Album Review: The Dears Missiles
6.5
There are not many bands like The Dears. Despite the fact that they have been through a plethora of line-up changes and have re-emerged as a husband and wife duo (founding member Murray Lightburn and wife Natalia Yanchak), The Dears have stayed true to the simplest of ideas. They have yet to subscribe to any preconceived fad of any kind (even reluctant to consider themselves “indie”), or make music that is based on anything less than good songwriting. While it does have its strengths and weaknesses, those sentiments are ever-present on the band’s forth album, Missiles.
It opens up with a bit of a weak instrumental, which is quickly made up for with album highlight, “Money Babies.” The track features vocals by both singers, repeating much of the same lyrics through-out. The most prominent line in the track, “our money is elastic,” is also the most impactful. Though it could have a variety of meanings, it works (this has become a sort of theme with Lightburn). While the track is very fast-paced, it’s soft melody paints it more like a ballad. “Remember that time when we thought we were gonna die?” sings Lightburn with apathetic urgency, “Well baby nothing much has changed.” This is not cheesy, nor is it even sentimental. It’s just there, and it’s great the way it is.
“Lights Off,” an indie rock acoustic tune that bridges the album quite nicely, ends in a symphony of strings and Lightburn’s light, airy vocals; “Bring me a glass of water/it must be good and clean/I chug it with the dosage/that I’m not to exceed.” The near 8 minute track also makes room for a lengthy un-Dearlike guitar solo that, unfortunately, seems to lose itself halfway through. The Dears’ other half sings lead on “Crisis 1 & 2,” a beautiful song with more basic, solid songwriting. “Meltdown in a Major” returns to the more recognizable sounds of the Dears and their self-proclaimed ‘dark orchestral pop’; another album highlight.
While this is not the best Dears album, or even second best (2003’s No Cities Left and 2006’s Gang of Losers have it easily beat), Missiles stands proud in its convictions; a declaration that sometimes all you need is good music to have a good album.
Posted: September 27th, 2008 under Reviews.
Tags: missiles, the dears
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Pingback from My Poproks » Interview: Murray Lightburn of The Dears
Time October 28, 2008 at 2:50 am
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Time October 22, 2008 at 3:54 pm
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