RFI: the Dears

I was watching it with my mum, trying to explain to her why it's so good.

Saw them last night as they were the openers for Secret Machines. HUGE crowd for them, people screaming, singing along, cheering when Lightbourne changed guitars (or a keytar), etc. I thought they were mostly harmless in a Remy Zero sort of way, but all the posturing and guitar solo histrionics put me off.

Bottom line: what's the big deal?

I've always heard them as dread-drenched wannabe operatic Smiths fanboys.

Except not so fun.

They've switched their lineup pretty substantially over the years. I was blown away by them in 2002, not as much in later incarnations. No Cities Left seemed like a transitional record, didn't deliver on the potential of the EPs leading up to it, and then it slowly got picked up by U.S./European labels, which meant that they toured behind it for a few years instead of moving on.

If you want to give them a chance, "Heathrow or Death Row" on Orchestral Pop Noir Romantique is a good place to go, as is this this radio session on KEXP.

(particularly "We Can Have It" from that radio session)

"Heathrow or Death Row":

http://popstache.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/the-dears-degeneration-street-300x300.jpg

It’s been three years since Montreal’s The Dears released their somewhat lackluster album Missiles. On February 15th the band returns with the fifth proper full length, Degeneration Street. Will it mark a return to form?

The album marks the return of several band members who were absent from the band's previous album, including Patrick Krief, Rob Benvie and Roberto Arquila.

Track listing:

1. "Omega Dog" - 5:01
2. "5 Chords" - 3:34
3. "Blood" - 4:09
4. "Thrones" - 4:33
5. "Lamentation" - 4:20
6. "Torches" - 1:36
7. "Galactic Ties" - 4:38
8. "Yesteryear" - 3:51
9. "Stick With Me Kid" - 3:28
10. "Tiny Man" - 5:04
11. "Easy Suffering" - 4:33
12. "Unsung" - 4:15
13. "1854" - 5:23
14. "Degeneration Street" - 4:57

http://www.wwe.com/content/media/touts/feature/29062/12497022

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15109-degeneration-street/

the lyrics and music might be somewhat overwrought, but lightburn's delivery just sounds so good. i liked missiles because it forced them out of their comfort zone, but i thought that record was more of a misstep than this one is.

Listening tonight to this KEXP version of We Can Have It, which I like a lot. Haven't heard their last few records, but the first ones never quite caught what was amazing about their live shows.

Off my radar for a while but I'm catching up with an advance of their latest, Times Infinity Volume Two (yes there is a vol. 1 as well), and it's quite nice so far.

also off my radar until my friend told me they were one of her favorite bands and I went back and am listening to the catalog (I think I'd heard No Cities and that was it) and it's so good. band deserves a much higher profile.

Incredibly nice band. End of a Hollywood bedtime story was my jam growing up