The Dears

The Dears

The Dears are a Canadian indie rock band from Montreal, Quebec.

Overview of band

The band formed in 1995 and released their first album, End of a Hollywood Bedtime Story in 2000. In 2001 and 2002, they also released the EPs Orchestral Pop Noir Romantique and Protest as well as a collection of unreleased songs, Nor the Dahlias. In 2003 they released their second full-length album No Cities Left and in 2006 they released Gang of Losers.

The lineup of the band is fluid and changes frequently. The band's core member is founder and lead singer Murray Lightburn. The current lineup of the band (in place since 2004) includes George Donoso, Valérie Jodoin-Keaton, Patrick Krief, Martin Pelland, and Lightburn's wife, Natalia Yanchak.

The Dears have had high-profile gigs as opening act for Sloan, Keane and Morrissey, to whom Lightburn is often compared. Their music has been described as a cross between The Smiths, Serge Gainsbourg and Joy Division with Lightburn's singing voice being likened to Morrissey as well as Blur's Damon Albarn. The complexity of the music and arrangements has also been compared to Radiohead, Jethro Tull and early Genesis.

The Dears have recently finished supporting the UK band Keane on their tour of the United Kingdom.

On July 10, 2007, The Dears' newest album, Gang of Losers was named to the shortlist for the 2007 Polaris Music Prize.

As of November 20, 2007, The Dears are currently working on their fourth album, as stated by Lightburn in a myspace blog entry.

Band members

• Murray Lightburn – Lead vocals, guitars & keyboards
• George Donoso – Drums
• Valérie Jodoin-Keaton – Keyboards, flute & backing vocals
• Natalia Yanchak – Keyboards & backing vocals
• Patrick Krief – Guitars
• Martin Pelland – Bass guitar

Past members

• Richard MacDonald (1995–1998)
• John Tod (1995–2000)
• Andrew White (1995–1998)
• Roberto Arquilla (1998–2000)
• Brigitte Mayes (1999–2002)
• Jonathan Cohen (1999–2002)
• Rob Benvie (2002–2003)
• Joseph Donovan (2003 – touring guitar player)

Discography

Studio albums

• 2000: End of a Hollywood Bedtime Story
• 2003: No Cities Left (#127 UK)
• 2006: Gang of Losers (#52 CAN) (#77 UK)

EPs

• 2001: Orchestral Pop Noir Romantique
• 2002: Protest

Compilations

• 2001: Nor the Dahlias: The Dears 1995-1998

Live albums

• 2004: Thank You Good Night Sold Out

UK singles

• "We Can Have It" (2004) #195
• "Lost in the Plot" (8/11/2004) #49
• "22: The Death of All the Romance" (2/5/2005) #53
• "Ticket to Immortality" (14/8/2006)
• "You and I Are a Gang of Losers" (16/4/2007)

Awards and nominations

• 2007: Gang of Losers – Shortlisted: 2007 Polaris Music Prize.
• 2007: Gang of Losers – Nominated: GAMIQ Awards - International Career, Best Indie Rock Album, Best Concert categories.
• 2006: Gang of Losers – Nominated: CMW Canadian Independent Music Awards - Favourite Group category.
• 2006: Whites Only Party – Winner: CBC Radio 3's Bucky Awards - Catchiest Beat category.
• 2004: No Cities Left – Nominated in First Round: New Pantheon Music Award.
• 2004: No Cities Left – Nominated: Juno Award - Best New Group category.
• 2004: No Cities Left – Nominated: CMW Canadian Independent Music Awards - Favourite Group category.
• 2003: No Cities Left – Nominated: CASBY Award - Favourite Indie Release.
• 2002: Orchestral Pop Noir Romantique – Winner: MIMI (Montreal Independent Music Initiative) Awards - Best Production category.
• 2001: End of a Hollywood Bedtime Story – Nominated: CMW Canadian Independent Music Awards - Best Alternative Album category.
• 2001: End of a Hollywood Bedtime Story – Nominated: MIMI (Montreal Independent Music Initiative) Awards - Best Album, Best Concert (June 2, 2000), Best Pop Artist categories.

See also

• List of Quebec musicians
• Music of Quebec
• Culture of Quebec

External links

• The Dears Official Site
• The Dears at Arts&Crafts
• The Dears at Last.fm
• "The Dears In Session" at CBC Radio 3
• Audiojunkies Interview with The Dears
• The Dears perform Ticket To Immortality, Whites-Only Party, and There Goes My Outfit at The Current