Broken Social Scene

Arts & Crafts
2010

The last time I listened to Broken Social Scene was 2006 I think. I can't really remember. I saw them one Halloween at the Granada, and it was honestly one of the most fun shows I've been to. Either way, this album leaked like a week ago or something like that. I was pretty pumped when I heard there was a new BSS album about to come out. I think this thing is going to be this summer's jam album, which is good. We haven't had a good Broken Social Scene album since You Forgot it in People, which was a pretty baller record I must say.

So the great thing is that Broken Social Scene decided to stop fucking around with those "Broken Social Scene presents: so and so" albums. Honestly, nobody cared about that shit. I forgot these guys even existed because for the last 3 years (wow has it really been that long since they last released something awesome?) Anyways, this album definitely tops their self titled album. There's tons of stuff going on here, and overall this thing sounds very poppy compared to some of the stuff BSS did earlier. I'm listening to Texico Bitches right now, and it has this really fun guitar riff with some keyboards and shit layering over the top of it. I guess what sets this one apart from You Forgot it In People is that it sounds like there is more usage of electronics here, and not so many people on stage. I remember one of the fun things about seeing these guys live was seeing like 12 people on stage. I don't think we'll see that as much when BSS goes on tour. I guess they are down to 7 people now, with the usual revolving casts of guests, including that one hipster bitch from Metric and Leslie Feist. What has she been up to recently anyways? Last I saw she was on Sesame Street doing that really annoying 1, 2, 3, 4 song with Oscar the Grouch.

So this album has more sound textures going on on it than the last one they put out. I guess I've been seeing that more in records. I'm listening to "Art House Director", and for some reason it sounds like one of their old songs when it starts out. Oh now it changed. I think that's what's going to make this album really take off this summer. It's interesting. It keeps changing. It takes Broken Social Scene new places.

I can't wait until it warms up a bit more, because I can guarantee this shit will be on repeat, with the windows rolled down. I think this thing has the potential to be that one summer defining album, but we'll have to wait and see.

Almost mind blowing. I'll give this thing 4 out of 5 steering wheels.