FOREWORD: I interviewed Stars leader, Torquil Campbell, the son of Shakespearean actors, in my wife’s van, following a great Mercury Lounge set. “It’s a happy coincidence how bands like Arcade Fire, the Dears, and Unicorns got their shit together at the same time,” Campbell insists. “Chris and I felt horrible about our lives, being 26 and living in New York City. So we began recording what had become the failures in our lives up to that point. That melancholy will always be there. The first album, Nightsongs, was me and Chris in his bedroom. We had no idea what we were doing, but wanted it to be different than the miserable existence we’d led. We wanted to make a cosmopolitan, glamorous, beautiful icy blue record.”
Adorably amorous ’03 breakthrough, Heart, found these incurable dream weaving romantics hitting majestic stride quilting lighthearted odes such as velvet-y flute-ensconced serenade “The Vanishing.” An entrancing windswept breathlessness and swelteringly restrained emotionality suavely tempered the wispy grandiose subtlety.
“Morrissey wanted to sound like the New York Dolls and Johnny Marr, the Smiths guitarist, wanted to the Ohio Players. The result of it, living in England where I was as a pre-teen, gave them a connection to their elegant, rough, totally unique, energetic fragility. That dynamic of three pot head instrumentalists hooking up with Morrissey – off in a corner writing in his book – captured my imagination. They changed my perception and led to Velvet Underground, the most underrated, important band ever,” Campbell concedes.
Embellished by real brass and strings, ‘05s stunningly seductive Set Yourself On Fire’s richer template allows the Stars admirable melodic illuminations to retain previous endeavors’ radiant warmth while serendipitously coaxing civic pride.
Campbell explains, “Part of what’s gone out of pop music is espousing a cause and showing some belief, even if it’s naïve and simplistic. People who know Chomsky understand it’s supposed to be emotional. Unlike artier experimentalists, Broken Social Scene, we’re tight, unified, very specific, and anal-retentive. There’s an urge to lose that, but it was like a project. We wanted to make an ornamental record put together perfectly. Now we’ll try to take chances doing other music.”
Proud to be part of “The Soft Revolution,” an inconspicuous peaceful uprising supported by fellow anti-war minstrels advocating radical nations to lay down arms for the betterment of society, Campbell and his minions profess merciful resolution. Accordingly, discordant screed “He Lied About Death” directly disses Bush’s “fascist agenda,” as Campbell’s whispered decree ‘bout ‘a devil born in paradise’ turns into a sneering jibe, ‘I hope your drunken daughters are gay!’
“We wanted to express the absolute chaos we felt the world is in, the sinister, devilish energy circulating around the world,” he offers. “The soft people who are losing must start to burn or it’s all over. Set yourself on fire, sacrifice evil and fear, before someone else destroys you. Rebel against the sons of archaic, cursed, soulless oil men doing business making millions killing people. They’re devils so divorced from society. You have to cry, sing, and be beautiful. As Lennon said, ‘A working class hero is something to be.’”
Donning a mix of casual wear and elegant attire, the Stars buoyantly furrow through Set Yourself On Fire’s many highlights with nonchalant assurance at Manhattan hotspot Mercury Lounge. Debonairly dressed Campbell mouths a harmonium or trumpet when not baring his soul. Eye-pleasing singing partner Amy Millan’s suave cat purr and feigned hip-hop maneuvers provide focal point. Friskily charismatic keyboardist Seligman reveals flamboyant flare and leather jacketed new guitarist David Ramsey applies rugged licks as weirdly head-cropped tiger t-shirted drummer Pat Mc Gee and sports-suited businessman-like bassist Evan Cranley furnish sturdy rhythms.
“I’ve known Evan since he was twelve. He was a sweet young boy who played in a Jazz group. He changed everything because he’s an amazing musician and integral part of Broken Social Scene alongside Amy. She came from a bluegrass-Country background. The mythical process of getting thoughts out of my mind, then inventing my whole little world – Heart was close to that mandate.”
Campbell may share a Morrissey fetish with the Dears leader Murray Lightburn, but both admit an affinity for prime Soul. “The Kinks were my first favorite band,” Campbell yields. “Then I felt more connected to Motown artists Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye, Al Green, and black doo wop. They knew the potential and limitations of pop music on every level, played it to the hilt…and it’s sexual.”
-John Fortunato