Forgiveness Rock Record

Broken Social Scene | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 4, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Arts & Crafts
• ASIN: B003BZXI2I
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35,070 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

With the new album, the first Broken Social Scene record following the acclaimed Broken Social Scene Presents... series, the band decided it was time to try something new. As a core six-piece who had spent most of 2007 and 2008 on the road, Drew, Canning, Spearin, Whiteman, Goldberg and Peroff spent early 2009 working on new material in Toronto. The pairing down of the band's massive personnel list for the first time proved extremely fruitful; they created spacious songs written as a band by a band, resulting in more cohesive, melody-driven compositions than previous BSS output. Recording both in Toronto and Chicago, and working with producer John McEntire - a musical hero for many of the band's members - they found a fresh perspective on their own sound; this continued to fuel the creative process, resulting in nearly 40 songs written in and out of the studio, a number of which were put together as the first new Broken Social Scene record in five years. The album features guest turns by BSS alumni: Leslie Feist, Amy Millan and Evan Cranley of Stars, Emily Haines and Jimmy Shaw of Metric, Jason Collett, Ohad Benchetrit of Do Make Say Think and Years, John Crossingham, Marty Kinack, Leon Kingstone and Julie Penner. Uniquely, the song "Sentimental X's" features Leslie Feist, Emily Haines and Amy Millan singing together for the first time on the same song.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record, May 4, 2010

By 

Andrew Vice (Plano, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Forgiveness Rock Record (Audio CD)

Not a fan of song-by-song reviews, so I'll keep this brief. Anybody who is a fan of Broken Social Scene knows that their records are a true stylistic mash. You hear a little bit of everything from BSS, but they're always tight and on-point when writing songs. The musicians are all talented players, so you can always count on a well-performed record, but Forgiveness is the first BSS album in a long while to scale back the band, and frankly, I think it benefits from that. Forgiveness recalls the genius of You Forgot It In People, with songs like All to All summoning the heartfelt melodrama of one of BSS's best songs, Anthems of a Seventeen Year-Old Girl. True to BSS form, the album is a blend of pop songwriting and extended instrumental jamming, and as always, the songs are pertinent, topical, and sincere. Another great record for 2010, without a doubt, and the best BSS album in quite a while.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BSS reminds us what music is., June 6, 2010

By 

Andre Lamar Vinning "andreisbrandnew" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Forgiveness Rock Record (Audio CD)

Forgiveness Rock Record is what music should sound like. I am not speaking about the genre, the vocal talent, or even the choice of instruments and song structure. They have taken eveything beautiful about their past releases, and illuminated it in every way imaginable.

(Feel Good Lost was and instrumental mind trip that showed a lot of potential. You Forgot It In People was just as trippy but with lyrics and emotion that made it possible to sit through multiple listens. It even had gems like Cause=Time, Almost Crimes, and the eerie, yet unforgetable Anthems. Broken Social Scene (ST) was all over the place, and not exactly in a good way. It felt rushed and tried way to hard not seperate itself from any identity at all.)

Forgiveness Rock Record is the result of 3 trips to the plastic surgeon with extensive work at the gym in between. They have shaved all the unwanted (noise at times) 4-5 minute gloomy, archaic instrumentals between vocals. Don't get me wrong, I love ambient music, but only when it fits and its necessary. The interludes (not seperated by individual tracks) arent unwelcomed here like they were in previous efforts. I find myself deciding to allow the instrumental interludes to play through as a means to prepare myself for the next brillant song.

Highlights on the record include:

World Sick - The album opens with a nearly 7 minute long triumph of music. Does an amazing job pulling the listner in and almost not wanting to move on.

Chase Scene - The second song on the album is just as, if not more, tasteful than the first. Extremly accessable also.

Art House Director - This song is reminesant of older BSS, and reminds you they haven't changed a bit.

Water In Hell - The true outro to the album (a 2 mintue "Me and My Hand wraps up the album and may be the weakest part of the piece)

Broken Social Scene is slowly moving into my "Top 25 Most Played" playlist more and more everyday. This album is nothing less than a feat. They have somehow managed to create the perfect Summer/Fall album. This album is great background music for the gym or a jog. It may be close to impossible to be in a bad mood while enjoying this ablum. Some will say this album is a bit more geared to a mainstream fanbase, and maybe it is, but that does nothing to thwart the genius displaying song in and song out. Even the lesser songs hold their old against BSS's older more off the wall albums. I was afraid this ablum would fall flat on it's face, and to be honest I may have wanted it to in a sense. You Forgot It People was a very special album to me and constantly had a spot on my iPod shuffle. Those days are over with the arrival of this record. Buy it now, this album should not be missed.

I hope this helped!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Record., May 20, 2010

By 

Jason Miles "miles" (Columbus, Ohio (Go Blue Jackets!)) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Forgiveness Rock Record (MP3 Download)

I haven't been this excited about an album in years. When I'm away from it, I miss it & can't wait to hear it again. Everything about it, from the sounds, the lyrics, the emotions & moods it creates, it's absolutely fantastic. I've been a Tortoise / Johnny Mcentyre fan for a long time time & Johnny's production certainly has something to do w/ my love for this album, but this is my first Broken Social Scene record & it's officially got me hooked. It's mellow with movement, gentle but still keeps me grooving to it. Its got interesting instrumentation a wide variety of songs, great production.... I'll just stop. buy it. support some great music.