Nothing broken about this 'social scene'

With its eclectic cast of characters, Toronto-based band Broken Social Scene delivers its most audacious release to date.

In its fourth album, “Forgiveness Rock Record,” the band seems to continue its ever-changing style. While Broken Social Scene’s debut album “Feel Good Lost” strived for ambiance, its second album “You Forgot It In the People,” was a triumph to the band’s wide array of members and sound. Come 2005 with the release of its self-titled album, the band seemed like it wasn’t sure of its identity. Now with the release of the new album “Forgiveness Rock Record,” the band seems to know its message.

The album has its share of memorable songs and starts off with a powerful blast of fresh air from the opening song “World Sick.” Songs such as “Forced to Love” carry on with the high tempo and screeching energy that is heard in “World Sick.” The four-minute “Texico Bitches” sounds like a song plucked from “You Forgot It In People.”

Perhaps one of the album’s biggest highlights is the electronically filled “All To All.” The song features one of the band’s new additions with the pleasant vocals of Lisa Lobsinger carrying the song from start to finish.

So after more than a decade of bringing a new sound to each album, Broken Social Scene brings perhaps its best identity to its newest album — none. It looks like that is a good thing.