Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record (2010)

Broken Social Scene make really good use of their many band members. All the elements working together nicely, to create some grand soundscapes that never really sound suffocated. Their songwriting skill is undeniable; they really know how to make their songs work with all the elements thrown in. Every guitar note, flourish of strings, vocal harmony, or what have you, is pretty much perfectly placed. That is not to say that Broken Social Scene is among the best bands out there, or that Forgiveness Rock Record is among my favorite new albums (it’s not). It’s just that given the sound and style they’ve chosen, I cannot imagine how a band could make better music within their chosen aesthetic. What makes them especially good is that seemingly every song has some melody or verse that just sticks. Usually these infectious parts are rather subdued, and wont jump out at you, but once you take notice it’s hard to forget them.

I’ve heard that they tend to be rather pretentious during live shows, and that has turned me off to the band somewhat. Their last album, 2005’s self-titled, was outstanding but I almost never listen to it. It’s unfair to judge a band based on hearsay relating to the members’ personalities, but I tend to gravitate towards music I find somehow inviting, either in mood or the emotions conveyed. Broken Social Scene’s music really requires a lot of attention; without a close listen it might just glide by, pleasantly, but without leaving the mark it is capable of leaving. If you do take the time to listen to every song on that record, you’ll find that they really force a lot of beautiful sounds into relatively small spaces and wind up with very catchy, though somewhat challenging songs. They’re challenging because they’re often absolutely infectious, but rarely appear so on the first listen. Give it some time. I was especially drawn to Emily Haines’ (from Metric) vocals on tracks like “All to All” and “Sentimental X’s.” These songs feel like short breaks in the album where the pacing is slowed down, and as such, they stand out. Haines commands so much attention and she has a beautiful voice. Broken Social Scene has always been strong vocally, and that trend continues here. The band members inject a lot of urgency into their voices, which I like. There are so many gems here, like the frantic sing-along verses of “Chase Scene,” the upbeat, poppy “Texaco Bitches,” the mellow, soothing “Highway Slipper Jam” (complete with whistling and a steel guitar), and my personal favorite, the slow, hypnotic “Sweetest Kill.” Broken Social Scene do indie rock the right way. Their music is rich in emotion, melody, and is competently arranged. Very few bands sound like them, and their back catalog, as well as this new record, should not be missed.

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