Categories : Music Reviews, Rock + Pop.
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Rating: 4.5/5 Released: September 18, 2007 Reviewer: David Coats |
Watching Broken Social Scene perform, one can’t help but feel that everything that’s good about music is in that band. Their new release, Spirit If…, recaptures that basic sense of sheer enjoyment. As Kevin Drew sings on ‘When It Begins,’ “Don’t forget what you felt.â€
Though classified as a Drew solo record, this is essentially a Social Scene project; nearly every member of the group plays a critical role. With the exception of opener ‘Farewell to the Pressure Kids,’ Spirit If…, more inviting and cohesive than 2005’s underrated self-titled effort, is a return to You Forgot It In People’s ambience and more deliberate organization, and away from Broken Social Scene’s chaotic exuberance. Spirit If… is intensely varied, with swelling acoustic ballads (‘Safety Bricks’), 80s synthesizer flourishes (‘Big Love’), and nostalgic classic rock (‘Backed Out On The…’). And for those wondering what the hell Tom Cochrane is doing on a BSS record, ‘Lucky Ones’ proves to be a standout.
While the record is more polished than the previous two, Drew’s lead vocal is rough enough around the edges to make sure things don’t get too pristine. Woodwind instruments take a more subtle role than on previous records, with the band knowing precisely how to use each instrument to best compliment the arrangement while still capturing their live energy. The record is expertly produced and mixed, with so many organic-meets-electronic elements, that it not only creates an artistic appeal, but an emotional appeal, as well. And Drew, though he still occasionally writes like he’s stuck in junior high, writes with an underrated depth.
As always, this record is loaded with dynamic pop songs littered with Social Scene’s customary sense of musical adventure. With their impeccable attention to detail, the band continues to be among the most important creative forces in indie rock. For fans of the genre, this record is an obvious must-have.
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