coupled with the poignant lyrics (think the exact opposite of Lenny Kravitz). When it’s all said and done, it’s highly recommended.