“Stay Happy” begins with a back-and-forth guitar and vocal arrangement that is completely fresh and different from anything they’ve produced in the past. “Protest Song” delivers what we’ve come to expect from BSS and is some of their finest work. She sings “You’re just the latest in a long list of lost loves, love,” harrowingly cutting lyrics that would curse any ex into months of gloom. Not actually a real protest song, its lyrics are cryptic yet powerful. It features a wall of sound with layers of guitars and effects, but never feels bombastic. Take “Protest Song,” a neatly structured pop song with plenty of musical complexities. Unlike the (dare I say overrated) aforementioned Quebecois band, these Ontarians rely on their own songwriting abilities to fill a track rather than grandiose, pretentious arrangements. Yet, Hug of Thunder avoids the melodrama and eccentricity that basically launched the more commercially successful Montreal-based Arcade Fire. “Halfway Home” in particular, however, stands out as being especially triumphant, a lot like a musical embodiment of a post-tennis match victory celebration: not in-your-face but still full of emotion. But whereas “Capture the Flag” fades gracefully into “KC Accidental,” immediately after “Sol Luna” we’re hit with a quick burst of energy with “Halfway Home.” And this sets up Hug of Thunder quite well, considering the album maintains a surging pace for most of its 52 minutes. “Sol Luna,” the album’s instrumental intro, reminds me a lot of “Capture the Flag,” the intro to their ambitious magnum opus You Forgot It in People. And even though their political leader is less orange and more progressive than ours, even Canada could use some BSS-induced optimism that we all love them for. Following their 2010 release Forgiveness Rock Record, Hug of Thunder is a warm and uplifting addition to darker times. Thankfully, those fears were put to rest earlier in May, though after a series of performances last year, the announcement wasn’t overwhelmingly surprising. ![]() Hug of Thunder comes as a surprise for fans who thought they would never hear another BSS album.
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