Broken Social Scene Week Part 2 = You Forgot It In People

Following a brief hiatus in the first half of the decade, the Canadian musician ensemble, Broken Social Scene released their second album, 'You Forgot It In People'; a collection that was sure to carry more weight to it, due to the further addition of artist's to the already heavily populated group.
With the surplus members and ideas, the band, namely core founders Brendan Canning and Kevin Drew, expanded their sound and embraced new moods still allowing the listener to escape real life, but this time without the dreaming.
'You Forgot It In People' offers a more accessible selection of 'indie-rock' gems then previous album 'Feel Good Lost', in the sense that the intimate ambiance has been replaced with vocals and stronger melodic hooks. The band has not however abandoned their initial dream state sound completely. Essences of ethereal lifts and heavy orchestral tones are still present throughout, but are now supported by poetic lyrics, attempting to make sense of the real life one had left behind.
A track that perhaps breaks this rule, 'Cause = Time', strikes hard at the album's heart and tells of the how society resorts to sex and selling its body, in an attempt to find meaning in life. "And they all want to love the cause, 'cause they all need to be the cause, they all want to fuck the cause". Yet, such a dark message is still accompanied by melodic guitars and a pulsing tempo, making it almost anthemic and full of emotion. Another significant track here is 'Looks Just Like The Sun'; a chilled and relaxed refrain that doesn't just look, but also feels like the sun, as the lyrics describe someone whose presence radiates on the listener. Both tracks giving justified backing to the album's title, suggesting that such individual flourishes, and human error, has been taken for granted in society as a whole.
As with their debut, the band take the listener on an exploration through a series of ideas and visions, and peaks and troughs, but overall have managed to create a fine fusion of dark imagery with their trademark escapist tone, culminating in a very strong follow up album. At the time, this quality was recognized as the band received awards and accolades from right across the board; a just victory deserved for a group with such a unique vision and sound. From here, it is possible for Broken Social Scene to go anywhere, having both existed in beautiful dreams, and now harsh, yet lucid realities.
Ben Hawling