Stars (band)
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| Stars | ||
|---|---|---|
 Torquil Campbell and Amy Millan, Stockholm 2005
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| Background information | ||
| Origin |  Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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| Genre(s) | Indie pop, Indie rock | |
| Years active | 2000-present | |
| Label(s) | Arts & Crafts, Le Grand Magistery, Paper Bag | |
| Associated acts |
Broken Social Scene, Memphis, Amy Millan | |
| Website | www.arts-crafts.ca/stars | |
| Members | ||
| Torquil Campbell Amy Millan Evan Cranley Chris Seligman Pat McGee |
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Stars is a Canadian indie pop band. Originally formed in Toronto by vocalist Torquil Campbell and keyboardist Chris Seligman, the band relocated to New York City and then subsequently to Montreal.
Their music has been described as "beautiful, eloquent indie pop", characterized by lush instrumentation, nimble production and mixing, narrative lyrics, and soft but nuanced vocals. [1],[2]. The band's style has evolved from an electronic-pop sound as heard on Nightsongs (released on the Le Grand Magistery record label) to more rock-based instrumentation on their last two full-length albums, reflecting the permanent additions of singer-guitarist Amy Millan and bassist Evan Cranley on Heart (released on Paper Bag Records), and eventually drummer Pat McGee on Set Yourself on Fire.
The band's breakthrough single was "Ageless Beauty", from their 2004 album Set Yourself on Fire. While released to minimal fanfare in Canada in October 2004, Set Yourself on Fire slowly gained a strong following and critical praise [3] soon after its March 8, 2005 U.S. release.
Millan, Cranley and Campbell are also members of the indie band Broken Social Scene, with whom they currently share a record label, Arts & Crafts. Campbell is also an actor and has appeared on the television shows Sex and the City and Law & Order. Millan released a solo album in 2006.
Several of the band's songs, such as "The Vanishing", "Your Ex-Lover Is Dead", and "The Big Fight", have appeared on the Fox Network's The O.C. and CTV's Degrassi: The Next Generation. Their single "Ageless Beauty" was also featured in a promotional trailer for Vh1's So NoTORIous.
On their website, they have noted that their name was chosen, by coincidence, without prior knowledge of the short-lived project by Syd Barrett. They have cited a wide variety of musical likes and influences ranging from Berlioz to Outkast, citing among others Barrett, Paddy McAloon, New Order, The Smiths, Brian Wilson, Momus, and Broken Social Scene. They covered The Smiths' "This Charming Man" on 2001's Nightsongs and The Pogues' "Fairytale of New York" in 2005. Other indie artists have been guest collaborators on many of their tracks, especially for an early period including the release of their first LP.
Amy Millan stated on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic that Stars' next album will be released in September 2007.
Contents |
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
| Album | Record Label | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Nightsongs* | Le Grand Magistery | 2001 |
| Heart | Paper Bag Records/Arts & Crafts/Setanta | 2002 |
| Set Yourself on Fire | Arts & Crafts | 2004 |
- *Released as LP with Syft Records in Japan with 2 bonus tracks
[edit] EPs & Singles
| Single | Record Label | Year | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Lot of Little Lies For the Sake of One Big Truth | Le Grand Magistery | 2000 | EP |
| The Stars are Out Tonight | Le Grand Magistery | 2001 | 12" |
| The Comeback | Le Grand Magistery | 2001 | EP |
| Dead Child Stars | Paper Bag Records | 2002 | EP |
| My Radio (B-Side: Romantic Comedy) |
Setanta Records | 2003 | 7" |
| Elevator Love Letter | Setanta Records | 2003 | CD-Single |
| Petite Mort (B-side: What The Snowman Learned About Love [Montag Remix] |
Arts & Crafts | 2004 | 7" |
| Ageless Beauty (B-sides: Petit Mort & Ageless Beauty [Most Serene Mix] |
City Slang Records | 2005 | CD-Single, 7" |
| Your Ex-Lover Is Dead (B-side: Fairytale Of New York) |
City Slang Records | 2005 | CD-Single, 7" |
| Reunion (B-sides: Drive By [KCRW Live Version] & He Lied About Death [North Hatley Version]) |
City Slang Records | 2005 | Digital download Single, 7digital |
| It's Alchemy! | Le Grand Magistery | 2005 | Digital download Single |
[edit] Compilations
| Compilation Name | Record Label | Year | Stars song |
|---|---|---|---|
| Was It Him Or His Music? | Le Grand Magistery | 1999 | "My Radio" |
| Reproductions: Songs Of The Human League | March Records | 2000 | "Stay With Me Tonight" |
| Sounds Eclectic | Palm Pictures | 2000 | "Going, Going, Gone" |
| Siblings Soundtrack | Unknown Label | 2004 | "Golden Chain" |
| 'DET Live! Vol. 3 | WDET-FM 101.9 Detroit | 2002 | "Driveby (Live version recorded 10/27/2000)" |
| Music from the OC: Mix 5 | Warner Bros. Records | 2005 | "Your Ex-Lover Is Dead" |
| A Very Magistery Christmas | Le Grand Magistery | 2005 | "Christmas Song", "A New Year (Live)" |
[edit] Cover albums
| Album | Record Label | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Do You Trust Your Friends? | Arts & Crafts | 2007 |
[edit] Awards and nominations
2004
- Heart - Nomination: Alternative Album of the Year Juno Award.
2005
- Set Yourself on Fire - Nomination: Alternative Album of the Year Juno Award.
[edit] External links
- Stars Official Website
- Stars at MySpace
- Le Grand Magistery Records website
- Setanta Records website
- Torquil Campbell at the Internet Movie Database
- Stars @ New Music Canada
- "Pessimistic Romance" Stars in Session on CBC Radio 3
| Stars |
|---|
| Torquil Campbell | Amy Millan | Evan Cranley | Chris Seligman | Patrick McGee Steve Ramsay | Emily Haines | James Shaw |
| Discography |
| Albums: Nightsongs (2001) | Heart (2002) | Set Yourself on Fire (2004) |
| EPs: A Lot of Little Lies For the Sake of One Big Truth (2000) | The Comeback (2001) | Dead Child Stars (2002) |
| Singles: The Stars are Out Tonight (2001) | "My Radio" (2003) | "Elevator Love Letter" (2003) | "Petite Mort" (2004) | "Ageless Beauty" (2004) | "Your Ex-Lover Is Dead" (2005) | "It's Alchemy!" (2005) |
| Record labels: Le Grand Magistery | Paper Bag Records | Setanta Records | Arts & Crafts | City Slang Records |
| Related articles |
| Memphis | Big Rude Jake | Broken Social Scene |
