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10.0
11635
10.0 |
The Skinny
Fourteen beautiful, joyous songs rendered in phosphene-inducing technicolour
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9.0
11873
9.0 |
PopMatters
What ultimately makes Forgiveness Rock Record work as well as it does is the sheer diversity of the songs at play
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8.5
12417
8.5 |
Bowlegs
Collectively, like Broken Social Scene themselves, it works, and works well. This is a band that has nothing to apologise for
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8.4
11883
8.4 |
Beats Per Minute
What Forgiveness Rock Record does best is sound exactly like a Broken Social Scene record, and does such without being predictable or a retread of past glories
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8.3
11867
8.3 |
Pitchfork
The band's newfound tightness results in a few of the most chart-friendly songs in BSS history, although as usual, each seems to come with a built-in caveat to prevent the potential of radio play
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8.0
11722
8.0 |
Eye Weekly
Just the sort of expect-the-unexpected collaborative sprawl that made BSS so intriguing to begin with
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8.0
11893
8.0 |
musicOMH
This is a very impressive album which deserves a lot more attention than it will probably receive
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8.0
11933
8.0 |
Under The Radar
This is a Broken Social Scene more ready for mass consumption. And, for once, that is not a bad thing
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8.0
11643
8.0 |
Mojo
A sprawling and lengthy affair, it rarely falters. Print edition only
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8.0
11648
8.0 |
Q
They pare their sound back to delicate guitar work, shimmering ambience and heart-tugging harmonies, making them now as easy to love as admire. Print edition only
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8.0
11786
8.0 |
The Guardian
A collation of so many talents that it's practically bursting at the seams
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8.0
11818
8.0 |
Evening Standard
When the band are on form, as on the riotous Water In Hell, rackets are rarely better
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8.0
11834
8.0 |
State
While it may take a couple more listens than usual to get into the swing of, the reward is all the richer for the extra effort
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8.0
13750
8.0 |
Prefix
Essentially, Forgiveness Rock Record finds Broken Social Scene trading "big and loud" for "wide and warm" and as a result sounding like they've really just settled further into their identity as a band
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8.0
11943
8.0 |
Drowned In Sound
There are enough moments of standout glory in the first half to sate any fan of this band, whatever part of their work they admire. There is also evidence in the newly demure production and triumph of ‘All To All’ that BSS will continue to evolve wonderfully
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8.0
12025
8.0 |
NME
The rising babble of ‘Forgiveness Rock Record’’s first track is like that initial moment when reunited school buddies get together in the pub
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8.0
12063
8.0 |
The Observer
Its sprawling rovings reward serious time spent listening but there are plenty of immediate pleasures along the way
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8.0
12119
8.0 |
Rave Magazine
The rambling, self-indulgent (but fun!) jams are largely absent, even instrumental tracks like the swishy Meet Me In The Basement grounded by a melodic core
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7.0
12165
7.0 |
Rolling Stone
A vocal turn by guest Spiral Stairs (“Texico Bitches”) consummates the group’s long-running obsession with Pavement
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7.0
12240
7.0 |
No Ripcord
They’ve never let us down before, and they don’t here, as frustrating as it is to hear the band fall just short of crafting something incredible. All the songs stand up
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7.0
12520
7.0 |
FasterLouder
Has enough variation between immediate pop hooks and slow-growers that there’s months of listening life in its 60 minutes
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7.0
11937
7.0 |
Tiny Mix Tapes
I’m sure this album will have detractors who might claim the Broken Social Scene gang may have lost a few marbles. But it’s hard to stay cynical in the face of so much good will and in the face of pretty darn good tunes
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7.0
11726
7.0 |
Spin
Standouts like tribal thumper "World Sick" and the Skynyrd-via-Dinosaur Jr. jam "Art House Director" brim with energy, but other tracks lack their trademark spontaneity
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7.0
11859
7.0 |
The Fly
They swoon on the gorgeous ‘Ungrateful Little Father’, but it’s not long before they pull out their megaphones again and carry on preaching to the converted
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6.0
12047
6.0 |
Daily Telegraph
It’ll be too erratic for many tastes, but it’s certainly never dull
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6.0
12013
6.0 |
The Line Of Best Fit
Actually something of a disappointment, and another triumphant Broken Social Scene mess
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4.0
11852
4.0 |
The Sunday Times
An album for fanatics only; those who merely like the band will be sorely disappointed
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4.0
11680
4.0 |
Uncut
As so often the album is reliant on the Scene's female associates to bring character to what remain some pretty hazy jams. Print edition only
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