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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Sure they look pretty and sound pretty and all, but is this Montreal-based quartet ever going to amount to much, you know in the course of "rock history"? Very likely, if their captivating third album, Set Yourself on Fire, is any indication. Vocalists Amy Millan and Torquil Campbell have never harmonized better together, and the whole keyboard-heavy band is at that delectable place where they transcend their influences. Great pop music is not about "originality" (nor has it ever much been); it’s a passionate marriage of idea and conviction. Sure, you can still hear the mark of Beulah, the Smiths, New Order, Broken Social Scene and Super Furry Animals in their songs. But the group has never been as confident with their marriage of lush, exuberant dreampop and dark, clever lyrics as they are here. --Mike McGonigal
Product Description
Approaching the follow-up to an album you adored is a tricky thing -- there are all those expectations to wade through. Luckily, Montreal/Toronto soft-focus popsters Stars more than live up to last year's endlessly charming Heart with their latest, Set Yourself on Fire. Universal. 2004.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
42 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I first heard Stars live as they opened for Death Cab for Cutie during their visit to Orlando, not too long ago. I was floored. As much as I enjoyed Death Cab, I was more impressed with the performance by the Canadians. I decided to pick up their latest album as the kid at the t-shirt stand told me 75% of the set list was from it. I set myself up, because now I am in an endless loop I cannot escape of. I simply CANNOT and will not take this album out of my player.
Stars is a bit of a spinoff of the Canadian experimental musical collective Broken Social Scene (BSS). They too are a bit of a collective that blends in traditional rock instruments with strings and horns in a way that is almost impossible to describe. When I first heard them, I thought (because of the female voice -one of the musicians from BSS): "This must be how 10,000 Maniacs would sound, were they still around." Enter the male singer (reminded me a bit of Trashcan Sinatras) and their harmonies. Where do you put that? Heavenly combination of voices, perfect balance that doesn't drown out any of the two.
Take the bass work (another member of BSS). If you pay close attention to it, you find out there's more to their bass than the typical sound you hear almost everywhere. The bass in Stars is almost a melodic instrument: it is every bit as much a part of the core sound of the band.
Then add to this the most grandious compositions, lyrics and arrangements, which almost seem to change gears every song and even within songs, from calm to upbeat, from upbeat to ambient, from ambient to lounge... You think it's hard to follow? You feel it's a melange? Well, that is perhaps the most brilliant thing about the band. In spite of the combinations and blends, of the experimentation and the changes in pace, in spite of the special metrics, the end result feels seamless. Not what you'd call "easy listening" but more like lovely to listen to.
Hands down, among the best of 2005 (up there alongside Sigur Ros' "Takk...") and it definitely made it to the list of my all-time favorites as well.
Stars is a bit of a spinoff of the Canadian experimental musical collective Broken Social Scene (BSS). They too are a bit of a collective that blends in traditional rock instruments with strings and horns in a way that is almost impossible to describe. When I first heard them, I thought (because of the female voice -one of the musicians from BSS): "This must be how 10,000 Maniacs would sound, were they still around." Enter the male singer (reminded me a bit of Trashcan Sinatras) and their harmonies. Where do you put that? Heavenly combination of voices, perfect balance that doesn't drown out any of the two.
Take the bass work (another member of BSS). If you pay close attention to it, you find out there's more to their bass than the typical sound you hear almost everywhere. The bass in Stars is almost a melodic instrument: it is every bit as much a part of the core sound of the band.
Then add to this the most grandious compositions, lyrics and arrangements, which almost seem to change gears every song and even within songs, from calm to upbeat, from upbeat to ambient, from ambient to lounge... You think it's hard to follow? You feel it's a melange? Well, that is perhaps the most brilliant thing about the band. In spite of the combinations and blends, of the experimentation and the changes in pace, in spite of the special metrics, the end result feels seamless. Not what you'd call "easy listening" but more like lovely to listen to.
Hands down, among the best of 2005 (up there alongside Sigur Ros' "Takk...") and it definitely made it to the list of my all-time favorites as well.
34 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
There must be something in the water, or the air, in Montreal. Lately a lot of great music is coming from the great white north. This album is not as quirkily original as Arcade Fire, but is more immediately accessible, and like "Funeral" this set shares an offbeat sensibility that keeps it out of the mainstream pop radar. As I listened to "Set Yourself on Fire" it dawned on me that there are few bands that seamlessly blend male and female lead vocals effortlessly together--Fleetwood Mac immediately comes to mind--most bands are "male" vocalist or "female" vocalist predominant. Tha's one of the things that set this collection apart, that and the great lyrics. "One More Night" reminded me of a similar incident in my own past... Other highlights are "Your Ex-Love is Dead", "Ageless Beauty" and "The First Five Times" but there is hardly a throwaway track on the entire collection.
19 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
If you've ever said "I love you" and haven't heard it back, if you've ever come across your ex and wondered what could have been, if you've ever made love one last time even though both of you knew it was over, then this CD is for you. Especially if you love beautiful voices, squiggly keyboards, driving guitars and hip-shaking bass.
Not a keyboard-band, not a guitar-band, not a boy-band, not a girl-band, Stars manages to combine all those elements into one unique whole, where the production seems to vary across each track and yet comes from those same elements each time. They do a wonderful job of harkening to the great lovesick bands of the past while still sounding fresh and original, and the best part about it lies in the wonderful voices of the two lead singers, male and female. Sometimes they sing together, sometimes they sing at each other, like parts in a high school play, and when they do you'll know exactly what they mean, because you'll feel like one of their characters if not both. Then you realize that they probably aren't singing about characters but their own personal experience, and you understand where the emotional depth and pathos are coming from.
Musically the band is both upbeat and melancholy, often at the same time, which is a true wonder, because it makes the music feel different according to your own mood. Moments that drive like My Bloody Valentine are balanced with an orchestral break worthy of Burt Bacharach, and the bouncing beats of New Order, Stereolab and Tortoise are tempered by a strong jazz, lounge, and maybe even trip-hop influence at times. There is a wealth of influence here, but it all sounds integrated into one style, their own, and above all the emotion that tugs at your heart will stake out this band's own territory in your life, so that in many ways they surpass all of the above named influences.
The lyrics are honest and filled with memories of good times and sad times, but always holding hope. Hearing the stories they tell, you can't help but think of your own, and the depth of your own history will bond with this music to increase its power in your life.
This is indie-darling-music at its best, and whether you're driving to work or curled up on a rainy Sunday morning, this makes a perfect soundtrack to your complicated life.
Remember, when it's head versus heart, go with your heart; that's why you have one.
Not a keyboard-band, not a guitar-band, not a boy-band, not a girl-band, Stars manages to combine all those elements into one unique whole, where the production seems to vary across each track and yet comes from those same elements each time. They do a wonderful job of harkening to the great lovesick bands of the past while still sounding fresh and original, and the best part about it lies in the wonderful voices of the two lead singers, male and female. Sometimes they sing together, sometimes they sing at each other, like parts in a high school play, and when they do you'll know exactly what they mean, because you'll feel like one of their characters if not both. Then you realize that they probably aren't singing about characters but their own personal experience, and you understand where the emotional depth and pathos are coming from.
Musically the band is both upbeat and melancholy, often at the same time, which is a true wonder, because it makes the music feel different according to your own mood. Moments that drive like My Bloody Valentine are balanced with an orchestral break worthy of Burt Bacharach, and the bouncing beats of New Order, Stereolab and Tortoise are tempered by a strong jazz, lounge, and maybe even trip-hop influence at times. There is a wealth of influence here, but it all sounds integrated into one style, their own, and above all the emotion that tugs at your heart will stake out this band's own territory in your life, so that in many ways they surpass all of the above named influences.
The lyrics are honest and filled with memories of good times and sad times, but always holding hope. Hearing the stories they tell, you can't help but think of your own, and the depth of your own history will bond with this music to increase its power in your life.
This is indie-darling-music at its best, and whether you're driving to work or curled up on a rainy Sunday morning, this makes a perfect soundtrack to your complicated life.
Remember, when it's head versus heart, go with your heart; that's why you have one.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Stars
Great album—highly recommend it. If you're looking for a a new band to check out I suggest this album, Set Yourself On Fire.
Published 5 months ago by jill e costik
5.0 out of 5 stars
stars have done it again
This is a great album. Each one has a different feel to it. I'm surprised at their lack of popularity - I've never heard a song of theirs that I didn't like.
Published 5 months ago by crayola melted all over the floor
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stars lights my fire
I first discovered Stars last summer. Omg, and what an excellent summer it became because of them. I spent hours listening to them.. Read more
Published on March 1, 2011 by T. Figgy
2.0 out of 5 stars
First song's great, and then it black-holes into bland
I became absolutely addicted to Life 2: The Unhappy Ending and The Night Starts Here from In Our Bedroom After the War, and so I was eager to check this album out. Read more
Published on August 8, 2010 by Poetoffire
5.0 out of 5 stars
Almost perfect
Full of theatrical themes, big emotions, musical risks and wonderful M/F duets, SYoF is a masterpiece.
Published on February 17, 2010 by Douglas Webster
3.0 out of 5 stars
Stars align
3 1/2
By and large it seemed so many Canadian groups excelled at countering the Indie-USA insurgency in multiple sub-genres. Read more
By and large it seemed so many Canadian groups excelled at countering the Indie-USA insurgency in multiple sub-genres. Read more
Published on April 4, 2009 by IRate
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of my favorite albums.
Let me start by saying this is one of my favorite albums ever.
I discovered this album like I've discovered many other albums, through my hometown library system. Read more
I discovered this album like I've discovered many other albums, through my hometown library system. Read more
Published on March 2, 2009 by A. H. Trotta
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome Canadian Indie rock band
The album starts off with "When you have nothing left to burn, you have to set yourself on fire." Very strong sadist statement, strangely enough, the lyrics of all the songs are... Read more
Published on November 3, 2008 by Ting Ruan
4.0 out of 5 stars
great album
Honestly I had hesitated to listen to this band because I had heard that weren't as great as billed. Fortunately I listened to this album. Read more
Published on October 14, 2008 by jav
5.0 out of 5 stars
A rock record with poppiness
In many ways, a band like Stars, Broken Social Scene or the New Pornographers somehow manage to make very accessible records without feeling like they were recorded solely because... Read more
Published on June 15, 2007 by Cloud
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