Broken Social Scene
by Broken Social Scene
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 133 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 114 out of 133
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 133
  3. Negative: 7 out of 133

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  1. danieljo
    Oct 12, 2005
    10
    Better than You Forgot It In People. All the negative reviews come down to lazy listeners, and the fact that these listeners/reviewers diidn't give the album enough time to grow on them.
  2. DrewK
    Oct 8, 2005
    4
    Challenging and unsatisfying. Not a good combo. I'm tremendously disappointed in this album.
  3. ChrisC
    Oct 15, 2005
    8
    I was a bit disapointed by all the distortion, but I really can't stop listening to this album. While it's not as accessable as YFIIP, it's quite an addicting and emotional album. The songs can't be taken out of context, but as a whole, a great listen.
  4. CraigJ
    Oct 5, 2005
    9
    This is a great follow up to one of the best albums of the decade. But this album just seems to fall short to one of the best albums I believe will ever be released in Illinoise. Everytime I hear these hyped albums like wolf parade, kanye and bss, they all fall short compared to illinoise.
  5. Dogpill
    Oct 6, 2005
    10
    an awsome masterpiece
  6. JasonS
    Oct 7, 2005
    8
    I've been waiting for this album for too long. I heard "7/4 (shoreline)" a month or two ago, and it blew my mind. Feist's vocal addition makes this track one of the strongest and most energetically driven songs in the bands entire catalog. 7/4 is cohesive powerful pop. So then, what about the rest of the album? I can't say that it has disappointed me, as each subsequent I've been waiting for this album for too long. I heard "7/4 (shoreline)" a month or two ago, and it blew my mind. Feist's vocal addition makes this track one of the strongest and most energetically driven songs in the bands entire catalog. 7/4 is cohesive powerful pop. So then, what about the rest of the album? I can't say that it has disappointed me, as each subsequent listen exposes more to enjoy. There's just so much sound being washed around it's hard to pay attention to it all. I find myself enthralled one minute, and all of a sudden, 3 tracks have slipped past my awareness. So good I get lost in it? Or is just not engaging me? The verdict is still out. I will enjoy getting to the bottom of it.… Expand
  7. Jared
    Oct 20, 2005
    9
    Self-indulgence has never sounded this good.
  8. KrisB
    Oct 20, 2005
    9
    It's so hard, with Broken Social Scene to decipher a scrambled mess from brilliance. You pretty much have to trust your gut. My gut told me that this album was brilliant. It lost a little gusto towards the middle-end but more than made up for it with track 14, probably the best song on either album.
  9. DecepticonPom
    Oct 31, 2005
    6
    Sometimes too much going on, often in danger of being incoherant yet occasional flashes of astonishing genius echoing YFIP still remain.
  10. ThesingerfromStars
    Oct 4, 2005
    7
    These guys are more than capable of composing a killer track, but they're still unbelieveably pretentious. Any group with song names like 'Our Faces Split the Coast in Half' needs to immediately re-evaluate their position in society and throw away all the berets they own.
  11. Stoo
    Oct 5, 2005
    3
    What??? Why?? why did they do this? The first album was one of my favorites of all time. Listening to this 39 times I can't make myself like it. Why didn't they make a diversely interesting album like the first? Why did they make every song the same pile of mush? Biggest dissapointment of the year. Two or three songs are somewhat catchy / interesting.
  12. LeightonP
    Oct 5, 2005
    9
    An excellent album that is even more experimental than You Forgot It In People. Where this differs is in the raw production and even more fusions of genres.
  13. KyleP
    Oct 5, 2005
    4
    A shambling, over-rated mess. I really tried hard to like this, but after repeated listens, it will go into the dusty never-played section of my cd collection. A huge disappointment!
  14. bss
    Oct 6, 2005
    10
    One of the best records of 2005. Actually, one of the best in the last 5 years. This record will change your life. Just buy it.
  15. Brendan"EagleEye"W
    Oct 8, 2005
    9
    Ok, so I first listened to a bootleg copy of this cd and was rather upset because of the lack of definitive singing and standout vocals. But over time I began to find the cd truely amazing and especially when I play it loud or in headphones, I love it. Another thing I have found is that the lyrics, which blend with music beautifully, don't so much evoke words specific thoughts but Ok, so I first listened to a bootleg copy of this cd and was rather upset because of the lack of definitive singing and standout vocals. But over time I began to find the cd truely amazing and especially when I play it loud or in headphones, I love it. Another thing I have found is that the lyrics, which blend with music beautifully, don't so much evoke words specific thoughts but feelings, which to me is well, Wicked.… Expand
  16. jrj
    Oct 9, 2005
    10
    I really feel sorry for anyone who dismisses BSS as "pretentious" because of their name or the names of their songs. And I feel bad for anyone who dismisses this album after a listen. This is really, really good stuff. Does it reach the heights of You Forgot It in People? At times, like "Major Label Debut", "Swimmers", and "It's All Gonna Break," yes it does. BSS also incorporate a I really feel sorry for anyone who dismisses BSS as "pretentious" because of their name or the names of their songs. And I feel bad for anyone who dismisses this album after a listen. This is really, really good stuff. Does it reach the heights of You Forgot It in People? At times, like "Major Label Debut", "Swimmers", and "It's All Gonna Break," yes it does. BSS also incorporate a lot of new sounds and ideas to make this a more sprawling effort. Not quite the classic that YFIIP is, but nonetheless one of (if not the) best albums I've heard all year. I agree with "Adam B" that, like Radiohead, BSS could just become a huge pop band if they wanted to - they certainly have a knack for amazing melodies. But they don't want to, and instead we get treated to this truly exceptional, one-of-a-kind musical experience.… Expand
  17. PaulM
    Jan 6, 2006
    9
    Amazing stuff. If I was to describe it perfectly I'd say its a mixture of My Bloody Valentine and Drop Nineteens with a taste of The Go! Team Hugely thrilling stuff
  18. JustinA
    Oct 12, 2005
    9
    A few of the songs get lost in the noise (see: "Ibi..."), but overall, an exceptional record. Louder than YFIIP, but just as beautiful and wonderfully produced.
  19. AaronG
    Oct 12, 2005
    9
    Let us try to forget that YFIIP exists for one minute, to judge this album based on its own merits. BSS's Broken Social Scene is a freewheeling monster of an album that- while consistently strong- often narrowly avoids collapsing in on itself. This is especially noticeable towards the end of the album, when it begins to sag under its own weight. With so many disparate ideas working Let us try to forget that YFIIP exists for one minute, to judge this album based on its own merits. BSS's Broken Social Scene is a freewheeling monster of an album that- while consistently strong- often narrowly avoids collapsing in on itself. This is especially noticeable towards the end of the album, when it begins to sag under its own weight. With so many disparate ideas working in conjunction, however, it is a miracle that Broken Social Scene can rise above the chaos, let alone sound as great as it does in the process. Ultimately, this is pop music for people who hate pop music. So, is Broken Social Scene slightly self-indulgent? Perhaps. Is this album as good as YFIIP? I say no. What it is, however, is another strong entry in BSS's catalogue, which is more than enough to place it with the best of 2005.… Expand
  20. TimR
    Oct 13, 2005
    9
    Reading most of the reviews from the 'cream of the crop' critics, I found myself at a bit of a loss. One, most of these reviewers pride themselves on having the ability to be on top of progressive music (what is Broken Social Scene id not progressive). However the critics hear the complex textures and dense sounds on the new Broken Social Scene as overwhelming the melody, which Reading most of the reviews from the 'cream of the crop' critics, I found myself at a bit of a loss. One, most of these reviewers pride themselves on having the ability to be on top of progressive music (what is Broken Social Scene id not progressive). However the critics hear the complex textures and dense sounds on the new Broken Social Scene as overwhelming the melody, which in my opinion is not the case at all, the density of the sound reveals itself with every listen, generating new sounds that continually capture the true essence of what it is that makes the Broken Social Scene so great....endless innovation!… Expand
  21. BradV
    Nov 9, 2005
    9
    Amazing album. Anyone doubting the simple brilliance of the songs underneath the layers of sound should check out the recent stripped down BSS set on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic. Can't wait to see 'em live next week!
  22. EffEll
    Oct 26, 2005
    7
    Like many people, I was disappointed after I had listened to the album for a couple of time. I thought (and still think in some ways) that it was badly produced. The tunes are nice but they are unfortunately hidden behind a wall of sound. It took me several listening before I was actually able to hear the tunes behind this wall of sound. Newfeld, who did such an amazing job for You Forgot Like many people, I was disappointed after I had listened to the album for a couple of time. I thought (and still think in some ways) that it was badly produced. The tunes are nice but they are unfortunately hidden behind a wall of sound. It took me several listening before I was actually able to hear the tunes behind this wall of sound. Newfeld, who did such an amazing job for You Forgot it In People, did not do his homework this time. However, he was not helped by the number of musicians on the band. There a too many instruments on most songs, and that's not Newfeld's fault (although he didn't have to mix them all, had he?). I still like the album though, because the tunes are nice. YFIIP is a better overall album but had some really bad songs. The songs on this album are evenly good. None is much better or much worst than the others. What I don't understand though is people not liking the last few songs. For me, It's All Gonna Break (the last song) is by far the best song on the album (and it is probably the only well-produced song on the entire album).… Expand
  23. StevenB
    Oct 4, 2005
    9
    Almost flawless. Up there with Sufjan, New Pornographers and Wolf Parade as some of the best of '05.
  24. Aaron
    Oct 5, 2005
    10
    This is one of the very best discs to come out this year. Almost as good as 'You Forgot It In People'. A dazzling album of songs that straddle the line between being experimental (but not pretentious) and pop oriented. Yet that undeniable BSS sound is apparent throughout. Excellent album.
  25. AdamB
    Oct 5, 2005
    9
    I love the loose sound of the album. It's got such a great flow to it. I find it very relaxing to listen to. The whole feel of the album really suits my taste in music. One pet peeve of mine is people who call them pretentious or self-indulgent. If I was making music, it would most certainly be self-indulgent. BSS could have easily put out a mainstream pop-album and gone on an arena I love the loose sound of the album. It's got such a great flow to it. I find it very relaxing to listen to. The whole feel of the album really suits my taste in music. One pet peeve of mine is people who call them pretentious or self-indulgent. If I was making music, it would most certainly be self-indulgent. BSS could have easily put out a mainstream pop-album and gone on an arena tour. I have no doubt that the talent in BSS is there to produce mainstream pop. Instead, they made the album that they wanted. So, of course it's self-indulgent. And I applaud them for it.… Expand
  26. Benny
    Oct 6, 2005
    10
    I guess i'm alone on this, but this is easily the single greatest album I have heard this year. Everything I would have expected and far, far more. This, again in my apparently offbeat opinion, is far great than YFIIP
  27. FredS
    Oct 7, 2005
    3
    Biggest dissapointment of the year. The vocals are mixed way too low, but since the lyrics stink that is probably for the best. There are some good songs but most of it sounds like they are trying to replicate "Almost Crimes" on every track. This is also an amazingly pretentious album which really suprised me. The last two songs clock in at 17 minutes, and they should both be relegated to Biggest dissapointment of the year. The vocals are mixed way too low, but since the lyrics stink that is probably for the best. There are some good songs but most of it sounds like they are trying to replicate "Almost Crimes" on every track. This is also an amazingly pretentious album which really suprised me. The last two songs clock in at 17 minutes, and they should both be relegated to B-sides in my opinion. BSS has grown too big and released a smarmy, self-indulgent wreck.… Expand
  28. StephenY
    Oct 7, 2005
    6
    Considering the lofty heights achieved by You Forgot It In People, this simply hits the ground with more of a thud than a bang. Easily the biggest disappointment of the year.
  29. Bob
    Oct 7, 2005
    4
    Muddy boring wankfest.
  30. mao
    Oct 7, 2005
    3
    It's hard to believe this is the same band that made "You Forgot It In People". That record changed my life, and restored my love of music. This one is a rambling, shambolic mess of overproduction and underdeveloped tunes.
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Awards & Rankings

43
#43 Best Album of 2005
42
#42 Most Discussed Album of 2005
9
#9 Most Shared Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. Billboard
    80
    A richly textured collection of songs that further explore the possibilities of the group's grooving dream-pop blueprint but stays just weird enough not to attract the ear of mainstream radio.
  2. Blender
    80
    The album's plush and detailed enough to invite extensive exploration, and varied enough to not get exhausting. [Oct 2005, p.135]
  3. Pitchfork
    84
    This exercise in excess makes the ambitious You Forgot It in People seem positively understated by comparison.
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