Set Yourself On Fire

The latest Stars album is marvellous — what the press, in other circumstances, would call “a sparkling debut” or “a stunning return to form” (I say “in other circumstances”, of course, because it is neither the followup to a lacklustre album nor a debut!). I have no hesitation in according such praise, and I haven't even listened to the whole thing yet (it's on the CD player as I write this part of a rather temporally-extended entry).

There are some absolutely beautiful lyrics in some of their songs (considering their whole back catalogue). They also don't abstain from humour:

First time in the backyard, underneath the plastic sheeting / Outside it was pouring, and we were drunk as shit.

The very same song has some deep lyrics about change and relationships. I look forward to letting this one into my heart, as I have done with Heart, Nightsongs, and The Comeback EP.

Calendar Girl, the last track on the album, is one of those tracks to which I would give 6 stars, despite the slightly incongruous chorus. It's probably the only track in the world right now that actually makes my heart hurt — that's just from the piano and bassline, let alone the very meaningful lyrics. I suppose that if you understood how that works, you'd understand me quite well.

My favourite band? Probably. Here's my previous entry, including where you can get it for under £8 shipped.

Posted at 2005-01-24 15:51:51 by Richard • Link to Set Yourself On Fi…
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