Average Metacritic score 79 (28 reviews):

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/revi ... of-losers/

The Dears
Gang Of Losers (Arts & Crafts)
US release date: 03 October 2006
Rating: 80

by Edward Xia


On the third track of the Dears’ new album, Gang of Losers, lead singer Murray Lightburn pleads over and over again, “I swear, I swear, I swear to you”. The band propels itself forward and Lightburn’s voice croons and rises above it. It’s a gorgeous moment in an album full of them. It also precisely illustrates what most critics nitpicked about the band on past albums. The full-throated voice of longing vaguely reminded some of Morrissey. The band’s complex, bursting orchestral pop sound was a little too Brit-pop. The Dears were seen, at best, as providing a pleasing homage, and at worst as ineffectual copycats. This, coupled with the band’s emergence from indie music’s trend capital, Montreal, made the Dears a band that never was given enough credit for what they were able to accomplish.

And what they were able to accomplish was this: consistently beautiful and interesting pop songs. Their last album, 2003’s No Cities Left , was filled to the brim with intricate songs featuring huge orchestras and the assembling of hundreds of instrumental tracks together. They still have that talent, but the band’s mission on their third full-length release, the traditional “growth” album, is to tighten up the sound, to make it more urgent, more visceral, more like their great live shows.

To that end, the band has succeeded. Most of the songs on the album were recorded in one take. They’re shorter and seem to hit with more force. The first full track, “Ticket to Immortality”, shimmers and vibes. “Hate Then Love” brims with longing and has the soaring vocals that do justice to the Brit-pop comparisons. On “There Goes My Outfit”, Lightburn sings the phrase “tapped phone calls from God” so right, with the “God” drawled just so perfectly. “You and I Are a Gang of Losers”, an ostensible tribute to the band itself and its new solidified lineup, is another highlight.

The subject matter of the songs on the album vary greatly. On “Ballad of Humankindness”, Lightburn sings about escaping poverty, stating, “I can’t believe the vast amounts of people living on the streets / And I can’t believe I was almost one of them and I almost died”. It’s blunt, but the emotion is heartfelt. He sings about fatherhood on “Ticket to Immortality”. And “Whites Only Party” is a rumination on the issue of racism. This album gives the listener a little bit of everything.

But, in the end, what makes the Dears a cut above, a band that deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as its Canadian indie compatriots the New Pornographers or Broken Social Scene, is the voice of Lightburn. On the last song, “Find Our Way to Freedom”, most of the band cuts out at the three minute mark, leaving the man’s voice front and center. It is a voice of longing and regret and it is one of most gorgeous of the gorgeous moments on the album. Then the pop kicks back in and the band takes it home, a fitting end to one of the best albums of the year.

overall, good album. but one of MANY in 2006 to significantly disappoint me. (the stills being the top offender.) Lightburn has a nice voice, but their songs just don't sound as catchy to me as New Porn or as intricate as BSS.

kind of off-topic, haven't seen you on 5l5k lately. where've you been?

with Timis, who needs 5l5k?

My job requires a lot of time (got promotion) so I'm no on as much but do pop up now and again.

This album was a bit of a bore to me. Haven't listened a ton and doubt I will spend much time trying to get into it.

I just played this again a few days ago and I really enjoy it. It's not a huge album by any means, but it's got a certain quality I like. This has a decent shot at making my year end list.

Hey Bee, i'd rather see your review on the albums than one posted from somewhere else. Are you posting these because you enjoy them, or is it just a wrapup of the year?

This album never stuck with me, but there are some decent songs on it.

i enjoy this one while i'm listening to it...but once it's over nothing sticks.

currently #73 on the elephantstone 2006 hott 100.

people dont actually like this band do they

I loved all previous releases... but apart from a couple of songs, am not so sold on this one. They still kick ass live though. I guess I've seen them 3 times so far for this record.

I like: "Ticket To Immortality" and "Fear Made The World Go 'Round".

And I really like both "I Fell Deep" and "Whites Only Party" (which I find sounds like the bastard son of Adam Ant and rockabilly-era Morrissey).