Something for All of Us... (Bonus Track Edition)

A founding member of Broken Social Scene, where he serves mostly as bass guru (here he plays guitar, keyboards, bass and other instruments), Brendan Canning’s solo outing makes a great pairing with the BSS Presents Kevin Drew release of 2007. They share a dreamy, psych-folk feel at the core, and both artists have a knack for turning out wistful, romantic expressions that feel oddly private. The first three tracks couldn’t be more perfect: “Something” goes from a sleepy guitar stretch to a softly rollicking BSS-style number with blunted shards of guitar and a slightly ominous, catchy chorus; “Chameleon” tumbles along on a ghostly female vocal, French horn, and spacey guitars, before it morphs into a surprisingly meaty tune; “Hit the Wall” is propulsive, shimmering and downright intoxicating. The meandering “All the Best Toys...” and “Been At It So Long” weave horns, synths, acoustic guitars, and strings into pastoral, cinematic constructs, while the surprising “Love is New” translates as updated disco for the times, all plump, acrobatic bass lines and slinky Blondie-style rhythms. The translucent and delicate “Snowballs and Icicles” and “Take Care, Look Up” evoke the quiet and introspective moments of Alex Chilton and Chris Bell. High praise, indeed.