That depends on your definition of ‘new’

By • Sep 24th, 2007 • Category: Columns

Somebody needs to sit down with The Broken Social Scene and go over the meaning of the word “new.” Because with the release last week of “The Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew, ‘Spirit If’”- the first in a “new” release series of solo work by each BSS member – it seems that the band doesn’t quite get the concept of novelty.

You can’t blame the Toronto outfit entirely for getting the definition of the word a bit muddled. After all, they manically were buzzed about and christened the best new thing after 2003′s stellar re-release of “You Forgot it in People,” despite it being the band’s second LP. And with upward of 15 members at times, it also might get difficult to keep track of who is a fresh face and who only has been away from the band for a time.

Yet there is a legitimate argument that this recent solo LP project is only the latest on the long list of outside-BSS material, which the band members have released for years. When the international press latched onto the Canadian collective a few years back, the group was hailed for being a Warholian-like ensemble, an artist community of creative thinkers in which people came and went at will. That praise entirely was accurate. Before, and certainly since the band’s emergence, members have littered record store shelves with numerous releases – each proudly boasting “Featuring Broken Social Scene member…” stickers plastered on the packaging.

In fact, there have been so many offshoots – an occupational hazard when your band’s lineup outnumbers a professional basketball team – that it’s no longer clear whether The Broken Social Scene now has become the side project instead. That’s the beauty of the ever growing, yet consistently dreamy pop ensemble – when members leave, they always come back. It’s like some sort of BSS alumni association; each person feeling obligated to give back to the factory. Which makes the newness of that “Broken Social Scene presents” label on co-front man Kevin Drew’s 2007 full-length completely mute. And it will be even more so next year, with the planned release of Brendan Canning’s contribution to the solo LP series.

There is nothing inherently wrong about the project. It’s not deceitful, or cunning, or underhanded. The band and its label, Arts & Crafts, aren’t trying to pull a fast one on the legion of fans or milk a few kids out of their allowance. It’s just misleading, because they’ve been doing this type of thing for years, and by calling this “new” makes it seem that they are behind their own proverbial eight ball. In order not to appear confused about their own marketing – that is, for members not to seem like they are unaware that each BSS-related project naturally gets tagged with an affiliation to the mother group – they will be forced to ride this “new” project through to its entirety.

That should be the only concern for fans. It lays out a rather hefty project in front of the Broken Social camp, which could result in a long delay before the next proper full-band output. It’s already been two years since the outstanding self-titled album, and the slew of solo and side efforts will all but keep members’ calendars booked.

But what it might do instead, is spawn more than a dozen interesting records, chalk full of sweeping melodies and layered vocals. Who could complain about that? And while each respective bandmate waits their turn at the solo studio, those other members will have time to indulge numerous other avenues.

Many already have.

Arguably the most notable and successful Broken Social side project, Stars, scheduled its fourth proper LP to drop only a week after Drew’s solo album. Other acts with Social ties – Apostle of Hustle, Feist, Raising the Fawn, and Do Make Say Think – all released new full-lengths this year as well. While Metric, featuring a couple Scenesters, used 2007 to get a proper release for the group’s long-shelved 1999 debut, as well as allow front woman and BSS member Emily Haines to tour extensively after her 2006 solo LP.

It’s been a busy year for Toronto’s most recognizable cast of characters. Tours. TV appearances. Numerous band albums. And a “new” solo project that isn’t really new nor a solo project.

Drew’s album was produced by Broken Social contributors Ohad Benchetrit and Charles Spearin, and also includes musicianship from several members of the band. Which really defeats the purpose of a solo album – releasing it under the band’s name, produced by the group’s cohorts, and featuring its other members.

It’s about as solo of a project as The Smashing Pumpkins are a democracy. Well, at least the “new” Pumpkins anyway.

Northwest Herald, Sept. 24, 2007

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