@ 9:30, Pt. I

Broken Social Scene's best moments are best described, I think, as well-organized chaos. This is not to say that they aren't planned down to the minutia, but the bursting-at-the-seams quality of "Almost Crimes" (off their last record You Forgot It In People) was one of indie rock's most exuberant statements of, well, ever. Couple this with the band's double-digit membership, and I was half-expecting earbleed a la Pantera at their 9:30 club show this past week.

Erin and I first caught the bulk of opener and label-mate Feist's set, and I concluded that she has the potential to be bigger than Norah Jones (!). "Mushaboom," the one track I had heard before, was pristine and continues to be a personal favorite, while the rest of her ballads, especially her Ron Sexsmith cover "Secret Heart" are smart and relatively sap-free, even if a bit "adult contemporary." But she also has this occassional guitar grrl rock side that is very attractive....

The ten members of Broken Social Scene (of which Ms. Feist is now a member) followed her on stage, and, to my surprise, were surprisingly restrained for the better part of a two-hour set. It's rare that a band is less energetic live, and even rarer that it doesn't sound as "loud" in person. After a few listens to the band's new self-titled record, I still consider its predecessor better, but the newer songs won the day live, especially the rockers "Fire Eye'd Boy" and "7/4 (Shoreline)," (though I'm a real sucker for alternative time signatures).

The ballads came across as decidedly lethargic; "Anthems for a Seventeen Year-Old Girl" was a major disappointment. The Dinosaur Jr.-esque drivers were much more entertaining, even if some questionable guitar solos by Andrew Whiteman (Apostle of Hustle) tried to turn them to the dark side. Just like the two versions of "Major Label Debut" found on new album Broken Social Scene and the accompanying EP To Be You And Me--the band's "fast versions" tend to be far superior, at least live. (Also BSS, you best not be makin' fun of Free to Be...You and Me-- that record is important.)

A big part of me feels like Broken Social Scene has merely scratched the surface on what they could do with this 10-person multi-instrumentalist lineup thing. The violin and horns are spectacular, the dueling female leads are beautiful, but it all is a bit obscured in their jam-band feel and the occasional tune that for all its harmony lines, lacks any melody whatsoever. But their moments of brilliance and their potential will keep me listening...

Things of the Week

Nonsense news you might have missed while you were working:

-->Theo Epstein has been auditioning various intergalactic species, including Wookiees, to help bolster the Sawx' suspect bullpen for the playoffs. And he's a southpaw! Or is this simply the return of Jeff Reardon?

<-- Delicious, nutritious Nicotine Beer has taken the world by storm. More here.

-->German musicologists gather in the former East Berlin to measure the effect of recent hurricanes on the sales of songs by The Scorpions.

<--A good D.C. bar gets better, coinciding with grassroots efforts for a nationwide ban....

--> ("Use It" + "The Bleeding Heart Show") > (Prozac + Zoloft + Xanax) x (Tadalafil) x (Cocaine + Ripped Fuel + Yellow Jackets' "Sting of Extreme Energy").