5 – Broken Social Scene, Forgiveness Rock Record
The flagship band for the Toronto indie scene slimmed down considerably for the follow-up to its 2005 self-titled record. With only a seven-member recording core, the sound is more straight-forward than its predecessors. Songs that once would have been lost under layers of distortion are “stripped down” to their basic elements. While it may not have any songs that can match the band's more anthemic songs from previous albums (like “Anthems For A Seventeen Year Old Girl” or “Ibi Dreams Of Pavement”), on the whole “Forgiveness Rock Record” might be the band's most cohesive album to date.
Standout Tracks: All To All, Sweetest Kill, Forced To Love
4 – Broken Bells, self-titled
Danger Mouse has proven his collaboration skills time and time again, but in the Shins' James Mercer the DJ seems to have met a perfect match. This record is not for the easily-depressed, but the misery is catchy enough to make you forget to take all the painkillers at once. It might be Mouse's best production work which, considering the justified popularity of Gnarls Barkley, is saying quite a bit.
Standout Tracks: The High Road, October
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