Stars’ ‘Set Yourself on Fire’ was and remains one of the best indie pop albums of the 2000’s- and in general. Released on the same day as fellow Montreal natives Arcade Fire’s ‘Funeral’ (September 14, 2004), ‘Set Yourself on Fire’ helped establish Montreal as one of the most exciting centers of indie music in the early 2000s. The two albums couldn’t have been more different emotionally: where ‘Funeral’ wrestled with death, grief and mourning, Stars focused on love, intimacy, desire and longing. Both releases were incredible in their respective ways, but it was those themes Stars sung about that really resonated with me (also, this is a write up about Stars and not Arcade Fire, so what better segue than this haha). The way Torquil Campbell and Amy Millan traded off and sometimes shared singing duties throughout ‘Set Yourself on Fire’ and their themes of love and longing works magnificently; in many ways it reminded me of the dynamics heard throughout Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours’. While Stars didn’t have the inner band relationships Fleetwood Mac had, the central themes in these songs here give off that same feeling throughout. Songs such as “Sleep Tonight,” “Your Ex-Lover is Dead,” and “One More Night (Your Ex-Lover Remains Dead)” read like lost entries from Stevie Nicks or Lindsey Buckingham’s songbooks. The defining songs to me have to be "Ageless Beauty" and the terrific closer, "Calendar Girl." These two songs in particular perfectly epitomize the themes that run throughout ‘Set Yourself on Fire’: "Ageless Beauty" brings the hooks and pop sensibility that will cozy up in your head for days. To this day it still drives me crazy that song didn’t get anywhere near the airplay or recognition that it should have; for me it was and remains an absolute pop masterpiece. Meanwhile, the poignantly reflective “Calendar Girl” is a wonderfully constructed song that looks backward at different moments, trying to reconcile romantic memories with the fact that those moments can’t be recovered. If “Ageless Beauty” is about the intensity of wanting someone in the present, “Calendar Girl” is about what happens when that intensity becomes a memory. Stars have built an extraordinary catalog of albums exploring love, longing and relationships and the trials and tribulations that come with it, but for me this 2004 entry remains their best album and easily makes for a wonderful musical experience for anyone who hears it. Additionally, if you have an opportunity to see them live they put on an excellent live show. Thanks for taking the time to stop by, reading and hopefully providing some thoughts on this magnificent album. Take care, be safe and have a great week!
