Spin (pp.138-139) - "Powered by a mind-boggling assortment of guitars, strings, wind and brass instruments, drums, synths and exotic sound effects, BSS build off their rock-operatic 2003 album...for a multifaceted, densely layered sound..." - Grade: B+
Q (p.116) - Ranked #96 in Q Magazine's "100 Greatest Albums of 2006."
Uncut (p.100) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "In their inventive, slightly warped excessiveness, Broken Social Scene call to mind bands like My Bloody Valentine and The Flaming Lips, but they never really sound specifically like anyone else."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.119) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Their remarkably cohesive sound spans post-rock, orch-pop and hip hop-schooled production....In all, an effervescent rush of melody, invention and magic."
Broken Social Scene: Emily Haines, Feist, Jason Collett, Kevin Drew, Ohad Benchetrit, Justin Peroff, Andrew Whiteman, Charles Spearin, James Shaw, Amy Millan, Evan Cranley, Martin Davis Kinack, Brendan Canning.
Recording information: 2005.
Canada seems to have some kind of special claim on collaborative all-star group projects, if the commercial and artistic success of bands like the New Pornographers and Broken Social Scene is any yardstick. Like the New Pornographers, Broken Social Scene includes members of several different bands (in this case the Dears, Stars, Feist, and Metric, among others), all of whom lend their remarkable talents to a band that equals more than the sum of its parts.
The band's self-titled third release defines the group's indie-rock ethos perfectly, building on the promise of their acclaimed sophomore effort (which won a Juno Award). The fact that the band is reaching orchestra size doesn't affect the focus and intensity of the music a whit; in fact, BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE is full of wild, ambitious music that is fleshed out with sophisticated arrangements, harmonies, horns, and plenty of surprising experimental touches.
