Stars to shine on Turner Hall

Canadian Indie Rock quintet Stars came to prominence nearly ten years ago with the release of their third album, the fantastic Set Yourself on Fire. The band’s lush instrumentation and delightfully dramatic lyrics and arrangements won the album overwhelmingly positive press and, along with acts like Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene, exposed the thriving Toronto indie rock scene to an international audience. In Our Bedroom After the War followed in 2007, with the band finding their music featured on television shows such as The OC, Degrassi and Queer as Folk. After the lukewarm reception of 2010’s underdeveloped The Five Ghosts, Stars returned last year with The North, their latest full length, and will be appearing at Turner Hall Ballroom Monday March 25 in support of it.

The North plays to Stars’ strengths while also managing to be a bit creative and experimental as well. Lead single and album opener “The Theory of Relativity” kicks the album off with a jolt of energy, featuring a groove-heavy drum track, complete with handclaps, while sparkling arpeggios flutter about amongst waves of bassy synths. “The 400” is intimate and textural, its vocals accompanied by minimal piano and atmospherics, giving the song a spacious sonic quality. “Backlines” features an incredibly catchy chorus that’s topped off with an ultra-sweet two part harmony. Aside from having the longest title on the album, “Hold On When You Get Love and Let Go When You Give It” is one of The North‘s most dancy moments, recalling classic 80s synth pop acts New Order and The Pet Shop Boys.

Stars will be appearing at Turner Hall Ballroom on Monday evening, with Milo Greene and Said the Whale opening. Tickets are still available and can be purchased here. Follow Sahan Jayasuriya on Twitter and Instagram @sahanicyouth.