and Stripes

Band of the day today is Stars, an indie group from Canada who recently released their third album, Set Yourself on Fire.

These guys are somewhat the epitome of indie rock, and you kind of have to love them for it. On their website they describe the anguish and self-discovery they went through to make this album in the kind of introspective, sometimes ridiculous, othertimes touching prose that you might hear at a poetry reading in the East Village.

A taste of the several hundred word essay that recounts the trials and tribulations of living Set Yourself on Fire:

"While the snow fell outside, Stars nestled in their cocoon, drank rivers of booze, smoked things they shouldn't, had bloody arguments, slid down icy hills on the bellies of their snowsuits, kissed and made up and nearly went insane. They steeped themselves in Sam Cooke and the Super Furry Animals, hash cakes and champagne, DuMaurier Lights and library books, the Apostles of Hustle and skating. Serious emo shit went down. "

Set Yourself on Fire is much sexier and certainly darker than their last albums. Amy Millan - lead singer - has the ability to bring deep sincerity through her soft voice, much like Jenny Lewis does on Rabbit Fur Coat. The result are songs that make you stop and catch your breath, if only for a moment. But before I start spouting prose like Stars did on their website, suffice it to say that their first song on the album, "Your Ex-Lover is Dead" gave me pause, and took me on a little trip down memory lane.

The influences come from all over - certainly Broken Social Scene (friends & sometimes bandmates of Stars), I also hear Death Cab in there, and Bright Eyes. What's perhaps most admirable about them though, is the way they just throw themselves into their music.

FYI, they are playing at the Siren Festival on Coney Island this summer (7/15) as well as Austin City Limits.

For their homepage, click here. For myspace, click here.