[4/5] You probably never would refer to the Dears as original. Their last album, 2004's No Cities Left, sounded like it was played by a crack band who had spent the past 10 years studying Suede albums while their singer wrote fan letters to Morrissey. For a follow-up, they continue paying deference to their musical heroes as they apply Velvet Underground artiness ("Bandwagoneers") and Pavement-style riffing ("Death Or Life We Want You") to Gang Of Losers' lush indie-pop ballads. But here's the thing about originality, guys: You don't really need it when you play this proficiently-or, furthermore, have the charisma of Dears leader Murray Lightburn, a first-rate lyricist who delivers his self-deprecating tales in both a plaintive drawl and a genuinely desperate scream. Seriously, forget Morrissey. If we had a band, we'd be ripping Lightburn off. (ARTS & CRAFTS) Trevor Kelley
 Official Website: http://www.arts-crafts.ca
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