In Our Bedroom, After the War

On this 2007 follow-up to its acclaimed SET YOURSELF ON FIRE, the Canadian indie-rock ensemble Stars wander further into pop territory. Along with Feist, the group is clearly one of the most accessible acts in the Broken Social Scene collective, a notion that it runs with on bright, dramatic tunes such as "The Night Starts Here," a lush, synth-pop number, and the sweeping, string-laden title track. While the band seems most at home with ornate, keyboard-driven arrangements (see the lightly funky "My Favourite Book," which showcases Millan's breathy voice), Stars also indulge in occasional guitar-heavy moments, as best evinced during the frenzied six-string solo at the end of "Window Bird." Although not as consistent as FIRE, IN OUR BEDROOM AFTER THE WAR is a boldly ambitious outing that will certainly please many of Stars' ardent fans.