2012.09.01 Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record

Color: Black

Released: 2010, May 4

Label: Arts & Crafts

Aside from the fact that this was recorded in Chicago with engineer/producer John McEntire from Chicago band Tortoise, BSS (at least in their early days) always owed a small debt musically to the Chicago music scene. Their choice of locale and recording personel on this album seems to be a declaration of this debt. Most of the music on the album proper remains firmly rooted in their latter more “pop” sound but then the record’s companion piece nods in the direction of the band’s more experimental beginnings. Forgiveness Rock Record is the album that got me to pay attention the band again and honestly gain a deeper appreciation of them overall. I never really got into the self titled release that came before this record but I can say now it’s because I never gave it a proper listen. The leadoff track from this record, “World Sick” hooked me enough to where I became heavily interested in this band again. Consequently, I took a deeper look into this band than ever before. I suppose the front cover and its massively collaged whole is the most impressive aspect of the design, but what’s really interesting to me are all the different sketches of the band member that appear throughout the packaging. It remains to be seen whether the band’s current hiatus makes this the last BSS full length by default.