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.
Amy: I worked at JetFuel Coffee for four years before leaving on forever tour. It is located on Parliament Street in Toronto’s ever-charming Cabbagetown neighbourhood where I grew up. Expect AC/DC blaring at 7 a.m., but don’t expect decaf or regular drip coffee. Johnny Jet Fuel the proprietor might snarl or include you in a conversation about saws, depending on his mood. It is an institution, and there is no place like it.
