Soft Revolution/Vagrant

Canadian electro-pop/indie darlings Stars returns with its fifth full-length album and first on its own Soft Revolution label. Full of catchy choruses, new wave synthesizers and beautiful vocal harmonies, the album also features fellow Broken Social Scenester (most of Stars moonlight in BSS) Andrew Whiteman. Though crafted in a pop format, these aren’t simple songs but ones that reward after repeated listens. Propelled by drum machines, driving bass and moody overtones, this is a highly-textured affair that reaches its climax with the boy-girl vocal dynamic found in “We Don’t Want Your Body” where Amy Millan denies Torquil Campbell’s sexual advances, singing: “You sold me some cheap Ecstasy/ So you could have some sex with me/ But I don’t want your body.”