•
Rating: For some years now, Canada has become the hotbed of the most sought-after and evocative pop. Broken Social Scene, The Destroyer, New Pornographers, Hidden Cameras, The Arcade Fire, Feist are just the first names that come to mind from a scene that has managed to earn, with undeniable merit, a central position in today's music landscape. To find a place equally prolific in pop-oriented talents in recent times, one must go to Scotland between the '80s and '90s. The Dears, from Montreal, are another name to add to this now considerable lineup.
No Cities Left, a work released in 2004, had a long gestation, but, let's say it straight away, judging by the results, the time was certainly not wasted. The "north star" of the Canadian group is the Smiths, and to understand this, there's no need to read the liner notes in which they openly declare their passion for Morrissey's band. But among the most evident references are also Blur of Parklife and Pulp themselves.
The singer and leader Murray Lightburn has a voice similar to that of Albarn, although deeper, and must be an old-fashioned romantic, from "Sturm und Drang," and not just because of the cover inspired by the great painter Friedrich. Indeed, I don't think he would have any qualms about emulating his idol, throwing flowers from the stage at his fans.
Put this way, I realize, it sounds a bit déjà vu; perhaps the orphans, and there are some, of the acclaimed Marr-Morrissey duo might be intrigued, even if just to see if the inspiring model managed to yield the desired fruits. And if the nostalgic fans happened to start with the third track, "Lost In The Plot," the single that served as a forerunner, or "Don't Lose the Faith," they might rub their eyes in amazement or lull themselves in the magnificent illusion of listening to an unreleased track from the Manchester band from the days of "Strangeways Here We Come."
But beware: No Cities Left is not just an album that tries to retrace the most virtuous paths of '80s rock, nor, for that matter, an interesting work of simple yet gifted young epigones. Just listen to "Who Are You, Defenders of Universe" with its "sick" melodies, with almost acidic riffs, with references to Terry Hall's 1980s group, the Colourfield, to realize you are in front of a band that is much more than a successful copy of the Smiths. In "The Second Part," for example, they try, with excellent results, to combine French chanson, we are always in Canada, with pop songs in the style of Neil Hannon (Divine Comedy). Nor are there lacking elements that make the album surprising and full of "windows," offering various and intriguing panoramas. The over 7 minutes of "Expect the worst / 'Cos She's a Tourist (what a title!) start with Michael Nyman-style strings, accompanied by pressing rhythms and choruses, then suddenly turn into a slow, very British ballad and end with almost jazz horns. Or "Pinned Together, Falling Apart" that seems a melodramatic Wyatt, noise in the Soft Machine style included. There are also sunny pop songs, "Never Destroy Us," that turn into psychedelic blues, only to die among krautrock screams. In "Warm and Sunny Day" and "22: the Death of All Romance," the good Murray gives free rein to his more "light" vein, duetting with Yanchak. And it's not over: "Postcard from Purgatory" also quotes the Grace Jones of "Libertango," with a long finale in the Spiritualized style and closes with the title track that returns to make us dream on the banks of the Seine, strings included.
I have always greatly disliked the habit of certain press, especially British, of shouting every three months about the "new best thing," but it's equally wrong not to recognize merits, especially when they are so evident, to prove to be a "tough nut."
The Dears are, unequivocally, one of the most exciting bands listened to over the course of this year and I believe one can bet on their bright future.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Who Are You, Defenders of the Universe (03:42)
We want your information
We will do what we must
But not here or in front of people or
on the phone
We're not all blood-sucking leeches
For we all have families too
But that don't mean that we really
love them or that we don't
'Cos I can't love you
And you can't love me
But I can love you
And you can lover me
Love me
It's not a confrontation
(ALL ACROSS THE WORLD OPEN YOUR MOUTH)
We are here because we are broke
(GIVE US WHAT WE WANT, WE'VE HAD ENOUGH)
But we don't expect a hand out of anything
(SOUL! SOUL! SOUL! SOUL! SOUL!)
'Cos I can't help you
And you can't help me
Oh I can help you
And you can help me
I can help you
You can help me
I can help you
You can help me
Help me
Help you
(It's not an impossible situation)
Help me
(It's not an impossible situation)
Help you
(It's not an impossible situation)
Help me
(It's not an impossible situation)
I know there is doubt we can do this
but
I can help you
03 Lost in the Plot (04:49)
Take me for drive to the coastline
Pull me to the depths of the sea
Leave me in the middle of the ocean
I can walk the rest of the way
And I promise not to cry anymore
All the reasons beat the crap out of me
Everyday when I wake up they are waiting
But I promise not to cry anymore
'Cos it's the same old plot these things
Oh it's the same old plot these things
Oh it's the same old plot these things
Oh it's the same old...
Our love, don't mess with our love
Our love is so much stronger
Our love, don't mess with our love
Our love is so much stronger
Oh it's the same old plot these things
Oh it's the same old plot these things
Oh it's the same old plot
Same old plot
Same old plot these things
Oh I promise not to cry
Oh I promise not to cry
Oh I promise not to cry
Anymore
06 Expect the Worst/'Cos She's a Tourist (07:52)
This town
A likely down
Well, my summer in Perth was nice
Gimme Corona
Aeroplanes
And buxom dames
Oh I haven't been sleeping well
I've been a loner
My heart is aching
My back is breaking
It's me
It's you
It's me
It's you
So you've decided on an art school
So it's not that you were trying to be cruel
All she wanted was a boyfriend
Or a means to justifiable ends
Thirty years ago this wouldn't be
I was happy
Last night I flickered off to sleep at four AM
Now it's seven
Well, the ocean is long and deep but I'm gonna try
Maybe I'll die (don't hold me back, don't hold me back,
don't hold me back, don't hold me back)
Maybe I'll die (don't hold me back, don't hold me back,
don't hold me back, don't hold me back)
Maybe I'll die (don't hold me back, don't hold me back,
don't hold me back, don't hold me back)
Maybe I'll die (don't hold me back, don't hold me back,
don't hold me back, don't hold me back)
07 Pinned Together, Falling Apart (06:01)
I
Have
Been terrified
By the thought of losing you
So very terrified
By the thought of losing you
Stop telling me
I don't want to know
Stop telling me because I just don't ever
Want to know
No no no
No no no
No no no
No no no
I've been petrified
By the thought of losing you
Absolutely horrified
By the thought of losing you
Stop telling me
I don't want to know
Stop telling me because I just don't want to know
No no
No no no
No no no
No no
No no
No no
08 Never Destroy Us (04:29)
Whatd'you say that we go down together
And try to find out all the answers
Whatd'you say that we go down together
And try to find out what we missed
I will drop everything you better believe it
'Cos I mean it
And I know we can last
If we can forget about the past and start
again
Again
'gain-start again-start again-start a-
10 22: The Death of All the Romance (05:56)
I have never cried in anybody's arms
The way that I have often cried in yours
Please be the one to take my tears away
I was 22, I've had my share of views
I just can't steal that "happiness" from you
But I'll be the one to take your tears away
I can't believe the things you say
tell me, tell me
tell me the lies
Fasting love will lead us all to nowhere
When, when will we learn
I shall avenge the death of all the romance
Until, until I'm gone
I can't believe the things you say
tell me, tell me
tell me the lies
I can't believe the things you say
tell me, tell me
tell me the lies
I can't believe the things you say
tell me, tell me
tell me the lies
tell me the lies
tell me the lies
tell me, tell me the lies
12 No Cities Left (05:23)
Let's just keep fighting the end
We're holding hands
We're making plans
For Life
Let's just keep fighting the end
Last time I swear
or we'll go nowhere tonight
Don't you think that now
is the time to move on
If you don't mind well I'll
just keep holding on for good
Let's just keep fighting
the end of the world
We will hold hands and
We will make plans
For Life
Loading comments slowly
Other reviews
By VxS
"'Who Are You, Defenders Of The Universe'... always the same two voices that risk getting trapped in a too-dark sentence spitting while the instruments create atmospheres that smell too much like Nick Cave."
"'No Cities Left' is an accordion that laments us from a place we will never be. It laments us and mocks us: 'don’t you think it’s time to stub out that cigarette and get up off the floor?'"
