Stars - The North

Ähnlich blass wie das Plattencover ist leider auch die Musik des sechsten Albums von Stars geworden. Das kanadische Quintett spielt zwar noch häufig seine Trumpfkarte - nämlich den Girl/Boy-Gesang von Amy Millan und Torquil Campbell - aus, doch leider plätschern die meisten Songs zu betulich und verträumt zwischen Synthie-Pop und 80er Retro-Chic.  

Da fallen "Hold On When You Get Love And Let Go When You Give It" mit seinen Dance-Beats und "Through The Minus" mit seinen klaren Gitarren-Riffs deutlich auf und stechen aus den 12 Songs deutlich hervor. Zu viel des Guten bietet "Do You Want To Die Together?" in seiner Queen-haften Opulenz. 

Doch in Anlehnung an Einstein und die erste Single-Auskopplung der Stars ("The Theory Of Relativity") ist diese Sichtweise natürlich relativ und die meisten Kritiken sehen "The North" deutlich positiver.   

Das Album kommt in blauem Vinyl und dürfte mehr Punkte sammeln als der Vorgänger "The Five Ghosts".

Any given Stars fan ought to find something to like on The North, whether it's the springy pop-rock song "Backlines," the gorgeous balladry of "The 400," the over-the-top dramatics of "Do You Want to Die Together?" or the grandiose mission statement of "Hold On When You Get Love and Let Go When You Give It." As always, singers Amy Millan and Torquil Campbell bring distinct personas to the equation: He's the sort of self-styled truth-teller who can be achingly open-hearted or a bit of a cad (or both), while she's winsome but practical, conveying wounded nobility without fully disguising a distinct edge. Throughout The North, Millan and Campbell sing together often, most effectively blending their voices in the lovely album-closer "Walls," in which she answers his "Do you love me?" with a heartbreaking "What am I supposed to say?"

With so many sounds and styles to run through, The North takes a little while to unpack, and its thematic intentions are generally a little cloudier than on its greatest albums, 2005's Set Yourself on Fire and 2007's In Our Bedroom After the War. But, like all the band's work to date, it rewards exploration with moments that alternately swoon, seethe, swing and paralyze.

(NPR)

Over the course of twelve songs and a fully rewarding 44-minute running time, Stars sound fresher and more vital than they have in years. Stars’ compositions have always aspired to be equal parts enjoyment, enrichment, and drama.  On The North, the delicious, stirring cocktails are the richest, most satisfying concoctions the north-of-the-border bartenders have served up since Set Yourself on Fire.  Only time will tell if The North legitimately stands as Stars’ finest hour, but it’s evident right off the bat that this collection will forever hang around the top shelf.

(The Silver Tongue)

 Stars - The North by Stars 

Stars auf Tour:

09.12.12 Hamburg, Übel & Gefährlich
11.12.12 Berlin, Heimathafen
12.12.12 Frankfurt, Batschkapp