What I really like about these songs is that they are so accessible the first time you hear them but each time you listen you hear new things that add to the depth of each song. And the mood that these songs put you in...pure bliss! The lyrics also seem simple at first but after a while when you get the whole context of the song, the words are deep. "You get back on the latest flight to paradise, I found out from a note taped to the door. I think I saw your airplane in the sky tonight, through my window lying on the kitchen floor."

I `discovered' this group while reading through the nominations for the Juno awards. They lost out to Buck 65 but hey..at least they were nominated and I tip my hat to the Junos for recognizing these guys. I find them to be a little similar to The Postal Service with the guy girl word play and the new wave-ish sound, although their sound is more ambient synth-pop than electronica.

Standout tracks are ELEVATOR LOVE LETTER, HEART, ROMANTIC COMEDY, LOOK UP, LIFE EFFECT. Stars HEART is definitely tops for 2004 so far.


Wonderful   April 13, 2004
Thomas J. Hellstrom (New York, NY United States)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

I have not been so excited about a band for years. I found Stars on www.kcrw.org giving two amazing live performances and bought Heart. I was surprised, the CD is very produced in contrast to their live performaces. This difference proves them right, they are excellent in the studio and amazing live. I was fortunate to see a show in Hoboken earlier this month. Stars accomplishment is a unique and affecting voice that encapsulates many, many post-punk-pop-trip-hop influences of the 80s and 90s. They even dared to cover 'This Charming Man' on the 'Nightsongs' CD and to my surprise it WORKS. I spoke with Amy and Evan at the show and they were lovely. Stars are the real thing,incredible musicians that have found a voice for themselves that is moving music forward. Go for the ride, it's gorgeous and complicated and fully realized.


just read the reviews!   September 26, 2003
kathiz (toronto canada)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Stars Heart (Arts & Crafts)
Stars long for escape. Just as the quartet fled New York City for the imagined romance of French-speaking Montreal, its music nostalgically recalls a rose-colored past. They wrap this longing for a better world (or at least better love-life) in a pseudo-Eighties mix of weightless, skipping beats, cheesy keyboards and inspired melodies -- think Prefab Sprout without the conceptual grandeur. Reality never gets them down; the string-enhanced album closer, "Don't Be Afraid to Sing," remains hopeful as it slowly unravels. The Stars add little orchestrated touches throughout that make it seem like they're scoring an imagined indie film. But it's the sympathetic duets from Torquil Campbell (who as an actor has appeared on Law and Order and Sex and the City) and Amy Millan that trick you into believing that enduring love can be as fresh as first sight. (ROB O'CONNOR)


Some very good rock-based pop that has two GREAT songs! - only for pop fans though   January 3, 2006
C. Cross
10 out of 12 found this review helpful

Stars is another guilty pleasure pop band - you'll either love it or hate it. They have two saving graces - female vocalist Amy Millan (who is just amazing) and two hitworthy songs ("Elevator Love Letter" and probably "Death To Death"). Millan is just extraordinary (after this album came out movie producers started giving her jobs, if that tells you anything), and even though the male vocalist pales in comparison he's not that bad. Lyrically, most of the songs are pretty easy and fun to memorize as they're relatively simple. They're also slightly deep ("Elevator Love Letter" is kind of interesting lyrically AND highly entertaining sonically). Not every song is good as it's definitely uneven, but the ones that are are usually great pop songs. "Elevator Love Letter" is the obvious stand-out, and on occasion it even conjures up some genuine emotion (yeah, I'll admit it haha). I would've given it about 3.5 stars if it weren't for the quality of its highlights. It's not for everyone, though - just pop enthusiasts. Recommended!

Highlights include:
"What Did The Snowman Learn About Love?"
"Elevator Love Letter"
"Heart"
"Death To Death"
"The Vanishing"
"Life Effect" (kind of)