The Dears

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Montreal, Quebec, Canada (1995 – present)

The Dears is an indie rock band which formed in 1995 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The band consists of Murray Lightburn (vocals, guitar), Natalia Yanchak (vocals, keyboards), Jason Kent (guitar, vocals), Christopher McCarron (guitar), Rob Benvie (bass), Laura Willis (keyboards, vocals) and Yann Geoffroy (drums). Lightburn and Yanchak are the only original members remaining in the band. The band’s most recent album, “Degeneration Street”, was released on 15 February 2011.

Without even seeing a performance by The Dears it was easy to recognize the group in Montreal’s haunts in the late nineties. Dressed in black suits and white shirts, they would descend on bars like the minor legends they were. At that time, The Dears were like an unconfirmed rumour of ardour; they were full of possibility, and propelled by passion, alienation, and alcohol. Their precious name and the crooning vocals of charismatic front man Murray Lightburn, defined their clean, symphonic pop style. Yet the band’s onstage intensity and quiet defiance defied easy categorization. Already, at that early stage, their sophisticated content and attitude set them at odds with the music scene of the day.

End of a Hollywood Bedtime Story, their 2000 debut album, immediately established The Dears as a unique and powerful presence. With a stylized and cinematic scope, the record fused narratives, orchestral arrangements and pop in a way that was praised for ambitious grandiosity.
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Top Albums

  • Degeneration Street
    The Dears Play
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  • No Cities Left
    The Dears Play
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  • Gang Of Losers
    The Dears Play
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  • Missiles
    The Dears Play
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Top Tracks

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146
2
135
3
105
4
90
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89
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88
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86
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84
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74
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67
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15
59
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  • evil_klonoa

    How are these guys not more famous?

    last month

  • InASafePlace

    No Cities Left is good but Missiles is supreme.

    March 2012

  • AlexanderShough

    I like that the song chart reflects my opinion.. the Dears are all about No Cities Left, but sound rejuvenated with Degeneration Street after two sloppy offerings in between. I never thought Murray sounded like Damon Albarn, always thought both were very distincy voices.

    February 2012

  • Edvardoz

    Not so bad) love them!

    February 2012

  • kleimoment

    норм так)

    November 2011

  • MaylsonUFMS

    é muito amor nessa banda.

    October 2011

  • George336

    I agree with the last poster. Murray's voice does sound like Damon's and often like Morrissey's but I doubt that his vocal characteristics were deliberately manufactured. The Dears are a hugely under-rated band who probably won't get their big moment. That's a great pity.

    September 2011

  • ijkidd

    Sorry but I am always reminded of Damon Albarn, especially the "Blur" album period. Its what switched me on to The Dears around the "No Cities Left" era when "We Can Have It" got heavy rotation on 6music. Still taking a while to warm to "Degeneration Street", some of it too strident and screechy for me, but persisting and its growing on me, as "Gang of Losers" did too.

    August 2011
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Phoblography

26 May 2012 | from www.thedears.org/

Perhaps for a ltd time, Phoblography by M.A.L. For analog photo nerds and anyone who is really really bored.

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