A major load has escaped me now that I’ve unleashed my selection woes via rap-therapy. 

This week I’ll introduce you to Stars, (AKA my favorite band on the planet). Here’s why:

Genre

Stars fits a variety of genres: alternative, pop, electronic, new wave, indie rock.  Variety isn’t easy but this group would make Michael Jackson blush … (if it was possible).  With the release of each album comes an entirely different mood and sound.  I am grateful for their well-rounded, potpourri approach because they are there for me for any state of mind: whimsy, bored, pensive, happy, hungry, frazzled, dazzled, haggard (which is more of an appearance I guess … but brought on by a frazzled/hungry state of mind so it works here), ironic, cyber-sonic, melancholic, dirty, flirty, and pissed off.

Bio stuffs

Formed in Toronto and now residing in Montreal, Stars has built a relatively large fan base in both Canada and the U.S.  Their music is soulful, sophisticated, and remarkably astute.  

Lyrical fun

I talk lyrics a lot, and I’ll say this for Stars: lyrics are thoughtful, allusive and colorful.  They’re the kind of words you feel like you can relate to no matter what.  For example, “One More Night” - “try as you might, he’s unable to speak, he grabs her by the hair, he strokes her on the cheek. The bed is unmade, like everything is. Dark little heaven at the top of the stairs.” I interpret this in my own life, believe it or not. Interpretation: “Keep truckin’, your cat can’t talk because he doesn’t know English, he gnaws at your eyebrows and licks you with his sandpaper tongue to wake you up. Yep, you don’t have time to make your bed because you woke up late. You don’t have time to make anything for breakfast either. On the way up the stairs to your office, you sigh b/c know you love your job but damn you wish you could’ve slept another hour or two.”

Album-speak.

I realized today that I erroneously directed my twitter-pal to their recent album, Sad Robots, when he inquired about them.  I forgot that this particular album is a little avant-garde and doesn’t really depict what Stars is all about. I consider Sad Robots as an experimental album. This mistake may cost them a potential listener, as I’m sure it turned him sour right away.  This album is for only the advanced Stars listeners, so wait until you’re comfortable with them before diving into that album.

My favorite album is Set Yourself on Fire. Second favorite (a tie): In Our Bedroom After The War and Nightsongs.

Good songs, methinks 

1. Your Ex-Lover Is Dead

2. One More Night

3. Elevator Love Letter

4. Midnight Coward

5. Write What You Know

6. Window Bird

7. Favourite Book

8. Romantic Comedy

9. Look Up

10. On Peak Hill

I could keep going until all songs are listed. 

That’s a WRAP.