Adam KennyYou were the rotten ones
It’s been 9 years since we last heard from Broken Social Scene when they released their album Hug of Thunder. For many fans it’s been a long time coming to hear from the band. Whilst they did release a live album and some B sides during this absence, 9 years is a long time to wait. However, for BSS, it’s not an unusual amount of time. Since 2003 the band have released a total of 6 records. Including their new album Remember the Humans. 2003 to 2005 saw a new album every year from the band, including their two classics You Forgot It In People (a favourite of mine) and their self-titled. A then 5 year wait came for Forgiveness Rock Record which sparked an even longer break of 7 years until Hug of Thunder!
Remembering the band
Before I got into Remember the Humans I went back and listened to You Forgot It In People which came out all the way back in 2003. 23 years of a difference between the two albums. It is absolutely crazy how the band are still able to produce, conjure and capture the energy they had back in 2003, twenty-three years later.
Remember the Humans is an absolute blast. Reeking of experience, time and acceptance. You Forgot It In People had several layers linked to social isolation, self loathing and depression. An album truly for the “outcasts”. Remember the Humans, whilst isn’t a sequel of any sorts, contains this natural evolution that builds upon what the band had done back in 2003. Sonically and lyrically, the bands maturity, experience and scars from over the years have helped create something familiar yet exciting.
The first track, “Not Around Anymore” starts us off on a familiar note (literally). Kevin Drew brings us right back into things with brass instruments like trumpets and horns honking to a spiffy melody that locks your ears in immediately. In a way, I see Broken Social Scene operating in a similar but more Americanised slot as Black Country, New Road. Large ensemble. Baroque rock inspirations that can very quickly veer into outright indie rock and folk.
Bullets, butterflies, Bill Corgan?
“Only The Good I Keep” keeps a steady tempo going and brings back a 90s flare. Upon re-listen, I get notes of Smashing Pumpkins in this track. That layered downtrodden guitar paired with an ensemble of vocals brings me right back to the second half of Mellon Collie. A nostalgic track that I have revisited quite a few times by itself.
Same goes for “The Call”. A much more upbeat track that definitely has a more modern flare, but I get notes of the Talking Heads in here. Lyrically, this was one of my favourite tracks on the album. I adored the hook of “Glistening Sweat on the back of my neck” I would mutter to myself as I buttered my toast and had a coffee in the morning. A habit I’ve had throughout this album. I can’t put my finger on it exactly, but each track just grabs at me and sticks with me.
Something I love about Broken Social Scene records is that every track could be someone’s favourite. Something that can be said for all albums, yes, but you couldn’t fault anyone’s choice here. “Relief” is mine. Lisa Lobsinger takes over the vocals here, and it is mesmerizing. There’s this amazing back and forth between herself during the hook “Lying on my life line, choking me up” that would be rhythmically followed up by this amazing vocal lick“to finally be”. An easy favourite for me, something that I will return to many times.
There’s jazz at the social!
“The Briefest Kiss” is a great switch up that focuses more on the instrumental side of BSS. Bringing this sensual, sneaky and slick folky jazz fusion to the album. Something I could easily listen to for 15 minutes. Sadly, the track is only 6 minutes so we’ll have to make do with that. Jumping ahead a bit, we’ve got a love sick bop from Kevin. Something every BSS album needs. “Paying for Your Love” is this brilliant mesh of acoustic guitars with some minor electronic fuses that builds up into this post rock baroque rock indie rock bananza that sounds like something you’d hear in a 2000s coming of age film. It’s a classic Kevin Drew love song. Hopelessly in love, hopeless after it.
Remember the Humans is as equally nostalgic as it is looking forward to the future. However, there is a sense of settlement. There’s no glamorous dreams or notions of finding oneself anymore. There’s less this quest of discovery and kinship, and more a want of accepting what has happened. Remembering what they tried to forget. Finding it in people, in love, in music. Remember the Humans is an album I can see staying with me for a long time coming. My understanding and focus of it changing as time goes by, much like most things in life. There’s few bands out there that better capture the randomness of the mundane better then Broken Social Scene.
