Back on the scene with yet another bewitching new record, the Broken Socialites offer ‘Forgiveness’ in the wake of their five-year departure from the recording studio.
That’s five years since anyone has been able to give the troupe an appendage-orientated seal of approval to new material. Their third studio album, 2005’s ‘Broken Social Scene’, saw critics tilt their thumbs sideways, deriding it for being self-indulgent and sloppy in comparison to its predecessor, 2002’s ‘You Forgot It In People’.
This is an excerpt from an article that appears in the 50th issue of Clash Magazine. Pick it up in stores from May 7th. You can read the full issue online HERE and subscribe to Clash Magazine HERE.
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However, a recent return to SXSW was treated as a homecoming and celebration of intent and everything new: “Tell everyone we’re back – and we’re ready to fight this time,” spat BSS’s Kevin Drew at the end of their two-hour set at Stubb’s, where the sixteen-strong collective previewed many new tracks from their forthcoming album ‘Forgiveness Rock Record’ – a record that takes on a very different tone to its predecessors.
“We just wanted to give everyone a little taste of something different,” singer/bassist Brendan Canning explains. “Working with a new producer that the band really admired and living in a different city gave us a breath of fresh air, if not a different one, to the way we approached the record.”
And why are Broken Social Scene seeking ‘Forgiveness’ with their new record?
“We’ve always prescribed ourselves as ‘Self Help Rock and Roll’, especially with Kevin getting everyone to scream at live shows and generally making the performance a communal event,” he explains. “We’re not that much of a serious band if you have seen us play live, so there is supposed to be some light heartedness to the title. But, you know, everyone has something to be sorry for, and everyone wants to be forgiven for something they have done. Anyone with a good sense of humour and overall view of life can get something from the title – get something out of forgiveness.”
And do you have anything you’d like to be forgiven for, Brendan?
“Oh, you know, I’m sure there are a few things. I can’t imagine anyone going through life without fucking up a few times.”
Words by Thomas A. Ward
