stars "set yourself on fire"

Although "Tokyo Bitches" sounds nice.

"Elevator Love Letter" is all about people who work too hard. In general, I think their lyrics are about urban professionals who find it hard to make real connections.

I think that the emphasis on the work routine in that song is the key to its emotional payoff, and it's still their best song - the rest of their ouevre lacks drive by comparison.

might still be their best song but your second statement is untrueth

I mean I get the rabid fandom, I used to be there myself (look upthread!), it's just that a switch got flipped and now I can't take their music to heart like I used to.

track 2 is too dirgey for an opener. 3 is decent. 4 just melted me when amy came on :)

midnight coward is everything great about this band rolled into one. genova heights - decent, there's a little r&b in this album. personal is like old school stars, soft and dramatic, still effective. barricade is a torch song, I like torq's voice but this will get the skip button most likely :/

i'm happy to have more stars but this album could use more hooks. Maybe it'll grow on me. The ending is v. nice.

amy millan is the shit...i saw her with BSS awhile ago and she was amazing

Have never been able to get into Millan's solo stuff even though I love her voice. Maybe it's cos it seems to lack the layers that I'm so fond of on Stars' stuff, like Emily Haines' + Soft Skeleton work compared to her Metric material.

Always loved "Set Yourself on Fire", still do, and then I heard "Heart" which, if possible, I'm even more fond of. Even though it's a bit soppier.

And naturally very excited aboot the new one. I will pay real cash-monay for it.

This album is melting me into a puddle of goo. Rocketing up the 2007 list.

...although "Barricade" is, um... maybe a little embarrassing.

I wish I had better headphones and my iPod cable so I could curl up with this.

A double-dip for Stars with this idea I reckon; have just paid for the download and will definitely buy the album come September. That said, the download is only 192kbps, so not *ideal* quality (A&C should do a Warp style 320kbps or lossless option).

Have only had a chance to listen a couple of times, but am already feeling the Stars magic working - repeat play on Genova Heights this morning, the chorus is purest Scritti Politti loveliness. As a whole it doesn't seem to be AS good as Set Yourself On Fire, but that was a slow-burner for me too and ended up my favourite record of the year. Am also not 100% on the production this time round, seems a bit muddy compared to the fantastic sound of SYOF - might just be the less than perfect mp3s though.

oh, what the hell. i'll buy this. i still think for me there's "ageless beauty" and, er, everything else i've heard by them, but hey. i'll take the risk.

... heheheh, i've just remembered the PAIN AND MISERY i put myself through d/l-ing SYOF in dribs and drabs (right after a glasgow FAP, oddly ... "ageless beauty" will forever be linked inextricably with ally c). the least i can do is buy this. for them and for me.

I love this thread. Even though I wrote something embarrassing waaaayyy back. Please keep the impressions of In Our Bedroom... coming. I should probably rephrase that, but...

I hate to come across as some SQ obsessed chump, but there's definitely something peculiar about either the production or the mp3 encoding on the downloadable version of this - on lots of tracks there's a kind of fluttery distortion in the background on vocals, and also during quiet moments; a good example is in the last couple of seconds of Genova Heights.

Has anyone else noticed this or heard it in their copies? Or is my tired old brane playing tricks again...?

Just wanted to say that I haven't heard the new record yet, but "Reunion" still fills me with unspeakable glee.

Just dl'ed this off emusic...On Midnight Coward, Amy Millan starts the song off with "Sweetness, sweetness..." and I almost started singing "...I was only joking..." Unfortunately, she sang something else. But if she had sung that line, well, that would have been awesome.

Halfway through nothing's immediately grabbing me, but I can tell that with a couple more listens, this should be great. A fabulous grower. Oh, wow: the Ghost of Genova Heights!

Have just got a copy of 'Heart', having never paid any attention to this band before July. Am slowly becoming obsessed with them to the point of purchasing the entire back catalogue.

Apparently 'In Our Bedroom After War' gets a release in the UK on October 1st. I'm seeing them at the Scala on October 8th - can't wait.

http://cdn.stereogum.com/files/2010/04/Stars-The-Five-Ghosts.jpg

Loved Set Yourself on Fire and In Our Bedroom After the War. Sad Robots, uh not so much. Still, psyched!

kinda liking this but it def. feels like a guilty pleasure.

set yourself on fire is 1 of my fav records of the decade

Yeah, it's an amazing record and I *still* listen to it pretty regularly. I liked the Sad Robots ep ok, esp. "15 Forever" and the version of "Going, Going, Gone". There's a free download of "Fixed" from the new one:here.

Pretty good to these ears, although a little insubstantial maybe. Not had a chance to really blast it on the hi-fi yet, which might be the tipping point. Hopefully they'll bring a tour for The Five Ghosts to Europe, I find that seeing them live always bolsters my love for Stars all over again.

I really loved that "Going, Going, Gone" version on the ep

"Fixed" is great, get chills from the chorus.

they turned down Owl City!

If only more people would do the same!

uh... what?

would I like this?

"Elevator Love Letter" is all about people who work too hard. In general, I think their lyrics are about urban professionals who find it hard to make real connections.

haha, I love this! Oh spencer

Can't believe there's not more buzz about this new album.

You mean the album thats not out for two more months? Shocking.

Going to be a long two months. Can't wait for this.

Pitchfork has a stream of the new single.

In traditional fashion my lukewarm initial response to "Fixed" has turned into pure love. That new single is terrific too, thanks for linking.

Oh yes...

Fantastic performance of "Fixed" on Jimmy Fallon a couple of nights ago. The bit towards the end where Torq joins in on "it's not your fault" is *so* great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHR8EdOpK1w

they are on vagrant now in the US. can't wait.

whoa, we don't want your body!

Oh, that is fucking aces - I've been all over that p'fork stream like a tramp on a kipper since James posted it.

Pre-ordered the regular CD & digital download of The Five Ghosts from their website yesterday as well, I figure I'd rather give them the cash direct.

"Fixed" is OK, but "We Don't Want Your Body" is one of the worst songs I've heard in a long time.

ha, yr a dick!

i'm just now listening to set yourself on fire -- i really like it!!

i know, behind the times LOL

never too late for a classic

Eisbaer, you'll probably like Heart too. "Elevator Love Letter" and "Look Up" are two of the best songs of the last decade.

Was in the Apple Store here in MTL today and noticed that Stars are playing an instore gig there tonight.