Broken Social Scene

If we have the LDN scene and its many connected acts and off-shoots, Toronto has Broken Social Scene. The many-headed indie hydra BSS has spawned the likes of Metric, Stars and Feist (Drew’s missus). And now head of the Cult Kevin Drew has struck out on his own. As the title suggests this is the first in a proposed series of solo ventures by its members. In the same spirit as Broken Social Scene’s baroque pop, his first album stitches together the psychedelic, lo-fi montages and creates something unworldly and unique. Think Beck before he became a Scientologist. Drew’s stoner rock is as densely packed as it was schizophrenic – from the Bruce Springsteen-referencing ‘Lucky Ones’ to the unguarded emo-channelling ‘TBTF’. With a glut of interesting male singer-songwriters appearing (Shocking Pinks, Lightspeed Champion) Kevin Drew is another one to add to that list.

Priya Elan