![]() ![]() ![]() The more spacious, reflective nature of some of the tracks means that each member of the band gets a chance to shine in the spotlight. She ascends to angelic heights as she sings about “oxymoron of our lives,” the layering of her voice to become echoed and a little distorted only emphasising the central point about how the past can rear its head in the present. Feist takes the lead vocals and, much like on her own recent return ‘Pleasure’, she delivers a raw performance over restrained melodies that occasionally blossom with waves of reverb. The fleeting nature of time also plays a role on the title track, the emotional heart of the album that also happens to be one of the quietest and most reflective songs here. Kicking off with breathy, ‘60s-leaning harmonies and bursting with super-fidgety electronic flourishes throughout, it manages to be both crushing and featherweight at the same time, perfectly capturing both light and shade before unravelling in a swooning climax that laments on the passing of “the hours, the minutes, the seconds.” ‘Stay Happy’ balances both signs of the coin with aplomb. For every bombastic tune, there’s a more hushed, downbeat moment, usually tinged with an element of melancholia. Instead, it balances the collective’s full-blooded sound with warmth and intimacy. ‘Vanity Pail Kids’ is fit to bursting with scuzzy riffs, while ‘Protest Song’ marries the ethereal vocals of Emily Haines with driving guitars and a pounding, repeated climax of “we’re just the latest, rank and filest ever to exist in the history of the protest song” that’s sure to become a sing-along moment.Īt the same time though, ‘Hug of Thunder’ is also a record that’s far from simply Broken Social Scene-by-numbers. It’s not the only huge, anthemic moment present on ‘Hug Of Thunder’ either. It truly felt like the Kevin Drew, Brendan Canning and the rest of the gang had never been away at all.Īfter a brief introduction, ‘Halfway Home’ makes for a triumphant start to their new album. It was a soaring number filled with open chords, massive harmonies and open chords. Again, this is nitpicking with such a wonderful, engaging, surprising album.Seven years after the release of ‘Forgiveness Rock Record’, all the original members of Canadian collective Broken Social Scene, alongside new guest vocalist Ariel Engle, emerged with ‘Halfway Home’. Each song is so defined by its hook that the lyrics often feel tacked on. The other is the relative simplicity of the lyrics (excluding the album’s last two tracks). That slight slip on the album’s second half is one of two quibbles with Hug of Thunder. “Hug of Thunder” is a grower of a track that may get the most play on radio. Side Two is really good but a notch below Side One. It’s another surprise on a Side One that is full of them. The drums hit so hard they thudded through my body, whether I was listening in my car or through headphones. The track that made the biggest initial impact was “Vanity Pail Kids.” Following the rock anthem, the folk song, and an instrumental opener, this is a grungy, violent almost industrial number. After a week “Skyline” is the song that has wriggled its way into my head. It’s big yet simple and revolves around its melody. It leads right into “Skyline,” an acoustic, harmony-filled folk song, reminiscent of early Fleet Foxes. ![]() “Protest Song” is a propulsive song about an ambiguous protest. For those of you who like depth to your music, you’ll revel in Hug of Thunder.īut it doesn’t stop there. “Halfway Home” is a rock anthem that showcases the percussion and bass, which is prevalent on the rest of the LP. The opening punch of “Halfway Home” connects all the harder due to the contrast with the previous track. It lasts only a minute but sets you up for a soft landing. ![]() “Sol Luna” is a light instrumental that is dreamy yet room-filling. And Broken Social Scene has pulled it off.Īs a fan of a quick one-two combination to start an album, Hug of Thunder pulls off one of the better ones I’ve heard this year. The former option is more likely while the latter is really difficult to pull off. Or it could take the assets of each member and bring them together to exceed the sum of its parts. It could be a messy cacophony that never manages to have a unified sound or vibe. Album Review: For a band with as many members as Broken Social Scene (15 to be exact), an album can go one of two ways. ![]()
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