Broken Social Scene: Forgiveness Rock Record

Label: Arts & Crafts

Large Canadian indie supergroups are in season! Beyond any superficial similarities to the New Pornographers, though, the main point of comparison between them and Broken Social Scene is a contrast: The Pornos have always excelled at unifying their group dynamic, whereas BSS has sometimes come off as a clunky agglomeration of their members’ strengths and personalities. Not so with the wonderfully open and graceful Forgiveness Rock Record: aided by producer John McIntyre (of Tortoise et al.), the band has turned in its most grown-up recording. (If that seems like faint praise, keep in mind that any successful social scene needs to grow together.) Over the hour-plus album, which sometimes feels like one big satisfying exhalation, the band moves from topical themes (the crisp “Texico Bitches” and gnarly opener “World Sick”) to their trademark investigations of the physics of relationships (the rhythmically busy yet spacious “All to All” and “Sentimental X’s,” which adds some North American-style emotionalism to a coolly Euro-sounding beat). All is forgiven! (Bosco)