Broken Social Scene | Forgiveness Rock Record

Most Likely To: cause one to feel “infinite”, for better or for worse.

Broken Social Scene are, whether we like to admit it or not, a band that could be considered canonical. No matter how fully developed we may think ourselves to be at this point in our aesthetic minds, Broken Social Scene (along with a highly debatable list including Cursive, Explosions/Godspeed, Belle & Sebastian, Elliott Smith, Elephant Six, and Ted Leo, among others) is probably one of the bands on everyone’s list when it comes to the issue of what helped form the musical path we are currently walking. Whether thanks to timeless songs like “Market Fresh” and “7/4 Shoreline” or thanks to the brilliant deviations of certain members (Do Make Say Think), Broken Social Scene have cemented themselves firmly as one of the most important and influential bands of the last twenty years.

This being said, I was apprehensive about Forgiveness Rock Record. I mean, with a resume like theirs, what’s left to prove? What else is left to say? Furthermore, would the kids even listen now that they’ve got their Panda Bears and Neon Indians to drool over?

Well to hell with all of what. Clearly there is a lot left to say, because Forgiveness Rock Record seems like it may very well be the record to get our collective shits together. Coming now, in this time, Broken Social Scene are like a breath of fresh air. Just when I had almost forgotten what sincerity sounded like, Forgiveness Rock Record comes around and proves to me, once and for all, that the giddy feeling we all once experienced listening to music when we were younger isn’t something to be stuck in memory.

Forgiveness Rock Record touches on everything that made Broken Social Scene great. There is a mature and skilled hand that touches everything from the production to arrangements. The band has not only never sounded better, but they’ve never been better at conveying not just their message, but the feeling behind it.

Before, I talked about that giddy feeling we’ve all experienced as listeners. You’ve found it–you can have it again–ride as fast as you can on a bicycle and scan through “Forced To Love” or “Art House Director” and you’ll see what I’m talking about. They feel like celebrations. This entire record is a celebration. But weaving through all of this, there is something to be said for the technical merit that binds it all together. This is truly what makes everything so compelling–not only do we have some of the most talented and technically skilled musicians active today in the same place at the same time, they all seem to actually be enjoying and believing in what it is that they’re doing together. This feeling shines through just about every song, whether organic (“World Sick”) or otherwise (“Sentimental X’s”).

So buy it, borrow it, torrent it–whatever you have to do. This is an excellent offering by itself, but the reminder it makes is probably more important than anyone realizes.

Watch Broken Social Scene perform on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon: