Their self titled follow-up evoked a similar response: I only realized the strength of the album after listening to it multiple times. It felt like a violent reaction to You Forgot it in People –or perhaps a reaction to the expectations created by YfiiP. The vocals were buried even deeper in the mix. The collective had expanded to a mob intent on deconstructing any song that might be radio friendly. After spending more time with the chaos, new riffs, melodies, and textures rose to the surface. The experience may not have been as satisfying as You Forgot it in People, but this was a great album nonetheless.
Once again I do not know quite what to make of a Broken Social Scene album. If You Forget it in People playfully deconstructed (and reconstructed) pop music, their follow-up angrily tore up the same pop conventions and dared you to enjoy it. On Forgiveness Rock Record Broken Social Scene are more content to embrace pop music on its own terms. Members still bring their unique personalities to the songs; the playfulness of YfiiP returns in part. Yet the overall result seems to lack the rawness and spontaneity listeners have come to expect from the band.

Perhaps I just need to adapt, though. While their last album burst with creative tension, Broken Social Scene seemed to have tightened up. The line-up is smaller –relatively speaking –and Kevin Drew seems to not only embrace his role as band leader, but step up as the principle vocalist. He sounds less self-conscious: confident enough to keep the vocals in the foreground for a change.

This shift does seem more suited to the tone of the album. Forgiveness Rock Record is an apt title. There is a tentative hope, a learned peace, and occasionally a celebratory explosion. On their previous album everything seemed to be falling apart –the tensions within their community seemed to be at a breaking point. Forgiveness Rock Record suggests Broken Social Scene may still be broken, but they are learning to get along.

Key tracks: “World Sick” and “Meet Me in the Basement”