BSS Presents Another One For All Of Us
Brendan Canning's solo effort
Broken Social Scene Presents: Brendan Canning
Something For All of Us
Released on Jul 22, 2008
Why must Canadians always one-up Americans? If it’s not their maple syrup, it’s something else. In the indie rock world, Canadian veterans Broken Social Scene have dominated twenty-somethings and their headphone for almost ten years, whether it be through their main band or one of the many side projects the members partake in. The band’s core members, Brendan Canning and Kevin Drew, have always been the rock within the group - keeping it’s sound consistent through constant line-up changes. However, both Canning and Drew cannot be expected to put all of themselves into Broken Social Scene. A creative break is expected. Something For All of Us is Canning’s shot as a solo artist. The album is a continuation in the Broken Social Scene Presents series, previously highlighting Drew in 2007.
Just as Drew’s album Spirit If… was different than his work in Broken Social Scene, Something For All of Us is not like Canning’s work within the band. The album opener “Something For All of Us” has a certain resemblance to some Broken Social Scene tracks, but Canning adds something else to make it stand out from his collaborations with his main band. “Something For All of Us” has this great driving force behind it that really gets the album off to a strong start. His voice has this certain drawing quality to it, and although it doesn’t go at the same tempo as the beat of the song it fits in nicely with his feisty guitar work. Many tracks have this same force, and it’s easy to tell that Canning had been planning out this album for a while before he actually started recording it. The organization and craft of Something For All of Us is evident in tracks like “Churches Under the Stars” and the album’s single “Hit the Wall”.
Canning shows how far his musicianship goes on Something For All of Us, playing everything from more rock tracks to softer ballads. “Snowballs & Icicles” is one of his softer tracks on the album, with Canning’s guitar picking ability shining through with a tactful melody. It mixes well with the other tracks within Something For All of Us but its tone isn’t repeated within the album, which is a nice thing. “Love is New” has a funkier edge than we’re use to from Canning, but he totally pulls it off. The bass line has a classic funk groove and Canning’s distorted vocal track and back-up singers create a dance party-worthy track. It seems like Canning and Drew can’t be stopped in anything that they do, including their solo endeavors. Watch out America, Canada’s taking over.
High Point
The single “Hit the Wall” should be blaring through every kid at Reckless Records headphones, with its catchy beat and excellent lyrics.
Low Point
The second half of the album wanes in energy after “Churches Under the Stars”, though the songs are still just as good in quality as the ones previous to it.
Posted by Amy Dittmeier on Jul 28, 2008 @ 7:15 am
