Broken Social Scene Declare War On Canadian Idol

Broken Social Scene consider themselves a big family, which is good because it looks like they just picked a feud with another big clan — the Canadian Idol family.

Social Scene singer Kevin Drew had nothing good to say about the Idols backstage after Sunday's Juno Awards.

"I feel really sorry for those kids in Canadian Idol because they're going absolutely nowhere," he said. The BSS crew took home their second best alternative album Juno this year. Their adversaries amongst the Idol alumni, however, were shut out despite a collected eight nominations split among Rex Goudie, Kalan Porter, Theresa Sokyrka and Hedley.

"It's a Canadian music industry downfall because in three years no one is going to remember them," said Drew.

Drew had been on a bit of a political mission all weekend. On top of specifically calling out Canadian Idol, he closed out his band's televised performance on the awards show with a scream/sung plea for music listeners to support better artists.

Among the better artists he cited specifically for attention were The Dears, The Stills, Arcade Fire, Black Mountain, The New Pornographers, Stars, Do Make Say Think, Metric, Constantines, Hidden Cameras, Fembots, Raising The Fawn, Final Fantasy, The Old Soul, K-OS, The Two Koreas and Apostle Of Hustle, before adding that there are "many more."

Alpha BSS songstress Leslie Feist was less cutting in her Idol comments. She just wants them to get out on the road and prove themselves — to get bloody for rock 'n' roll perhaps.

"Collectively we probably have 200 years worth of gig experience," Feist said, as comparison. "I feel only empathy for the kids that are put in that position before they have those road scars."

Susanne Boyce, the president of CTV programming and shepherd of the Idol flock, was quick to defend her charges. She told Canadian Press, "Whether you have 200 years or a day of it — the audiences will connect with you or not.

"Why trash somebody else?," she asked, before adding, "I'm very proud of the whole Canadian music scene. I feel strongly about celebrating all the successes."

As cutting as Drew was towards the Idols, his broadside at the greater Canadian music industry was just as stern.

"I think it's a trick, and it's absolute bullshit," he said."I feel sorry for the idea that the industry is still trying to stay alive. I think it's because people need jobs. I think things should have gotten a lot smaller years ago.

"I think there's a repetition vibe that's been going on through the Canadian music industry that's been happening now for about 15 years, and people are still going for the instant... Having a Canadian Idol is actually a trick."

The BSS posse will have the opportunity to assess the strength of their revolution very soon. The band just announced that they'll put on their second Olympic Island music festival on June 24 in Toronto. The Social Scene will play along with the likes of Bloc Party, Feist, J. Mascis, Raising The Fawn and others who will be announced later.