Broken Social Scene

Producer Dave Newfeld nurtures the same meticulously shambolic production style that made YFIIP such a messy joy, encouraging the band to embrace an even more sprawling and inventive aesthetic. Tracks "bleed" into one another like Rothko colours, but the sheer amount of people involved--ten key members plus several guests including Feist and rapper K-Os--lend the project a quite astonishing diversity. Despite a dense squall of sound often obscuring lyrics and sonic detail, the collective's sub-pop chops consistently ring out in a triumphant flurry of catchy hooks, hypnotic riffs and compelling melodies. As big as the sky and as fluid as a dream, Broken Social Scene is that rare thing: an experimental album that actually rocks. --Paul Sullivan