Something for All of Us...

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Album Information

Total Tracks: 11   Total Length: 48:08

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Amelia Raitt

eMusic Contributor

Amelia Raitt is a former writer for the television program Mr. Belvedere and has been writing about pop music of all colors and stripes for eMusic since 2005. S...more »

07.22.08
Broken Social Scene Presents: Brendan Canning, Something for All of Us…
2008 | Label: Arts & Crafts / IODA

The latest of Toronto's bulging Broken Social Scene indie rock collective to release a solo disc (following Jason Collett, Kevin Drew and Leslie Feist — yes, that Feist), Brendan Canning has large (sets) of shoes to fill. Luckily for him (and us, of course), he's got a similar knack for penning effortlessly driving, beautifully gauzy tunes. The scorching opener "Something For All of Us…" is followed up by the disarmingly pretty and woozy "Chameleon," which drifts on billowy synths and muted horns until the whispered vocals appear three minutes in. Canning is the bassist for Broken Social Scene, and a lot of the rockier tunes here feature thick, prominent bottom-ends (see the rollicking "Hit the Wall" for an obvious example). Without radically jettisoning the BSS sometimes-drowsy-sometimes-loud-always-pretty sonic ethos, Canning has managed to make a groove-y and worthy solo debut.

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very enjoyable

Lau4589

real enjoy this one. churches under the stairs is sooo freakin catchy.

user avatar

Great

jdubya

Gotta love it. There is something for all of us here if you just give it a chance. The thing that is great about BSS and related projects is the variety with in the unifying style. You gotta love "love is new", "Churches under the stairs", and "hit the wall".

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like BSS but with more focus

jasthegriffin

after hearing kevin drew's "bss presents...", i was quite excited to hear what the other half of my favorite canadian supergroup would do for his solo effort, and he did not disappoint. whereas drew's album gives the impression of "everywhere everything all the time", canning's is a more focused affair, a solid offering in all respects. it showcases his strengths as a solo artist while offering an interesting look at how different schools of writing can come together to create something greater than the sum of its parts.

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not

jarrodallen

not my favorite break out from BSS but good.

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Brendan Canning keeps it on lock down

skullmountain

You can certainly tell where Canning influence comes into play with BSS, it's very apparent that he's the focus and the voice of reason in the band, while Drew has amazing ideas and charm, Canning has the ability to connect the dots with rich bass lines and fuzzy warm feeling all over. Definitely worth the download for BSS fans.

user avatar

OK.

Queener_UT

Though this is a "Broken Social Scene Presents" album, its still rather Broken Social Scene-ish. The concept is an individual one, but most the band members still back up Brendan Canning on this (he isn't performing this album live solo). Since its using the BSS name, it will undoubtedly be compared to them (and why shouldn't it? Canning is a prominent contributor to that group. In my humble opinion this album is just ok. If you're a BSS fan I can see how you'll really like it. I liked Kevin Drew's effort much better. Again, just my opinion. I listened to this album maybe three times, it just doesn't do it for me. Maybe it will you.

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Good

Badamshockey

I really thought Kevin Drew was the heart of the band until I heard this, and it became very clear that the success of bss was a combined effort. Some of the quiter songs are reminiscent of tracks from 'you forgot it in people' and create a great sonic landscape. I am pleasantly surprized at just how solid a release it is. Don't expect the quality of the 'you forgot it in people' or the self titled LP, but nevertheless its a great listen.

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BSS Lovers be prepared to like but not love...

phillipsmarkmcmp

The "BBS Presents..." output of various BSSers is meant to be different, and there's nothing wrong with that, obviously. I completely agree with aurunner, though- that thread- represented here- isn't as good as main BSS releases. And for anyone reading reviews of the record, BSS remain the key reference point for comparison. Still good by any standards, but not likely to induce the type of ecstasy that BSS do.

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Know your music

Discohacksaw

Come on man. If you're going to be the first person to review something, at least know what you are talking about. This is a "Broken Social Scene Presents" album; remember Kevin Drew? So yes memebers of Broken Social Scene Play on the record, but its not a Broken Social Scene record and should not be compared to them.

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BSS lovers be prepared to like but not love

aurunner218

If you're expecting this album to be anything near the quality of a Broken Social Scene record you may find that there is just something lacking from this collective effort....But having said that I guess it's not a Broken Social Scene record it's Brendan Canning led and if you like BSS you're sure to find something you like aside from a twinge of dissapointment, if I dare call it that, this album still holds many moments that BSS fans are sure to enjoy as stated in the opening title track "Something for all of Us". "Churches Under the Stairs" was also an instant favorite but like it says in the song "still feels like somethings missing". While as a whole it's definitely not my favorite side project from the group thus far, but it still is more than worthy of downloading and multiple listens.

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Brendan Canning, the bearded and bespectacled bassist (hooray for alliteration!) and co-founder of Canadian indie rock superheroes Broken Social Scene tossed his hat into the BSS side project machine with the aptly-titled Something for All of Us…, a loose collection of singalongs, lo- and hi-fi rockers, groove-oriented toe-tappers and fuzzed-out, psych-folk laments that echo the 2007 “Broken Social Scene Presents” offering Spirit If… put forth by bandmate Kevin Drew. Vocally, Canning is the Elliott Smith of the group, but without all of the gut-twisting, black hole despair, and while his compositions may lack Drew’s lyrical, classic-pop conciseness, they revel in the meandering, post-rock inclusiveness that has marked some BSS’ most epic tracks. From the feedback-laden intro of the album’s namesake through the warm and contemplative Dennis Wilson-esque closer “Take Care, Look Up,” Canning positions himself as more of a conductor than a front man, allowing the small army of friends and BSS’ alumni the room to throw around their collective weight. At its best, like on the string-swollen “Chameleon” and the twinkling, dub-lite instrumental “All the Best Wooden Toys Come from Germany,” Something for All of Us… manages to connect without really saying much, which is tough to pull off, even for a veteran of one of the underground rock league’s most beloved teams. And while concern for the fate of the band may increase with each new solo project, fans would be hard to pressed to find a better, more satisfying set of tribute records than those put forth by Drew, Jason Collett, Andrew Whiteman, Leslie Feist, and now, Brendan Canning. – James Christopher Monger

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