Set Yourself on Fire
{{About|a musical album|the literal action|Self-immolation}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Set Yourself on Fire
| type = studio
| artist = Stars
| cover = Set_Yourself_On_Fire.jpg
| alt =
| released = September 14, 2004
| recorded = 2003–2004
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Indie pop, chamber pop, electronic{{cite web |url= https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/7472-set-yourself-on-fire/ |title= Set Yourself on Fire Review |last=Ubl |first=Sam |date=July 18, 2004 |website=Pitchfork |access-date=July 10, 2023}}
| length = 53:07
| label = Arts & Crafts
| producer = Stars, Tom McFall
| prev_title = Heart
| prev_year = 2003
| next_title = Do You Trust Your Friends?
| next_year = 2007
| misc = {{Extra album cover
| header = Alternative cover
| type = studio
| cover = Starssetyourself.jpg
| border =
| alt =
| caption = Cover of European and vinyl editions
}}
}}
Set Yourself on Fire is the third studio album by Canadian indie rock band Stars. It was released on September 14, 2004 on the Arts & Crafts International record label in Canada and the United Kingdom, and on March 8, 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.[http://www.soulshine.ca/news/newsarticle.php?nid=1577 "2005 Juno Awards Nominees Announced"] Soulshine. Published February 8, 2005. It lost to the album Let It Die by Feist, who is an occasional bandmate 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. The album features string arrangements from Bulgarian composer Todor Kobakov.
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.
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| MC = 81/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/set-yourself-on-fire/stars|title=Reviews for Set Yourself On Fire by Stars|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=May 1, 2016}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Loftus|first=Johnny|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/set-yourself-on-fire-mw0000580474|title=Set Yourself on Fire – Stars|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=May 1, 2016}}
| rev2 = Blender
| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal|title=Stars: Set Yourself on Fire|journal=Blender|issue=35|date=April 2005|page=125}}
| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly
| rev3score = B+{{cite magazine|last=Raftery|first=Brian M.|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2005/03/07/set-yourself-fire|title=Set Yourself on Fire|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=March 7, 2005|accessdate=May 1, 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222125527/http://ew.com/article/2005/03/07/set-yourself-fire/|archivedate=December 22, 2016|url-status=dead}}
| rev4 = The Guardian
| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|last=Clarke|first=Betty|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/aug/12/popandrock.shopping4|title=Stars, Set Yourself on Fire|work=The Guardian|date=August 12, 2005|accessdate=May 1, 2016}}
| rev5 = The Irish Times
| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|last=Carroll|first=Jim|author-link=Jim Carroll (journalist)|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/rock-pop-1.471569|title=Stars: Set Yourself on Fire (Arts & Crafts/City Slang)|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=July 22, 2005|accessdate=May 1, 2016}}
| rev6 = NME
| rev6score = 8/10{{cite journal|title=Stars: Set Yourself on Fire|journal=NME|date=August 13, 2005|page=58}}
| rev7 = Pitchfork
| rev7score = 8.4/10{{cite web|last=Ubl|first=Sam|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/7472-set-yourself-on-fire/|title=Stars: Set Yourself on Fire|work=Pitchfork|date=July 18, 2004|accessdate=May 1, 2016}}
| rev8 = Q
| rev8score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite journal|title=Stars: Set Yourself on Fire|journal=Q|issue=230|date=September 2005|page=118}}
| rev9 = Rolling Stone
| rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Sheffield|first=Rob|author-link=Rob Sheffield|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/stars/albums/album/7046233/review/7047989|title=Stars: Set Yourself On Fire|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=February 24, 2005|accessdate=May 1, 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001015556/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/stars/albums/album/7046233/review/7047989|archivedate=October 1, 2007|url-status=dead}}
| rev10 = Spin
| rev10score = A−{{cite journal|last=Maerz|first=Melissa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u2f8puPMUSsC&pg=PA91|title=Stars: Set Yourself on Fire|journal=Spin|volume=21|issue=3|date=March 2005|accessdate=May 1, 2016|page=91}}
}}
Set Yourself on Fire was widely acclaimed by music critics and holds a score of 81 out of 100 on the online review aggregator Metacritic, indicating "universal acclaim".
Track listing
{{Track listing
| title1 = Your Ex-Lover Is Dead
| length1 = 4:16
| title2 = Set Yourself on Fire
| length2 = 5:39
| title3 = Ageless Beauty
| length3 = 4:05
| title4 = Reunion
| length4 = 3:41
| title5 = The Big Fight
| length5 = 5:22
| title6 = What I'm Trying to Say
| length6 = 3:22
| title7 = One More Night (Your Ex-Lover Remains Dead)
| length7 = 5:18
| title8 = Sleep Tonight
| length8 = 4:21
| title9 = The First Five Times
| length9 = 3:00
| title10 = He Lied About Death
| length10 = 5:12
| title11 = Celebration Guns
| length11 = 3:05
| title12 = Soft Revolution
| length12 = 3:16
| title13 = Calendar Girl
| length13 = 4:07
}}
Certifications
| class="wikitable"
! Country ! Certification ! Sales/shipments |
| Canada
| 50,000 |