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Avg: 4.0 (328 ratings)
- Date Released: September 18, 2007
- Genre: Alternative/Punk
- Style: Alternative, Indie Rock
- Label: Arts & Crafts / IODA
Broken Social Scene co-leader goes it alone. Er, just kidding.
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We Say...
While billed as a solo release, Spirit If nonetheless harbors numerous musical links to Drew's longtime Canadian indie rock ensemble, Broken Social Scene. The true distinction is in Drew’s vocals — which are sharper, fuller and more confident here than with his band — and a lyrical flavor and stylistic versatility that ultimately seem more personal than collective.
Drew’s at home borrowing from folk, country, pop and rock, though the DIY ethic of the indie world seems the most consistent theme. A prime example is “Farewell to the Pressure Kids," all choppy rhythms and barrelling drum licks. By contrast, “TBTF” is both peaceful and sentimental, beautifully sung despite the less-than-subtle titular acronym ("Too Beautiful to Fuck").
Familiar Scene-sters like Justin Peroff, Leslie Feist, Emily Haines and Amy Milan float in and out (and others like J Mascis from Dinosaur Jr. and Tom Cochrane make cameos, but it’s ultimately the personality, songcraft and instrumental muscle of Kevin Drew that makes Spirit If an arresting — and often surprising — solo turn. -
They Say...
Although Spirit If... is officially a Kevin Drew release, based on the number of Broken Social Scene members, associates, and friends who appear on it, the fact that the song "TBTF" appears on BSS's MySpace site, and that the actual album cover itself reads "Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew," it's pretty easy to believe the lead singer and co-founder is just acting as a front for the entire band. Not that anyone in the Toronto-based collective has ever shunned the idea of collaborations: even on more traditional "solo" work, there's always been the idea that guest artists, those who make up the group, can bring immeasurable advantages with their own personal expertise and ideas. So such is the attitude behind Spirit If..., an album that, while it certainly doesn't break from the subtly ornate, orchestral lushness that Broken Social Scene does so well, is able to play a little more with sparseness, with the meaning behind rests and pauses. "Broke Me Up" has a nice indie country feel, complete with slide guitar and a piano that does more than simply add depth and layers to the background, but actually takes something that resembles a solo, as Drew sings in a sad whisper. The vocals, too, are mixed at a level that allows comprehension, even if the words themselves aren't always understood. But Drew is more about overall effect and atmosphere than the significance found in individual songs and phrases -- which excuses the fact that a lot of things he says don't make a lot of sense -- and also means that Spirit If... is the kind of album that takes some time to set in, whose melodies and acoustic guitar backgrounds and occasional burst of anger need the luxury of distance and reflection to truly find their place. This doesn't mean that there aren't some great moments here -- the dark, pulsating Greg Dulli-inspired "Frightening Lives," the wonderful chamber pop of "Bodhi Sappy Weekend," which features the background vocal talents of Feist -- but the record is focused more on the future, on creating an impression, than on immediate satisfaction, giving it an appeal that only strengthens as time goes on, and making Spirit If... another impressive, affective release in the ever-growing Broken Social Scene catalog.
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| 01. |  |
Farewell To the Pressure Kids |
5:49 |
|
| 02. | |
Tbtf |
3:51 |
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| 03. | |
F–ked Up Kid |
5:09 |
|
| 04. | |
Safety Bricks |
4:27 |
|
| 05. | |
Lucky Ones |
6:44 |
|
| 06. | |
Broke Me Up |
4:24 |
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| 07. | |
Gang Bang Suicide |
6:22 |
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| 08. | |
Frightening Lives |
6:12 |
|
| 09. | |
Underneath the Skin |
0:46 |
|
| 10. | |
Big Love |
3:19 |
|
| 11. | |
Back Out On The... |
4:16 |
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| 12. | |
Aging Faces / Losing Places |
4:31 |
|
| 13. | |
Bodhi Sappy Weekend |
4:29 |
|
| 14. | |
When It Begins |
5:01 |
|
14 Total Tracks, 65:20 Total Length
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Credits
- Tom Cochrane - Vocals (Background) // David Mitchell - Drums // Andrew Whiteman - Guitar // Bill Priddle - Vocals (Background) // J. Shaw - Trumpet // J. Shaw - Vocals // Jason Tate - Vibraphone // Brendan Canning - Piano // Brendan Canning - Knee Slaps // Andrew Kenny - Vocals // Andrew Kenny - Vibraphone // Charles Spearin - Bass // Charles Spearin - Producer // Ohad Benchetrit - Bass // Ohad Benchetrit - Clarinet // Ohad Benchetrit - Guitar // Ohad Benchetrit - Producer // Ohad Benchetrit - Engineer // Evan Cranley - Trombone // Kevin Drew - Guitar (Acoustic) // Kevin Drew - Bass // Kevin Drew - Guitar (Electric) // Kevin Drew - Keyboards // Kevin Drew - Vocals // Kevin Drew - Producer // Kevin Drew - Fender Rhodes // Kevin Drew - Artwork // Emily Haines - Vocals // Emily Haines - Vocals // Justin Peroff - Drums // Phil Demetro - Mastering // Amy Millan - Vocals (Background) // Julie Penner - Violin // J. "Big Yog" Tate - Vibraphone // Robyn Kotyk - Design // Robyn Kotyk - Layout Design // Eric Yealland - Spiritual Advisor
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