Stars: Set Yourself On Fire : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

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Witty, pretty indie rock for the sentimental geek inside all of us is canada the new sweden? the Montreal indie-pop masterminds in Stars can take their place beside fellow Great White North invaders such as Metric, the Dears, the Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene, several of whose members play in this band, as well. On their fantastic third album, Set Yourself on Fire, Stars build cerebral torch songs out of boy-girl vocals, strings, synths, guitars and the occasional French horn. The music is ornate yet light on its feet, with a communal and almost hippie-ish friendliness behind the lonesome lyrics ("When there is nothing left to burn/You must set yourself on fire"). When Amy Millan sings the dreamy "Ageless Beauty," the effect is psychedelic, like somebody put too much cumin in your valerian-root tea. Stars sound confident enough to set anything on fire.

ROB SHEFFIELD

(Posted: Feb 24, 2005)

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5of 5 Stars

One of the most brillant albums of the year. On this album, this Montreal group contains swriling strings and horns (You're Ex-Lover Is Dead), beautiful keyboards (the title track), girly vocals a la Mazzy Star (Ageless Beauty) and the jazzey bass of Reunion. Even the at first cautionary ventures into politics (Celebration Guns and Soft Revolution) are rewarded. The album climaxs in the glorious Calnder Girl, as singer Amy Millan belts I'm alive/I'm alive. By the end of the album you will feel the same.

Jan 3, 2006 03:38:45

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