Set Yourself on Fire

This article is about a musical album. For the literal meaning of the phrase, see Self-immolation.
Set Yourself on Fire
Studio album by Stars
Released September 14, 2004 (Canada)
March 8, 2005 (U.S.)
Recorded 2003–2004
Genre Indie rock, Baroque pop
Length 53:07
Label Arts & Crafts
Producer Stars, Tom McFall
Stars chronology

Heart
(2003)
Set Yourself on Fire
(2004)
Do You Trust Your Friends?
(2007)
Alternative cover
Cover of European and vinyl editions
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]
Pitchfork Media (8.4/10) [2]
PopMatters [3]
Robert Christgau [4]
Rolling Stone [5]
Sputnikmusic (4.0/5)[6]

Set Yourself on Fire is the third album by Canadian indie rock band Stars. It was released in 2004 on the Arts & Crafts International record label in Canada and the United Kingdom, and in 2005 in the United States.

The album's most notable single was "Ageless Beauty", the band's breakthrough hit in Canada. "Your Ex-Lover Is Dead" has also garnered significant play in the United States. It was featured on the soundtrack of The O.C.

On November 17, 2009, "Your Ex-Lover Is Dead" was featured on Fox network's So You Think You Can Dance, season 6. Former show contestant and current choreographer Travis Wall chose it as the track for his piece danced by Ellenore Scott and Ryan Di Lello.

In 2005 Set Yourself on Fire was a Juno Award nominee for Alternative Album of the Year.[7] It lost to the album Let It Die by Feist, who is an occasional band-mate of Stars' Amy Millan, Torquil Campbell, and Evan Cranley in the indie rock band Broken Social Scene.

The novelist Ibi Kaslik is quoted on the jacket of the album.

Cover art

The cover art varies from North America to Europe. The Canadian and U.S. releases have the same artwork. The European edition, along with the Canadian and U.S. vinyl version, have alternative cover art.

Track listing

No. Title Length
1. "Your Ex-Lover Is Dead"   4:16
2. "Set Yourself on Fire"   5:39
3. "Ageless Beauty"   4:05
4. "Reunion"   3:41
5. "The Big Fight"   5:22
6. "What I'm Trying to Say"   3:22
7. "One More Night (Your Ex-Lover Remains Dead)"   5:18
8. "Sleep Tonight"   2:44
9. "The First Five Times"   3:00
10. "He Lied About Death"   5:12
11. "Celebration Guns"   3:05
12. "Soft Revolution"   3:16
13. "Calendar Girl"   4:07

Certifications

Country Certification Sales/shipments
Canada Gold[8] 50,000

References

  1. Set Yourself on Fire at AllMusic
  2. Pitchfork Media review
  3. PopMatters review
  4. Robert Christgau review
  5. Rolling Stone review
  6. H., Andrew. "Stars Set Yourself On Fire". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  7. "2005 Juno Awards Nominees Announced" Soulshine. Published February 8, 2005.
  8. CRIA Gold & Platinum certifications for December 2006. Retrieved July 25, 2007.