Showing posts with label Stars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stars. Show all posts
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Tonight: Stars


Whether you prefer the gentle chamber pop of "Your Ex-Lover Is Dead" or the  heavier (I use that term lightly) indie rock of "Bitches in Tokyo," it's hard to deny the influence Stars has had on the popularization of the indie pop genre. In fact, along with their equally-acclaimed Arts & Crafts records label mates, they have been carving out an archetypal niche for roughly the last decade or so. 

 Fortunately for us, tonight, they will be visiting The Tralf, and even though it's not technically summer anymore, this would be one hell of a show to end the "Summer of Indie" series on. If you're interested in seeing one of the best bands in Canada, show up tonight after doors open at 7. It's $20 if you don't already have your tickets.


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Listener's Digest: Stars - "Wishful"


Of the seemingly everygrowing offshoots and side projects of Broken Social Scene, Montreal's Stars remain my favorite. The long time indie romancers, which features frequent BSS members/collaboraters Amy Millan, Torque Campbell, and Evan Cranley, have been making heart tugging indie pop since the early 2000s. After a return to form on 2012's The North and a recently announced tour that includes a stop in Buffalo on September 28th, the band is set to release a two song EP. The EP's A-side, "Wishful," is currently streaming on NPR's All Songs Considered. "Wishful" is a Millan led number with a rousing chorus that takes the best of the band's old material ("Ageless Beauty) as well as its newer work ("Hold On When You Get Love..."). The Wishful EP will be released on September 10th.

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Just Announced: Stars


Canadian indie romancers Stars will be making their first Buffalo appearance in a few years, announcing a return to the Tralf Music Hall on Saturday, September 28th. During their last performance at the Tralf, the band, having a penchant for theatrics, showered the audience with white roses at various points. Let's just say that if you brought a date to the show that night and you grabbed a rose, you were looking good...

The Toronto based band formed in 2000 and is a part of that ever growing family tree of Broken Social Scene. Most members of Stars, Amy Millan and Evan Cranley in particular, have been a part of BSS in some way or another throughout the years. The band recently played the Arts & Crafts 10 Year Anniversary show, Field Trip, earlier this month, and their latest album, The North, came out last September. Tickets for the show will go on sale for $20 on Friday, June 28th.



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Album Review: Stars - The North


The North is a return to form, and that is apparent right from the start of opening track ‘The Theory of Relativity.’  Amid all the highly polished tales of love, there is a sense of urgency from Stars, something they've sorely lacked since their 2004 breakout Set Yourself on Fire. 

They’re a few years removed from the mid-00’s heyday that saw them sharing a good deal of accolades with their former Arts & Crafts label mates Broken Social Scene, and they’ve certainly learned a good deal of lessons along their way.  Stars are clearly feeling the passage of time on this album, their first release for ATO.  Torquil Campbell laments on ‘The Theory of Relativity,’ “It can’t be ’93 sadly”, just one of the many nostalgia laden lyrics on the album.  But instead of feeling sorry for themselves, this Montreal quintet has clearly set out to prove they still belong in the indie pop discussion.

 The band’s rejuvenation is evident in the way they effortlessly roll out track after track of lovelorn pop music.  ‘The North’ is a deeply atmospheric song that gives way to the dance floor ready giddiness of ‘Hold On When You Get Love and Let Go When You Give It” which in turn melts into the twinkling Amy Milan-led ‘Through the Mines’.  The seemingly easy nature of The North doesn’t do this band justice, because certainly a lot of time went into making this record, the tension of boy/girl duet ‘Do You Want to Die Together’ and the assertiveness of ‘Backlines’ don’t just happen by accident.

Anyone who noticed a decline in quality over the course of this band’s more recent releases will be pleased to rediscover them here.  After drifting away from the indie spotlight for a few years, and now older and possibly wiser, Stars too have rediscovered themselves.  Thankfully the missteps of the past haven’t hurt their ability to write catchy songs that convey a great deal of emotion and deliver easily accessible satisfaction.

Grade: B


Steve Dobek
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Listener's Digest: August 3 - August 10



So, I have been on vacation for the last week, but that does not mean I forgot about you, the readers of buffaBlog. No, I would never forget you, for you are all I have. No, I don't mean that. I mean that I am just dedicated to music blogging, and not that I am desperate for your collective approval. Haha, right guys? So, while I go cry in a corner, here are some of the best new songs from the last week.

Woods – “Size Meets the Sound;” How psyched am I about the new Woods album? The answer is totally psyched. Woods follow up the majestic stomper, “Cali in a Cup,” with another blissed out psychedelic low-fi gem. The band has quietly perfected their sound over the last few years without sacrificing anything to slickness.

Thee Oh Sees – “Flood’s New Light:” For a band so wildly prolific as Thee Oh Sees, their ability to continually impress and surprise is astounding. This new, straightforward rocker, with its catchy chorus, is another excellent addition to the band’s extensive discography. Just another reason you should not miss them at Town Ballroom in September.

Prince Rama – “So Destroyed:” From a conceptual album of radio hits from the time of the apocalypse, this track is a spacey psych dance song. If that description makes any sense, you are probably way weirder than I am and I want to look through your record collection. Here, Prince Rama is Rage Peace. "So Destroyed" features a catchy melody buried underneath white noise, A fun song and making the apocalypse seem like it might be a good time. It might also be a horrifying party before we all die, but hey, that’s the apocalypse for you.


Lindstrøm- "Rà-àkõ-st:" The Swedish electronic artist has released another long and epic dance song. A retro sounding synth melody and a propulsive baseline that moves the track forward, the song’s repetitive nature and groove is hypnotic. 

Stars – “Backlines:” It is weird to think of Stars as a veteran act, but here we are in 2012 and they have been around for some time. The third single off of their forthcoming LP, the Montreal group sounds poised and confident. A simple anthemic pop song, “Backlines” is further evidence of a band at the top of their game. Do yourself a favor and get the other two singles, especially “Theory of Relativity.”

Well, there you have it. I wiped the tears away from my face and you have another week of great music from some consistent favorites and bands I should probably pay closer attention to in the future. Until then, I will be thinking of more bad jokes to put here. 

Michael Torsell

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