Broken Social Scene presents Brendan Canning - Something For All of Us

Broken Social Scene Presents Brendan Canning
Something for All of Us…
Arts & Crafts.
Verdict: Pretty, but not endearing

Don’t get me wrong, I like the record... I just don’t love it. I suppose I may just be a little tired of the dried up Broken Social Scene sound. Or perhaps I am just living in the past and expecting too much out of a BSS co-founder and songwriter. This record is the second in the Broken Social Scene Presents series (the first being the solo album of the other BSS front-man: Kevin Drew). It is decidedly darker than most BSS material and hardly lacks in reverb guitars. Through the shoegaze fuzz Brendan Canning’s voice weakly strains and creates a nice ambiance. There is a psych-folk song in there somewhere and "Chameleon" has some really pretty string selections. The single that was released a while ago is called “Hit The Wall” and it’s ok. But what I want to hear disappears in the thick undergrowth of production. As you sip your ice-water you might me thinking “how can you say ‘what I want to hear’ about a record?” Well, I suppose if you bill yourself as 'Broken Social Scene Presents,' then you are setting yourself up for expectations. So enjoy it for what it is and join me in the I’ll-get-it-if-they-make-it club.

-King Cotton

Kevin Drew - Spirit If...

Broken Social Scene Present: Kevin Drew
Spirit If
(09.2007, Arts & Crafts)
9.0/10

I think the members of Broken Social scene have decided that their solo projects will receive more attention if they slap their old band name on the cover of the albums, thus creating the "Broken Social Scene Presents" label. Kevin Drew's Spirit If... is the first of what is said to be a string of such presented projects. Each member is going solo, (sort of) receiving help in the endeavour from BSS bandmates. Thus making it difficult for you to decide what to name it in your itunes. Kevin Drew was one of the two founders of Broken Social Scene as well as the Arts & Crafts Label. Spirit If... was recorded in a hotel room in Norway. It's indie charmers feel slightly like lullabyes, washing stacked guitars and sounds over you. It's a peaceful album with non-peaceful quirky lyrics. It's laid back and charming. The songs just sort of lackadaisically float out from your speakers and into your ears. It's one of my favorite "new artists" of the year. It's appeal is broad and I doubt that anyone could really be disappointed by the album, maybe not blown away, but never disappointed.

-Sassigrass

Kevin Drew - "TBTF"