Review: Canning has something for most of us
First was Kevin Drew, lead singer and guitarist of Broken Social Scene. His album, "Spirit If…," was met with generally positive acclaim, but viewed as a bit too much like a Broken Social Scene album. His bandmate, co-founder Brendan Canning, has decided to take his turn in the Broken Social Scene presents series with "Something for All of Us…," released July 22 on Arts and Crafts Records. Canning immediately faces a set of expectations with his record, most notably his association with Broken Social Scene.
The opening notes of the first song, which shares its name with the album, instantly evokes memories of the band as a whole. After 50 seconds of nostalgia, it's clear that this is going to be a different type of project. Whereas Broken Social Scene front man Kevin Drew is more focused on expressing his melancholy, Canning is about making hooky numbers.
On "Hit The Wall," the members of Broken Social Scene who came along for the ride with our indie rock Luigi play with a distinct nature. The drums are steady and the guitars of Canning and Drew, accompanied by horns near the end of the song, drown the bass out. The melody is infectious and will get stuck in your head for a lengthy period of time.
With Kevin Drew providing assistance on the record, there has to be the slightest bit of forlorn attitude. Enter "Snowballs and Icicles," a song with a landscape that feels as cold as aToronto winter. This effect is produced by the sparseness of the arrangement, which has Canning singing and playing guitar while the percussion plays a simple, guiding beat in the background.
The middle of "Something for All of Us…" is where you can find the best cuts from the album. It's a set that starts with "Churches Under the Stairs," an upbeat selection that features a taste for pop song structures and a let's-get-the-whole-band-in verse near the end of the song. "Love is New" is the next track, and presents the most radically different change from the Broken Social Scene style.
There's a funk-inspired riff driving the song, making it all the more enjoyable while Canning proclaims, "love is true, love is new." Change, as we've all learned via the political process this year, is in fact a good thing. Perhaps the biggest change in the album is on a track where Canning doesn't sing.
Singing instead is Lisa Lobsinger, who has been a part of the sprawling collective known as Broken Social Scene in the past. "Antique Bull" is a song that forces the mind to materialize synonyms for the word "beautiful," to describe how Lobsinger's voice complements the variety of sound behind her. It segways into "All the Best Wooden Toys in Germany," an instrumental number that is the band in its fullest sense, echoing the wordless ideas of "Feel Good Lost."
"Something for All of Us…" has some flaws. While it does sound more like a solo record than Kevin Drew's release, it still has the Broken Social Scene flavor. There's enough to keep the loyal listener, but not enough to merit as many repeat spins as "You Forgot It in People" or the self-titled record. Another detraction is the last set of songs on the album. While they show promise, they tend to drag on, making the album feel tired.
Brendan Canning may not be as much of a household as the name of his band, but his first solo effort should not be cast aside. Even though he might not truly be offering Something for All of Us…," he is delivering something worth a few listens.
