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Song of the Day: ‘Chase Scene’ by Broken Social Scene

By Staff | Aug 26, 2010

Generally speaking, I have an aversion to hype and sometimes that bites me in the arse. 

Most recently, my butt’s a little sore from Broken Social Scene (wait, that didn’t come out right). Anyway, the point I’m getting at is this: I used to resist listening to BSS because I was tired of hearing about them in every media outlet. They were the Indie Band du Jour, only it was for like four years and not a day. 

A supergroup out of Canada (the new home of indie rock?), BSS consists of anywhere from six to 19 members. It was partly this ridiculous sprawl that turned me off and then onto BSS. 

Nineteen members seems kind of stupid, if you ask me. But then again, I like solo stuff by Kevin Drew, Feist and Amy Milan, all musicians who’ve featured prominently in BSS over the years. 

Finally, four years later, I’ve felt the freedom necessary to give them a shot and now their latest album, "Forgiveness Rock Rock" is overtaking my iPhone.

I’m particularly liking "Chase Scene," the second cut off the album, with its rising urgency filled out by strings, psychedelic guitars, a piano and, eventually, a brass section.

That may sound like a lot, but what I’ve found is the band is well attuned to using its many parts in subtle ways. There’s never anything over-the-top with these songs. They’re consistently catchy, but not in a dumbed-down way. 

This is the new classic rock. 

So take it from me, cher lecteurs, throw that hype out the window. Because sometimes it’s stupid.