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In Our Bedroom After the War

by Stars

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Montreal's Stars are certainly a theatrical bunch (and not just because co-frontman Torquil Campbell is also an actor). Their passionate delivery of love and breakup songs--often sung dialogue-style between male frontman Campbell and female lead Amy Millan--is a compelling combination of musicianship and dramatic intensity. In Our Bedroom After the War is similar in style to Set Yourself on Fire--albeit a little gentler and more intimate in tone--capturing the many varied elements that Stars do best. "Midnight Coward" begins with Millan's gentle voice singing "sweetness never suits me," then eventually expands into an abundant, symphonic-sounding conclusion. "The Ghost of Genova Heights" features co-vocalist Torquil Campbell evoking a Scissor Sisters funkiness, which may surprise some fans. "My Favourite Book" is a bright, sunny spot showcasing Millan's penchant for smooth, silky jazz-pop a la Morcheeba or The Style Council. Throughout, the group remains poets-cum-performers--topics range from love between political protestors ("Barricade") to emotive hook-up attempts between personal-ad users ("Personal"), always done with lush musicianship that's often Moulin Rouge-esque at its core. Note to diehard fans: the limited-edition version of the disc is well worth the investment, featuring a captivating hour-long DVD that is part travelogue, part interview, and is filled with impressive clips from live shows throughout Europe and North America. --Denise Sheppard