"Proudly pretentious neo-new wave on the prestigious Le Grand Magistery label." -TIME OUT NEW YORK

"The debut from this international quartet just might be the antidote to our presidential dilemma, the Mideast crisis--and just about any other stress-inducing situation you can think of. Mixing the breezy, British pop of bands like Everything But The Girl with the sonic mindset of Saint Etienne, Stars have fashioned something of a dark, romantic concept record..." -LAUNCH.com

You've been waiting so long...

You first heard them live on Los Angeles based KCRW 89.9fm's "Morning Becomes Eclectic." (They've since been the 3rd most requested band on that station.) And if you haven't heard it already, listen to their hour long live performance/interview from The Museum of Radio & Television in NYC by looking up their Oct. 20 appearance on Morning Becomes Eclectic at http://www.kcrw.org. [Website design doesn't allow for links.]

You read a passionate account of their merits on the UK based Tangents website.

Their brilliant cover of the Smiths' "This Charming Man" is all over your local college station and indie dance club.

You heard their other cover song: "Won't You Stay With Me Tonight" on the Human League tribute album.

You've been told of their legendary New York, London, Toronto, and Montreal shows (in the new year they'll be touring the US, Canada, and Japan).

You caught a glimpse of their singer, Torquil Campbell when on an episode of "Sex & The City" he asked Sarah Jessica Parker "Is that pleather you're wearing?"

Or maybe you've never heard of them at all! Regardless, nothing could have prepared you for this...

(and now for the continuation of that review from LAUNCH.com) "...Beginning with the percolating, electronic groove of "Counting Stars On The Ceiling," the tunes are framed by lilting melody lines and creative drum tracks with various muted keyboards, violin and trumpet lines (and very few guitars) filling in the middle. The easy, hip-hop pulse of "My Radio" places Campbell's half-sung, free association over soaring synth lines and those increasingly popular Burt Bacharach trumpet fills. Stars' inventive take on the Smiths' 'This Charming Man' does more than just pay homage to their favorite band (and favorite song of their favorite band). Over a drum loop that both straightens out and relaxes the song's original pace, Campbell whispers the verses, updating it and turning it into a track that fits in seamlessly with the other songs...

NOW YOU WANT IT & THERE'S ONLY ONE PLACE TO GET IT, unless you happen to be one of the lucky ones to be in: NYC this Friday, Dec 1 when Stars will be playing Fez, Toronto this Saturday, Dec 2 when Stars will be playing Blow-Up, Montreal on Friday, Dec 8 when Stars will be playing Quatier Latin.

Luxe, calme et volupte. The soft revolution has begun!

• Related item: Stars cover "This Charming Man" - July 31, 2000