why? you can't remember why.

I spent some time trying to compile a Tuesday Spotlight on Ida, but there's more discography I don't have than that which I do. I'll try to solve that in short order. But then it hit me.
I wake up to Nightsongs every single day, and have for around two months. It has yet to get stale. Stars is a band from Montreal that started out as just two overwhelmed boys whispering songs of hope with the help of several non-constant friends. Since then Stars has become both those two boys, Torquil Campbell and Chris Seligman, with multi-instrumentalist Evan Cranley and sweetheart Amy Millan (who has a solo CD on its way), with the help of Pat McGee.
Over the last six years Stars have released two EPs and their debut LP on Le Grand Magistery, home of your new favorite Detroit heartwarmers Pas/Cal, and two full-length releases for Broken Social Scene surrounded Arts & Crafts. If you haven't experienced their most recent effort, Set Yourself on Fire, you've been doing something wrong and may die of malnourishment.
Stars craft a respectable earnestness and astounding warmth and beauty with their songs. These songs have been crafted with equal amounts skill and grace. Boy-girl lyrics can often be blundered. When they're not the vocals themselves are a very fragile mix. Even with words and tune in order, there is a third indescribable presence that most co-ed duos lack. Amy and Torquil continuously race laps around that track that most can't even strive for. Stars' delicate yet structured fit of strings, horns, guitars and keys is no less than breathtaking from start to finish of every one of their releases. The band's sophisticated pop has been shaped by a fondness for New Order, Marvin Gaye, and The Smiths. I've already shared with you their cover of The Smiths' "This Charming Man" from both their debut EP and LP.

Below are a combination of first songs, title tracks and personal favorites from each of Stars' five proper releases. Below that are the selections from writer/journalist/teacher Ibi Kaslik that appear in the front cover of Stars' Set Yourself on Fire.
Start letting Stars make your life fuller, richer and happier.



Stars' "My Radio (AM Mix)"
from A Lot of Little Lies for the Sake of One Big Truth EP

Stars' "On Peak Hill"
from Nightsongs LP

Stars' "Krush"
from The Comeback EP

Stars' "Heart"
from Heart

Stars' "Your Ex-Lover is Dead"
from Set Yourself on Fire

Ladies and gentlemen, set yourself on fire!
Why? You can't remember why.
Because my mother is gone and your father is dead, and all the bad guys can't wait to chop us into pieces and turn us into oil.
You may have heard the rumours that we were dead, that they'd captured us and were prepared to throw away the key but it was all lies. We come to you tonight from a jail cell in Jersey, which we shared with Bruce Springsteen's deaf half-brother and a sycophantic whore.
You guessing, your world all sweaty ties and no more autographs please...keeping your manners together.
The golden piece waiting. Inside, the tide keeps rising, rolling out a hundred or so horse corpses; the sad, curious lament of the French horn moving in your organs like some lingering opium promise.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we know what it means to have your gods already dead in the wet mouths of republican swine.
Because you held me with those famous tangerine hands. Because everyone I love is a thief. Because we were born in unbelieving, both you & I.
We'll not live like this. They will try to bury us with false manifestoes, inscribe us in wars against false enemies but we'll sing songs about dying from loving the wrong cowboy and gospel; our bodies will burn in effigies of promise. I swear.
Ibi Kaslik, August 2004.