The Dears: Missiles

The Dears
Missiles
Dangerbird Records [2008]








Fire Note Says: The big sound is back without the band!

Album Review:
Losing most of your band during the making of an album does not really bode well for the outcome but that is what exactly happened to Montreal's The Dears, so the husband-and-wife team of Murray Lightburn and Natalia Yanchak took the reins solo and turned out Missiles, which is one of their most interesting pieces to date. The bigger sounds and orchestration of their earlier records were noticeably absent on Gang Of Losers [2006] and you quickly realize that they have found their way back into Missiles right from the beginning in the almost seven minute shoegazing opener "Disclaimer". Many of the eleven tracks cross the five minute mark and the 11 minute epic closer "Saviour" features a children's choir, which highlights the grandiose vibe of Missiles. Like the groups previous records, Missiles requires that you give it time and repeat listens because no one song immediately jumps out at you but as a collective they meld into something bigger. The current picture here for The Dears is that given the drama and circumstances surrounding the making of this record the duo pull it off but I believe moving forward with more time and less distraction, what's next is going to be very interesting!

Key Tracks: "Disclaimer", "Dream Job", "Crisis 1 & 2"

Bands With Similar Fire:
The Smiths
Radiohead
Echo & The Bunnymen

Official Dears Website
The Dears MySpace
The Dears Info [Allmusic]
Dangerbird Records

-Reviewed by Sam DaMatta