Something For All Of Us is right, this album is easy listening of the highest order- further proof that Broken Social Scene are slipping increasingly away from shiny, clangy, epically breezy and anthemic indie-pop and towards, er, well nothing really. Far less distinct music. Kevin Drew’s album had its moments but was hardly what one might consider a record you’re going to want to play a lot all the way through- ‘Back Out On The…’, ‘TBTF’ and ‘Safety Bricks’ was all I ever wanted out of that particular collection, and here Brendan Canning does much the same thing, only forgets to put any *actually* irresistible songs on there (and you know with BSS, how they have that particular *kind* of irresistibility), so the whole thing is really just a quite pleasant vapour.
Well, not that there is anything particularly solid and/or liquid about Broken Social Scene’s earlier albums- they’re all really gaseous records, when you think about it, flow-wise. Just before they were a Really Awesome vapour, and then with Kevin Drew they were a Pretty Good vapour. But this is… well, its just a vapour. And its alright. But its also, um, kind of dull. Yeah. You can practically taste the bong fumes mixed up somewhere around it, too.
Is it 1972? Because in Broken Social Scene’s universe it pretty much is now. They’ve actually gone back in time to 1972, all of them. That’s what they used all their ‘You Forgot It In People’ Pitchfork-credos money for. Travelling back in time. The fact that they have the power to do this also makes them very dangerous. Now imagine what they could do if they also still had the power to write interesting songs. BURN.
Well… OK. So maybe that is *a bit* harsh. To be fair to old Brendan (and also to maintain consistency with that whole “Something For All Of Us is right” comment at the beginning), ‘Hit The Wall’ and ‘Churches Under The Stairs’ are both arguably good ‘Safety Bricks’ level of quality songs (not ‘Back Out On The…’ quality, oh god no- chancing upon seeing them soundchecking that in the morning of the Sunday of the EITS ATP with J Mascis ranks as possibly the single top BSS-related moment of my life- fast version of ‘Major Label Debut’ aside). On the other hand, though ‘Love Is New’ is truly horrific. Like some big-name rockstar in the 70s decided to do a funk track on his second solo record with whatever session musicians were hanging around his orbit at present. I can only assume there is at least one example of this happening. Either way, it was probably just as bad as ‘Love Is New’. Urgh.
48%
Links
Broken Social Scene [myspace] [label]
Brendan Canning [myspace] [label]
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July 22nd, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I actually quite liked this.
Did I ever tell you my story about meeting Mr. Canning….
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:35 pm
i was actually very very dissapointed in this.
did i ever tell you my story about meeting Mr Canning…?
this would have made a fucking great EP. but as an album - it is a total letdown. according to Canning, the next BSS album will be a full band affair - thats what he told me at ATP anyway.
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:38 pm
did i ever tell you my story about meeting brandon canning?
ps. “churches under the stairs” is such a great song but most of it is quite skippable from my couple of listens …
July 23rd, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I thought Spirit If… was a really good album.
July 31st, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Speaking of ATP, isn’t it about time they asked Broken Social Scene to curate one?
Now that would be good.
July 31st, 2008 at 1:50 pm
defo. that would be awesome.
July 31st, 2008 at 7:30 pm
I’m surprised it hasn’t already happened.