Set Yourself on Fire

Stars - Set Yourself on Fire

Set Yourself on Fire
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Music CD Cover

Artist: Stars
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2005-03-08
Music Label: Arts and Crafts
Soundtracks:
  1. Your Ex-Lover Is Dead
  2. Set Yourself On Fire
  3. Ageless Beauty
  4. Reunion
  5. The Big Fight
  6. What I'm Trying to Say
  7. One More Night
  8. Sleep Tonight
  9. The First Five Times
  10. He Lied About Death
  11. Celebration Guns
  12. Soft Revolution
  13. Calendar Girl

Free Music Notes for Set Yourself on Fire

Free Music Review: One of my favorite albums.
Hit: 5 Stars

Let me start by saying this is one of my favorite albums ever; and that's saying something. Considering how much music I listen to, declaring favorites is no easy task.

I discovered this album like I've discovered many other albums, through my hometown library system. I had vaguely heard that the band Stars was good, and so I requested that my library hold this for me. When I went to pick it up, I saw a friend who casually questioned me as to what CDs I was checking out. When he saw that I was getting Set Yourself on Fire, he said, "oh, that's a good one."

How right he was.

It starts off with a fantastic song, "My Ex-lover Is Dead." Stars likes to incorporate quotes in some of their songs (other albums do this as well), and this album is no exception, starting with a raspy, crackly recording of a man saying, "when there is nothing left to burn you have to set yourself on fire." Then a gorgeous tune ensues, stunningly beautiful, followed by a lovely cello (I think) part that flows into Torquil Campbell's vocals. The song is about seeing a former lover for the first time in years, capturing the sadness and beauty of it.

Much of this album is about lost love, or love in general. The band is quite romantic in its lyrics, and unbashful when dealing with death, love and sex. Stars is at their best here when they simplify things. Two of the best songs on the album ("One More Night (Your Ex-Lover Remains Dead)" and "The Big Fight") are largely bass, drums, and vocals. They gently roll along with a constant dialogue between Torquil and the other singer Amy Millan.

In fact, one of my favorite aspects of Stars is the interplay between the male vocalist (Torquil) and the female vocalist (Amy). Unlike most modern music, which seems like a one-sided view of things, this feels more like a story that is unfolding while the music is playing. It helps that I adore both of their voices; they are so sincere.

Another strength of this album is the production. It feels fantastically intimate (especially on nice headphones). The vocals are rich and forward sounding, and the drums, piano, cello, guitar, are all clear and present as well.

Other highlights of the album are "Calendar Girl", the introspective closer about death and the beauty of life, "Ageless Beauty", which almost seems out of place with its busy guitars, but is gorgeous nonetheless, and "What I'm Trying To Say", presenting the anxiousness and excitement of declaring love.

But really, the entire album is just fantastic. Highly, highly recommended.

Set Yourself on Fire Poster

The third LP for this Canadian band, following their amazing sophomore set, "Heart;" a critical smash. "Set Yourself on Fire" is a self-proclaimed Sex, Death, & Robots record, with rich and ornate depths. Produced by TONY HOFFER (Beck, Air, Grandaddy, Phoenix).
Sure they look pretty and sound pretty and all, but is this Montreal-based quartet ever going to amount to much, you know in the course of "rock history"? Very likely, if their captivating third album, Set Yourself on Fire, is any indication. Vocalists Amy Millan and Torquil Campbell have never harmonized better together, and the whole keyboard-heavy band is at that delectable place where they transcend their influences. Great pop music is not about "originality" (nor has it ever much been); it?s a passionate marriage of idea and conviction. Sure, you can still hear the mark of Beulah, the Smiths, New Order, Broken Social Scene and Super Furry Animals in their songs. But the group has never been as confident with their marriage of lush, exuberant dreampop and dark, clever lyrics as they are here. --Mike McGonigal

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