Stars @ Metropolis, Montreal, Nov. 28

It’s been a banner time for seeing Stars live — in the last 15 months, I’ve been to six of their concerts, with a seventh show to come in a couple weeks. And while faithful readers of this blog may be tiring of my post-concert reports, I have yet to wear of seeing them live. Torq Campbell (pictured) in particular, the ex-actor and blossoming crooner, is a joy to watch, at turns swearing, smiling, dancing and laying out his sensitive, seemingly tortured soul. I realized at this show, held in their adopted hometown of Montreal, that, yes, I want to be Torq, and I don’t care who knows. If that’s an adolescent thought, it’s in alignment with Stars’ own position, caught between the teenage power of pop music and the clearly adult themes of their songs. “I’m 14 forever, if I make you believe,” Torq sings on “14 Forever,” regrettably, the only song they did not play from their new EP Sad Robots. They’re back on tour promoting that EP, which consists of six subtler, more personal songs that, as could be expected, didn’t do so well live. I’m even disappointed that those songs helped squeeze out other, far better tracks from their usual concert playlist. No “In Our Bedroom” or “Reunion” or “Heart” or even “The Aspidistra Files,” a lovely, mostly forgotten track that they sometimes play. No worries — I’m sure I’ll hear them all again another time soon.

Sad Robots

Stars’ new, oddly titled Sad Robots EP is a reminder of how it all began, when the band was little more than a passion project between tortured, Smiths-influenced lead singer Torq Campbell and his keyboardist friend Chris Seligman. The songs were quaint, synth-heavy and more personal. Then Amy Millan and Evan Cranley came on board, and their sound and success has only grown. Perhaps Sad Robots is a reaction to that success, a six-track EP that keeps the band “honest,” as they say in sports; a chance to prove you can take the band away from Montreal, but you can’t take the Montreal out of them. There’s even a song in French, the title track, with the oh-so-Stars lyrics: “Il pleut, il pleut / je pleure, je pleure” (“It rains, it rains / I cry, I cry”). They may yet fill arenas, but Sad Robots, and such lovely tracks as “14 Forever” and Amy’s lilting “Undertow,” remind us Stars remain an intimate act. B
Stars: Undertow (mp3) (buy it)

Stars, Death Cab for Cutie, Rogue Wave, Young Galaxy @ Olympic Island, June 6

It’s been a couple months since Stars last performed — taking a break during a worldwide tour that launched in the fall — and I expected some rust. Sure enough, their set began poorly, with Amy nearly missing the start of first song, “The Night Starts Here,” and Torq over-singing his parts to combat the outdoor concert expansiveness.
     It took a while for them to hit their groove, but the latter half of the show – starting with blazing renditions of “What I’m Trying to Say,” “Elevator Love Letter,” and “Midnight Coward” — was as strong as any Stars concert I’ve seen. The tearjerker moment — and every Stars show has at least one of them — was the show’s heart-wrenching climax, “In Our Bedroom After the War,” setting the bar high for headliners Death Cab for Cutie.
     Too high, apparently. I was impressed with Death Cab when I saw them a few years back, mostly for delivering a surprisingly loud rock show when I expected a laid-back O.C.-ish night. But, despite the fact lead singer Ben Gibbard has written some terrific songs, Death Cab is mostly mundane live. File them with other bands whose records will do just fine.
     And that’s the main difference between Stars and Death Cab for Cutie, the two best indie-pop bands out there. Stars are true performers: a ragtag group of new romantics, lead by former actor Torq Campbell (whose between-song segues — often laced with the words “fuck” or “fucking” — could easily be extended into Billy Bragg-like soliloquies), who pour their heart into each show. I won’t get tired of seeing them anytime soon.
     The two other bands on the bill couldn’t have been more different. Rogue Wave were at their veteran best, showing off the fine yet underrated songs off last year’s Asleep at Heaven’s Gate; while Young Galaxy, despite their Arts-&-Crafts pedigree, were just happy to be invited. Slow and uninspiring, they are clearly not ready for the big time.
(Thanks again Zack for taking photos — click above for larger image. Set list here.)

Top 20 songs of 2007

As can be heard on my latest podcast, which you can subscribe to here.

20. “Radio Nowhere” by Bruce Springsteen
While 2007 marked the moment when it was cool to like Springsteen again (see the recent Spin cover story featuring Arcade Fire’s Win Butler shmoozing with Bruce), The Boss — pushing 60! — also delivered a barnburner of a single.

19. “Untitled Shook Ones (Emancipator Mashup)” by Sigur Ros vs Mobb Deep
KEXP played this one to death, and with good reason. It’s an unreleased mashup — available on the MySpace page of NYC DJ Emancipator — of a 12-year-old rap hit and one of the tracks from Sigur Ros’s haunting 2002 ( ) album. Genius. (Also on JeffMix2007.09.17.)

18. “Pussyole (Oldskool)” by Dizzee Rascal
Few songs got a bigger reaction than this eye-popping, expletive-laden crowd-pleaser. Apparently there’s a radio edit out there, but why bother? (Also on JeffMix2007.06.21.)

17. “My Rights Versus Yours” by The New Pornographers
How ELO can you go? The New Pornographers give it their best power-pop try and put out a mini-masterpiece.

16. “Golden Skans" by Klaxons
A surprise pick as NME’s song of the year. A great, groovy, get-in-get-out pop song. (Also on JeffMix2007.02.)

15. “Electronic Battle Weapon 8” by The Chemical Brothers
What became the track “Saturate” on this year’s poorly-received We Are the Night CD began as this promo-only version, a thundering six-and-a-half minute electro blast. (Also on JeffMix2007.04.26.)

14. “Hospital Beds” by Cold War Kids
“There’s nothing to do here, just whine and complain” begins Cold War Kids’ lead singer Nathan Willett on a song with possibly the best lyrics of the year, a vivid tale of “joy and misery.” (Also on JeffMix2007.04.26.)

13. “What We Had” by Handsome Furs
One of the best sounding songs of the years, filled with acoustic guitars, harmonicas and anvil strikes. Looking forward to that Wolf Parade follow-up disc… (Also on JeffMix2007.04.26.)

12. “Plasticities” by Andrew Bird
“Precious territory,” indeed, as Bird sings on this delicate, underappreciated track from his Sufjan-like 2007 CD, Armchair Apocrypha. (Also on JeffMix2007.04.26.)

11. “So Much Love” by The Rocket Summer
“Born to Run” is such a fantastic song, perhaps the best ever, that far-less-weighty imitations, like this one, sound pretty great. Complete with a that’s-not-Clarence-Clemons sax outro. (Also on JeffMix2007.12.15.)

10. “Box” by Tokyo Police Club
Another woefully overlooked track, this one from the best thing to come out of Newmarket, The Strokes’-sounding Tokyo Police Club. Wait until they actually put out a full record. (Also on JeffMix2007.04.)

9. “Let’s Dance to Joy Division” by The Wombats
Big in Britain, The Wombats have yet to make much noise this side of the Atlantic. But songs like this fun, tongue-firmly-in-cheek floor-shaker should change things. (Also on JeffMix2007.09.17.)

8. “Take Me to the Riot” by Stars
Not really known for their singles, Stars go for broke with this one, their most unabashed attempt at hitting the charts. Riot on!

7. “New Romantic” by Laura Marling
Not yet old enough to drink, UK singer/songwriter Marling showed why she’s being tipped as the Next Big Thing with this mature-beyond-her-years tear-jerker. (Also on JeffMix2007.09.17.)

6. “With Every Heartbeat” by Kleerup ft. Robyn
Although this Kate-Bush-meets-Daft-Punk single was floating around late last year (and appeared on Pitchfork’s list of top tracks of 2006), it didn’t get an official North American and UK release until early this year. Stunning. (Also on JeffMix2007.02.)

5. “On Call” by Kings of Leon
Nashville longhairs Kings of Leon inched closer to superstardom with their hit-laden 2007 CD, Because of the Times, and this slow-growing stadium rocker. (Also on JeffMix2007.02.)

4. “The Plot” by White Rabbits
It’s got One Hit Wonder written all over it, but what a collar-grabbing way to go. (Also on JeffMix2007.06.21.)

3. “I’m a Flirt (Shoreline)” by R. Kelly vs Broken Social Scene
This was the year of the mashup, so it’s fitting that this growing, er, genre lands near the top of the list. But this track is not here for ceremonial purposes — it’s simply brilliant, not to mention highly enjoyable. From The Hood Internet, a website and DJ duo that specializes in fusing indie-rock hits with the latest hip-hop jams. Already the site is getting tired, but for one glorious moment this past summer, they hit the perfect mix. (Also on JeffMix2007.04.26.)

2. “Lake Michigan” by Rogue Wave
Sure, the handclapping is straight from the Arcade Fire playbook, and the lyrics leave something to be desired (“Heaven is a switchboard that you want to fight…” Um, sure it is.). But in a year strongly influenced by Brian Wilson and his sun-kissed song-making style, Rogue Wave provided the dreamiest pop and its best sing-along. (Also on JeffMix2007.09.17.)

1. “Fake Empire” by The National
One year-end-list writer said something like: “‘Fake Empire’ might be an obvious choice, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong.” And from the first listen, it was obvious that this was the best song of 2007. Staying out super late tonight, picking apples, making pies. We’re half awake, in our fake empire. Majestic. (Also on JeffMix2007.04.)

Top 10 albums of 2007

1. Graduation by Kanye West
Who knew Mr. West would become an albums artist in the singles-heavy genre of rap? Graduation, his third record, is arguably his best — more personal, more boastful and more joyous than his previous dazzling discs. This is Kanye at the top of his game. (Previously reviewed here.)
Kanye West ft. T-Pain: Good Life (mp3) (zip)

2. In Our Bedroom After the War by Stars
It’s no Set Yourself on Fire (a nominee for best album ever), but In Our Bedroom After the War is a worthy follow-up, adding an extra layer of hope to Stars’ complex and often dark emotional pastiche. (Previously reviewed here.)
Stars: Barricade (mp3) (zip)

3. In Rainbows by Radiohead
Or the album where Thom Yorke shows he has soul. Softer and sparser than ever, Radiohead again shows why they’re a few steps ahead of everyone else. (Previously reviewed here.)
Radiohead: Reckoner (mp3) (zip)

4. Once: Music from the Motion Picture by Glen Hansard (with Marketa Irglova)
A brilliant singer-songwriter toiling away in obscurity performs in a movie about a brilliant singer-songwriter toiling away in obscurity. Hansard’s a great find and his touching, penetrating songs demand repeat play.
Glen Hansard: Leave (mp3) (zip)

5. Let’s Stay Friends by Les Savy Fav
It’s clear veteran indie rockers Les Savy Fav have listened to their share of Pixies songs, but this is not a bad thing. Rock songs with equal parts bombast, melody and weirdness, and a reminder to the new kids how to do things right.
Les Savy Fav: The Year Before the Year 2000 (mp3) (zip)

6. Plague Park by Handsome Furs
Will Dan Boeckner get his due? First he contributed, as co-lead vocalist and guitarist, to Wolf Parade’s fantastic yet forgotten 2005 disc Apologies to the Queen Mary. And now he and wife Alexei Perry have out-Rental-ed the Rentals, with side project Handsome Furs. Don’t sleep on this.
Handsome Furs: Sing! Captain (mp3) (zip)

7. Reunion Tour by The Weakerthans
The Weakerthans may never be Pitchfork faves (Reunion Tour has yet to be reviewed by the online tastemakers), but they’ve grown into one of Canada’s best bands on the strength of John K. Samson’s highly listenable, lyrically astute songs. (Previously reviewed here.)
The Weakerthans: Virtute the Cat Explains Her Departure (mp3) (zip)

8. Challengers by The New Pornographers
Never short of talent, The New Pornographers hit some solid musical blows on their latest CD, aided by the one-two shot of songwriters A.C. Newman and Dan Bejar. In a year when other Brian Wilson-influenced acts grabbed the critical spotlight (Animal Collective, Of Montreal), the hook-filled Challengers provided the biggest wallop. (Previously reviewed here.)
The New Pornographers: Challengers (mp3) (zip)

9. Magic by Bruce Springsteen
The Boss’s return to his poppier, Born-in-the-U.S.A. sound masked a darker, deeper lyrical tone, giving his fans the best of both sides of Springsteen. (Previously reviewed here.)
Bruce Springsteen: I’ll Work For Your Love (mp3) (zip)

10. Writer’s Block by Peter, Bjorn and John
Released in Europe last year, Writer’s Block made it to North American shores (or iTunes, at least) in early 2007 and gave listeners a very good idea of the musical quality currently coming out of their native Sweden. Imagine the pop sensibilities of Crowded House mixed with the genre-busting playfulness of Beck and you get an idea of PB&J’s musical treats. Includes my No. 1 song of 2006, the ubiquitous “Young Folks.”
Peter, Bjorn and John: Objects of My Affection (mp3) (zip)

Honourable mentions:
Asleep at Heaven’s Gate by Rogue Wave
The End of History by Fionn Regan
A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation by The Wombats
Because of the Times by Kings of Leon
Finding Forever by Common

Stars @ The Rehearsal Hall, Dec. 2

A third Stars show in one week, and this one was a treat: an invite-only taping of Bravo! Canada’s Live at The Rehearsal Hall series. (Thanks Christina!) There couldn’t have been more than 60 people in the audience and it looked like many of them were friends and family (including several greyhairs, who must have been moms and dads).
     We got there late, so we didn’t snag seats. At first I was disappointed that they made us stand behind Pat McGee’s drumkit, but it gave us a surprisingly good perspective. At least a new one, behind the band rather than in front. So we could see them talking amongst themselves (and snarkily at each other on a couple of occasions).
     We heard beforehand that Torq was sick, and he didn’t look good at all, but he soldiered through. Frankly, they sounded great, just as a band coming off tour should. And Amy, as you can see from the photo above, was smoking. (Her “Bitches in Tokyo” was the show’s strongest number.) But they did screw up, or at least McGee did, losing the beat completely on the crashing outro of “One More Night.” So, because it’s actually live to tape, they performed it again, along with another rendition of “My Favourite Book.” Catch it all, including a smiling yours truly behind the drumkit, on Feb. 5 on Bravo! Canada.
     And now my Stars obssession can cool down. Whew.

Stars @ The Phoenix, Nov. 27

Amy Millan was quoted in last week’s Now magazine saying that Stars are “pretty much sticking” to the same set each night for their current tour. And last night’s set was almost identical to Monday’s show, with two differences: one that I’ll mention below, and Monday they included “Look Up” from Heart, a song I haven’t heard them do live, and a song that a friend told me was once described in a review as “the sound right before you start crying.”

The Beginning After the End
The instrumental synth track that begins Stars’ latest CD, In Our Bedroom After the War, is also first up here. Fresh flowers are everywhere, and will soon be thrown into the crowd all night long. Torq’s in the same grey suit both nights and Amy’s doing her biker grandmother look.

Take Me to the Riot
Possibly my favourite song from the new record, the rock-out number’s a great way to kick off the show.

Set Yourself on Fire
The title song from their third album, this always gets the crowd in the right mood. Torq does his robot dance before bringing it down for the “20 years asleep before we sleep” outro. Stunning.

Elevator Love Letter
For the old-timers, Amy says on night one. Only one of two songs from their second album, Heart, and there are none from their first CD.

The Ghost of Genova Heights
Their most love-it-or-hate-it song. I am in the latter camp, although Torq hams it up by wearing a suit made of white lights.

Bitches in Tokyo
The biggest problem with the Phoenix shows is that they’re all-ages gigs, which isn’t in itself a bad thing. However, the Phoenix barricades the drinkers into the rear of the club. So if you want to be close, which we did the first night, you have to stand amid a sea of screaming 15-year-old girls. I’m impressed, though, that the teenyboppers seem to know all the lyrics to the new album. I, on the other hand, can hardly remember the titles, including this one. Thanks again to Zack for remembering what we were listening to, and taking the photos (click on the thumbnail for a larger version).

One More Night
A gem from SYOF, dedicated to Torq’s high-school teacher and Dick Cheney becoming involved in “rough anal sex.” Realizing what he said in front of an all-ages crowd, Torq reminds us that Stars “are an evil band and [we’re] evil to be there.”

Personal
I would prefer to hear Barricade, the other hate-it-or-love-it track from In Our Bedroom (I love it). But this one is equally dark and really shows off the vocal chemistry of Torq and Amy.

Heart
The other song from Heart, of course. One of my all-time favourites and Torq delivers it better than ever. He has really come along as a singer since his whispery, slightly off-key days.

Midnight Coward
The new songs fare well live, helped out by the fuller band and especially Pat McGee’s give-’er drumming. Who knew this was a new-wave dance song?

Window Bird
Amy’s moment. This song doesn’t do a lot for me, but it’s great to just give in to her voice. She’s as sweet and sour as they come.

Soft Revolution
My favourite track on SYOF. So nice to hear. And there’s still a shout-out to Metric at the end.

Sleep Tonight
The only real misstep of the night. A technofied version of the touching mid-album SYOF track. Should have played “Look Up” instead.

Reunion
The one that started my love affair with Stars, a song about getting old, drinking hard, and needing a second chance. I would have enjoyed it more the first night except that when Torq sang, “17 and half alive,” the kids in the crowd shrieked with recognition. Can I still do this now that I’m more than twice their age?

Your Ex-Lover Is Dead
It’s so Stars that they’ve made “live through this and you won’t look back” a sing-along moment. Brilliant.

Ageless Beauty
The fifth SYOF song in a row and a crowd favourite. I heart Amy.

In Our Bedroom After the War
Let’s get serious for a moment. Here’s where Stars separate themselves from the pack. A triumphant set closer with Torq throwing himself into its final chorus. If anyone has video of this, YouTube please.

The Night Starts Here
Well, the encore starts here at least. Again, a lot of love from the crowd for their latest CD. Good to see.

My Favourite Book
Or when Amy Millan out-Feists Feist. And a bass change for Evan, preferring a large, cherry-red model (which sounded like shit the first night).

What I’m Trying to Say
They enjoy playing this one and I’m sure it’s going to be in the set list for a long time. The last rock-out number before the cool down.

Calendar Girl
And the crowd lets out an “I can’t believe they’re playing this!” gasp. Can melt stones with this one.

The Aspidistra Flies
On night one, they finished with a beautiful rendition of “What the Snowman Learned About Love” from Heart. Last night, it was this delicate track, hidden on the early Comeback EP. Torq, however, has problems remembering when to come in and claims he may have had a stroke. Once they get it right, they leave us in style. And wanting more. See you Sunday.

Stars: The Aspidistra Flies (mp3) (zip)

Stars @ The Phoenix, Nov. 26

This time of year is filled with so many dislikable pre-holiday traditions — like radio stations playing Paul McCartney’s “Last Christmas” over and over again, just to name one — that I’m thrilled to add “Seeing Stars in concert” to my own list of enjoyable rituals. This marks the third time in four years that I’ve had the pleasure of catching Torq, Amy, Evan and Chris perform their swoony favourites in the early winter. What a way to warm up.
     At this point, I know what to expect — Torq’s starry-eyed emoting, Amy’s shockingly sweet vocals, Evan’s bass kicks — and it was much of the same on this night. But I don’t see Stars to discover new things necessarily. They’re more like comfort food now, and, to paraphrase Bruce Springsteen, reasons to keep believing: in love, in loss, in pop songs and eccentricities, and finally, in this great city from which they came. “It’s us,” Torq sings on “In Our Bedroom After the War,” the concert’s best song. “Yes, we’re back again — here to see you through.” Thanks, man.
     Tomorrow I'll write more about the actual show after seeing tonight’s gig (their second show of four here in Toronto). Today is for basking.
     (Thanks to Zack for the photo. Yay Nyquil! And Joanna for the editing help.)

Stars go green

From a recent Arts & Crafts press release:

With the help of Reverb, Stars are going carbon neutral on their current U.S. tour. Buy a carbon-offset sticker at a Stars show, and help build clean, renewable energy sources. Proceeds from each sticker will neutralize the CO2 created from 150 miles of driving. You can help fight global warming by purchasing a sticker or a water bottle at a Stars show. For more information go here.

Virgin Festival @ Centre Island, Sept. 9

It’s taken me an extra day to recover, but I had a great time at Sunday’s V-Fest. The weather was the biggest concern as we started the day, but the grey skies never opened up, and it turned out to be perfect outdoor-concert weather. We got to the mainstage just as Louis XIV began a decent, apparently hungover set of non-descript garage rock. Jamie T was next, and while his studio efforts haven’t impressed me much, him and his electro-ska band, The Pacemakers, were up to the task live.
     Then we hit the meat of the order. Tokyo Police Club showed why they’re the next big thing, with a tight, spunky Arcade-Fire-meets-Strokes set. And then Stars (pictured; click for larger image). While they could sing the phonebook and I’d be happy, I must say they’ve had better gigs. Outdoor festivals may not be their thing — they need a more intimate space. Or they need to learn a bit more from Metric, who followed, and had the best set of the night. Emily Haines is a global superstar in the making, full of icy stares and sexy struts. Move over Fiest.
     We ditched the Killers midway to catch the Editors on the second stage, who preceded to out-anthem Brendan Flowers’ bunch. The Killers may have all the hits and all the money, but seeing the Editors give it their all to a crowd a tenth the size reminds me why I’ll gladly pass on stadium shows for club gigs.
     All in all, I had a blast, and despite a few kinks, it seems like the start of a long tradition of Island concerts. See you next year.

Prefab Sprout

I forgot how much I liked this band. And it’s no coincidence that Stars named themselves after Prefab Sprout — the male/female vocal combo, the syrupy arrangements, the heartfelt lyrics. If you’ve never had the pleasure, give a listen (and try to excuse the two-decades-old quality of the video) to one of their biggest hits, “Goodbye Lucille #1 (Johnny Johnny).”

In Our Bedroom After the War

I may be biting off more than I can chew, but I plan on posting weekly record reviews, and what better way to start than with Stars’ latest, In Our Bedroom After the War.
     The album, as regular readers of this blog are aware, was made available a month ago as a digital-only release (through iTunes), with a physical CD release to come next month. So I’ve had a while now to listen to In Our Bedroom, and to mull this review, and I find, like any true love, that it’s hard to put into words what this band does for me. In particular, their previous album, 2004’s Set Yourself on Fire, hit my buttons in a profound way. Talk about a hard act to follow.
     2004 was also the year Arcade Fire released the equally monumental Funeral, and it wouldn’t have surprised me if they never put out another record. But they did, this year’s so-so Neon Bible, and I’m happy to say that Stars have done a better job with their follow-up effort. While it lacks the unbridled passion of SYOF, it’s more polished and in many places more direct than Stars have ever been. Take “My Favourite Book,” the Stars’ first real love song. Sure, they write about love all the time (their second record, after all, was entitled Heart), but always with an edge, and a sharp one at that. But it’s hard to detect any irony when Amy Millan sings, “And when we’re making love / I’d give everything up for your touch” while a shoop-shoop chorus coos in the back. And “Take Me to the Riot” is Stars’ most brazen attempt at the big hit that is undoubtedly in them.
     Everything, of course, isn’t rosy in the Starsosphere, as the back-to-back punch of “Personal” (about an online-dating connection gone wrong) and “Barricade” (an ode to a vicious hooligan) makes clear. No one knows better than this band how precarious and painful relationships can be. But if SYOF was about survival in the face of love’s storms, In Our Bedroom — especially on the two closing songs “Today Will Be Better, I Swear!” and the title track — imagines a day when the storms may pass. “Listen, the birds sing,” Torquil Campbell sings on “In Our Bedroom,” “Listen, the bells ring / All the living are dead / And the dead are all living / The war is over and we are beginning.” Can’t wait for what comes next.
Stars: My Favourite Book (mp3)
Stars: In Our Bedroom After the War (mp3)

The full story

It took several hours, but Stars and their label, Arts & Crafts, posted an explanation for the surprise release of In Our Bedroom After the War — and it’s brilliant. And I have to say, historic. It’s the first case I know of where a label has decided to release an album in its digital version months ahead of the physical CD release. They know the record will be leaked before the release date, so they may as well leak it themselves — and make some cash in the process. It’s no coincidence the record is already No. 1 on the iTunes Canada chart. (See related article in Pitchfork.)

It’s out

It’s Christmas in July! The new Stars record came out today, months ahead of schedule. Maybe it’s a mistake, but when I checked the iTunes Store this morning, there it was. I downloaded it immediately before it gets taken down. (The Stars website still has Sept. 25 as the release date.) Yes, I actually paid for the album. But you can hear a couple of tracks below for free. I’ll post a more detailed review soon, but my first impression is that it’s closer in spirit to the Stars’ first two more mellow records rather than the barnburner that was 2004’s Set Yourself on Fire.
Stars: Take Me to the Riot (mp3)
Stars: Personal (mp3)

The Night Starts Here

Big Stars news. A release date for the new record, In Our Bedroom After the War, has been set (Sept. 25), a track listing has been posted, and a new song has been released. Less than three months away...
Stars: The Night Starts Here (mp3)

Stars at V-Fest

Stars have now been added to this year’s Virgin Festival lineup. They’re playing on the Sunday (Sept. 9), along with Metric, Tokyo Police Club and the surprisingly-good-live Peter Bjorn and John. Hopefully this begins the first of many fall concerts in support of the new record, with the oh-so-Stars title, In Our Bedroom After the War.