(In our bedroom) After the War - Stars Album Review

The Beginning..
the night sky stretches high above - reaching out in all directions - just taunting us to stare into it and dig deeper. a slow pounding builds in your head; all the thoughts that are on the brink must be bursting to pass through your brain. then a glow in front of you makes you focus not on the beating anymore, for you realize it's source and stare into it trying to make it out. the light continues to grow in intensity, allowing for you to comprehend the image of a solo drummer but then your attention is diverted as a keyboard twinkles into earshot and another silhouette appears in a warm yellow cloud. things begin to swell as a female on guitar comes to light as well. the Stars have come out on this lovely night and they are ready to change you with their songs.

Amy repeats what we all know as true: The Night Starts Here indeed. Overtop of a background rumble she introduces us to the new album from a band that has made some of the most gorgeous songs to come out of Montreal this decade (and that is saying a lot). Torq finally enters to add his charming vocals to the track, and the interplay that defines many of their greatest songs is heard for the first time on this album. Along with overlap that works really well in this case. Then, like an asteroid it comes to an abrupt stop.

Torq then grabs the reins for a little while as he demands Take Me To The Riot while Amy comes along for the ride.

In an immediate tune, Amy reads from her ..Favourite Book and makes a strikingly adept comparison, in a way it is a reverse personification, about a lover. Slow and straightforward, the song is easy to listen to initially but comes off as not having much overall depth.

The same cannot be said for the Midnight Coward which is dynamic and a standout, even on this gorgeous album. Again the interplay between the two stellar singers achieves a wonderful effect.

The Ghost of Geneva Heights starts out with a beat that could be made by the ghost of the king of pop. Even during the chorus a slightly effeminate sounding Torq comes across with hints of MJ. Despite these peculiarities it is still much more a Stars track than one from Michael Jackson.

Personal gripped me so much that I won't allow myself to make an obvious play on the title for it would lessen the effect. In a recreation of a brief correspondence, a heart-breaking tale is told that slightly shocked as it tore through my chest. As disheartening and difficult as it may be, the talents of Torq as a writer, and both him and Amy as performers must be acknowledged. The song draws you into this story enough to tear at your heart while the bottom falls out. "Sorry to be heavy, but heavy is the cost."

A beautiful piano-ballad; Torq tears down the Barricades and let's his vocals shine through. "How could anyone not love your cold, black heart?"

A few abrupt tempo changes manage to keep the listener intrigued, but like the Window Bird chirping all day outside on the sill, this one sometimes fades into the background. Some guitar work saves it near the end.

Amy resumes lead vocals to sing about the Bitches in Tokyo as the album picks up pace again.

In a reflection on Life (2), Torq - the real-life actor - walks us through the screenplay for a movie. The contemplation of what life is supposed to be is grounding, especially the thesis of The Unhappy Ending.

Trying to lift you out of the rut that the sad story brought on, Amy promises that Today Will Be Better, I Swear! But for some reason it is difficult to believe her, as much as I'd like to.

Sitting In the Bedroom, After the War you grapple with the bittersweet message that forces one to decide which point of view they are going to take, but also questions whether you can just look at one side while ignoring the other. To paraphrase "Yes the war is over, and we think we've won" but is that just our state of mind, or are we lying to ourselves? The culmination into a soaring song almost tears you away from the grim outlook of the future. But must it be so bleak? That is the question being posed after all.
As the album comes to a close, it implores you to return to The Beginning After the End once more - perhaps this time with a new perspective - if Stars have been successful in their bid to effect change in people through their music.