Broken Social Scene

Broken Social Scene

Broken Social Scene is a Toronto indie rock band formed in Toronto by core members Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning in 1999. They recorded their primarily instrumental album Feel Good Lost with help from a handful of friends. It was released in 2001 and more people were added to fill out its sounds on stage. The lineup has since grown to about 20 people, though that number is fluid and not everyone is included on every recorded song or at every concert, as many members also perform as solo artists or in other groups -- including Metric, Stars, Raising The Fawn and Do Make Say Think. Charles Spearin, Justin Peroff, Bill Priddle, Andrew Whiteman, Jason Collett, David Newfeld, Leslie Feist, Emily Haines, James Shaw, Michael Lani, Evan Cranley, Amy Millan, Ohad Benchetrit, Martin Davis Kinack, Jo-ann Goldsmith, Torquil Campbell, John Crossingham, Lisa Lobsinger, Julie Penner, K-Os, Murray Lightburn and Jason Tait are among those who can now be considered part of the Broken Social Scene collective.

You Forgot It in People provided Broken Social Scene's commercial and artistic breakthrough when it was released in 2002 through Toronto's Paper Bag Records and the band's Arts & Crafts label. The large number of musicians, Newfeld's experimental production and the introduction of more vocals gave the album its sprawling yet cohesive uniqueness that brought it enough attention to earn a 2003 Juno Award for Alternative Album of the Year. Rave reviews also poured in from other countries. A collection of You Forgot It in People B-sides and remixes was issued in a 2004 package titled Bee Hives.

Broken Social Scene had cut ties with Paper Bag by the time its 2005 self-titled album arrived in stores along with a limited-edition, seven-track bonus EP called EP To Be You and Me. The album was looser and less structured and though praise for it wasn't as unanimous as for You Forgot It in People, it still earned the group its second Alternative Album of the Year Juno. The group performed "Ibi Dreams of Pavement (A Better Day)" on the awards telecast.

Drew issued Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew, Spirit If... in 2007. Though billed as a solo album, it featured contributions from a number of Broken Social Scene members, and concerts in support of the record also featured a number of the group's songs. Canning released a similar album titled Broken Social Scene Presents Brendan Canning, Something for All of Us... in 2008.

Broken Social Scene's most recent album, titled Forgiveness Rock Record, was released in May 2010.

Despite not being a radio-friendly, singles-oriented group, Broken Social Scene's reputation and sales have grown based on extensive touring, Internet buzz, critical acclaim and the growing popularity of its members' other musical projects.