If there’s one thing Canadian quintet Stars has been able to do for the entire duration of its 10-year run it’s make us sigh wistfully over beautifully crafted lyrics and gorgeous, blooming melodies. Since 2007’s In Our Bedroom After The War, the band members (many of whom moonlight as Broken Social Scene players) scattered for a while to work on some very un-Stars-like solo and side projects. However, rest assured that just-released fifth full-length, The Five Ghosts (Vagrant/Soft Revolution), is Stars still being heartbreakingly Stars, with an underlying theme of mortality featuring lyrics that focus on love in a “til death do us part” kind of way. Prepare to swoon when you see them play the album live on their tour of Europe and North America this fall. Evan Cranley, Torquil Campbell, Amy Millan, Chris Seligman and Patrick McGee are guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our Q&A with Cranley.
Patrick: Jane Doe by Converge is my favourite record of the past decade: dirty, romantic, fierce, dramatic, brutal, brilliant, virtuostic, progressive and fun. The perfect fusion of punk and metal. From the searing and concise pop genius of opening track “Concubine” to epic closer “Jane Doe,” this record takes the listener on a complete emotional journey in less than 40 minutes. It always leaves me realing, wild and wanting to hear it all over again. The perfect record.
Video after the jump.
