Seeing Stars

Canadian collective Stars has released their awaited sophomore effort In Our Bedroom After The War on label Arts and Crafts to a good deal of anticipation. Having already been released on iTunes, and coming to stores on CD on September 25th, fans are already getting a taste of the band's electro-rock fusion sound. In Our Bedroom After the War certainly has an electronic feel to it, but Stars manage to make this record feel more human and tangible. Computers don't make mistakes, don't contradict--but from the very title of the album, you can see that the Stars are looking to make contrasts. The duality of the bedroom and war works on several levels, perhaps most prevalent as electronic beats are juxtaposed to rock rhythms and vocals that make these songs all the more delectable.

"The Beginning After The End" sounds like a Massive Attack track that never made it to an album (this is good), while the chorus-heavy "Take Me to the Riot" is a sure anthem that everybody can sing along with. Tracks like "The Night Starts Here" and "My Favourite Book" have a funky playfulness to them, which culminates in the insatiable and tasty "The Ghost of Genova Heights". Coherence in the record seems to have been a primary concern as well, as they conclude the album with the reflective, sensitive "Today Will Be Better, I Swear!" Indeed, 'Today, today is going to be a better one'. Looks like the bedroom wins out in the end.

Believe me, you won't regret it: In Our Bedroom After the War
Listen to "The Ghost of Genova Heights" (4.9/5)
Listen to "Today Will Be Better, I Swear!" (4.9/5)