Forgiveness Rock Record, Broken Social Scene’s fourth full-length, is an album without illusions. It’s a rock record, first and foremost: an album that pools its creativity in big guitars instead of ethereal tones and disjointed arrangements.
Broken Social Scene’s latest begins abrasively with the first single, “World Sick,” an epic swell that is instantly gratifying but offers less in lasting impact than one might expect. It continues on this note with the mile-a-minute assault of “Chase Scene” before finally mellowing out a little on “Texico Bitches.” It’s here that FRR starts feeling cohesive, and by the album’s middle, the gigantic moments seamlessly meld into the more restrained ones. The electronic blips of “All in All” beautifully counteract the violins that surface near the song’s end, and the powerful horns of “Art House Director” create a glorious high point that is less indie rock than big band jazz. By “Highway Slipper Jam” and “Ungrateful Little Father,” the band retreats back to the atmospheric mystery of their earlier albums before the pounding rock resurfaces on “Meet Me in the Basement.”
By the album’s close, this balance is treaded nicely, and listeners will certainly feel satisfied. However, the album’s best elements aren’t the epic rock-outs, but the atmosphere and experimentalism that allow the listener a much-needed breather. On Forgiveness Rock Record, Broken Social Scene cements their status as a capable rock band, though they further prove that at their best they are much more.
4 Stars
