Broken Social Scene

Hug Of Thunder

FILE UNDER: (Other) Great Canadian supergroup strikes again

ROCKS LIKE: Chvrches, the New Pornographers, Grizzly Bear

WHAT’S DIFFERENT: It only took seven years, but they finally got the band back together—all 15 original members of the group, too, including Leslie Feist and Metric frontwoman Emily Haines. Their secret weapon on album No. 5 is the newest addition to the group, Ariel Engle. Her distinctive, elastic tone is a welcome one that adds earthier tones to the group’s usual splashes of primary colors.

WHY YOU SHOULD CARE: The emphasis this time around is on the group’s female membership as they take the lead on most of the tracks found here. It provides a slight softening to the group’s sometimes bombastic rock. Mostly, Hug Of Thunder feels like a sign of maturity to complement a more weathered and warm approach to songwriting that includes a lot of electronic pulses and skybound singalongs. 

OUR PICK: “Gonna Get Better”

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