Stars: The Five Ghosts

Stars
The Five Ghosts
Vagrant Records [2010]









Fire Note Says: Stars return with another winner!

Album Review:
When you examine the past 10 years of work from Canada's Stars, you begin to realize that the group has released some of the most consistent indie pop out there. On the groups fifth full length The Five Ghosts - they release some of there best collection of songs yet. Not only are the songs engaging but you can tell that Stars were completely serious about making a great record. It all starts with the writing process as The Five Ghosts was written by all five members, Amy Millan, Evan Cranley, Torquil Campbell, Patty McGee and Chris Seligman, while it also features returning producer Tom McFall, who recorded their breakthrough, Set Yourself On Fire [2005]. This combination already is a big positive for the record but the sound itself will wake up longtime fans with its heavy synth vibe. This gives The Five Ghosts a beating pulse that mixes perfectly with its tight melodies, the dueling vocals of Campbell and Millan and the extremely memorable choruses. Stars have used The Five Ghosts to flex their indie pop muscle and it is a record that holds up well to anything else in their critically hailed catalog.

Key Tracks: "Fixed", "The Passenger", "Wasted Daylight"

Bands With Similar Fire:
The Rosebuds
Death Cab For Cutie
The New Pornographers

Official Stars Website
Stars MySpace
Stars Facebook
Vagrant Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony