Broken Social Scene's latest album, Remember the Humans, is a testament to the band's enduring legacy and their ability to evolve while staying true to their roots. After a decade-long hiatus, the Toronto collective has returned with an album that feels both familiar and refreshingly new. This is a band that has always been about community and collaboration, and Remember the Humans is no exception, with a diverse lineup of musicians contributing to its creation.
One of the most striking aspects of Remember the Humans is its departure from the band's previous, more exuberant sound. Gone are the wild, guitar-driven anthems and the immediate pop hooks that characterized their earlier work. Instead, the album is characterized by a more restrained, introspective approach, with a focus on extended jams and rich instrumentation. This shift in style is particularly evident in the opening track, 'Not Around Anymore', which begins with a flutter of instruments before swelling into a triumphant, yet somber, melody. The song is a powerful statement of the band's current state of mind, with bandleader Kevin Drew grappling with the loss of his mother and the crumbling of society.
What makes Remember the Humans so fascinating is the way it balances the band's past and present. While the album is filled with stretches of meditative stillness, it never feels static or monotonous. Instead, the band's ability to weave together different instruments and musical styles creates a sense of movement and dynamism that keeps the listener engaged. For example, the track 'And I Think of You' spins an '80s elevator pastiche with bright saxophone melodies, congas, and clarinet, while 'This Briefest Kiss' approaches R&B territory thanks to Brendan Canning's languid bassline and Ariel Engle's soulful vocal performance.
In my opinion, the album's strength lies in its ability to capture the band's essence while pushing their boundaries. Broken Social Scene has always been about exploring new sounds and pushing the limits of what a band can achieve, and Remember the Humans is no exception. The album is a testament to the band's enduring legacy and their ability to evolve while staying true to their roots. It is a reminder that, despite the changes in the music industry and the band's own personal journeys, the core values that have always defined Broken Social Scene remain intact.
However, what many people don't realize is that the album's title is a play on the band's earlier work, You Forgot It in People. While the album is far from a reprisal, it does pay homage to the band's past, with a focus on the themes and sounds that made their earlier work so beloved. In this way, Remember the Humans is a celebration of the band's journey, a testament to their enduring legacy, and a reminder that, despite the changes in the music industry and the band's own personal journeys, the core values that have always defined Broken Social Scene remain intact.
