Dartmouth Soundoff: Stars releases free EP
I would bet that the two biggest music-related news events that campus cares about right now are this past Sunday’s Grammy Award performances (for everyone), and Azealia Banks’ new album (for the cooler half of everyone). So naturally, I’ll talk about something that has nothing to do with either. Azealia’s a little too high energy for me during post-Carnival week anyway — not that I won’t be downloading her album.
This past week Canadian alt-rock band Stars’ released a free EP titled “You Guys Are Awesome” on Noisetradein anticipation of their North American tour kicking off on March 5— in Burlington, nonetheless!
Note: I’d never used Noisetrade before this, but they have a bunch of free stuff on there. I also downloaded an acoustic sampler from Guster. Angsty (or nostalgic, depending on how you look at it).
“You Guys Are Awesome” has two tracks by Stars: “Hold on When You Get Love and Let Go When You Give It,” their single from their most recent September 2012 release, The North http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_North_(Stars_album), and what sounds like a remix or demo version of “Lights Changing Color,” which also appears on The North. The EP also contains a track from each of the three artists — Milo Greene, Yukon Blonde and Said the Whale — who will be opening for Stars over the course of their tour and are definitely worth a listen.
“Hold on When You Get Love and Let Go When You Give It” – just because I’ve posted it here doesn’t mean you shouldn’t all go download the EP.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9PYiIGAsM8
The North, Stars’ sixth full-length album, is their best Billboard chart debut yet. While staying pretty true to their sound throughout the past decade, Stars had a noticeable upgrade in the sophistication of their production. Their new melodies are cleaner, and their sound fills more space. (Compare their new album to tracks like “Toxic Holiday”or the pseudo-jazzy “Liar”from their first album Nightsongs (2001), and you’ll hear their growth.)
So why am I talking about Stars?
Well first of all, they haven’t given up their physical instruments in favor of the oversynthed-out sound that is overtaking today’s music. In “Hold On When You Get Love and Let Go When You Give It” the drums, guitar and bass are still very much intact.
Second, they’re an old favorite. I’ll admit I was watching “Degrassi” the first time I heard Stars. A clip of “Your Ex-Lover Is Dead” played. After looking up the song from the credits, I downloaded all of Set Yourself on Fire (2004). I had never heard of them, nor knew anyone that had heard of them (even the most pop-culturally aware high-schoolers in Georgia had their limitations, imagine that). To this day, I still have little concept of just how popular they are — or aren’t — in the US, but I know they’re definitely getting there.
I’ve posted “Your Ex-Lover Is Dead” here because it’s one that every Stars fan should know, and if you’re still reading you’re on your way to becoming a fan, even if you hadn’t heard of them. And because it appeared on a mix for “The O.C.,” way back when the show was still running (so don’t get too carried away if you were about to give yourself mad obscurity points on being familiar with the group).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5Or6-HOveg
Lastly, as I was moving into my room freshman year, I was playing some Stars, with the door invitingly propped open. The guy, who I very quickly learned was Canadian, living across from me poked his head in with an excited look. “You listen to Stars?” he said. “Nice.” An entire friendship formed over the course of the year that revolved around our music interests, with Stars at the foundation. My sophomore roommate and I had a similar moment as well.
Moral of the story, listen to Stars — validate any Degrassi you’ve ever watched, be as least as up to date as the OC and let friendships form.