The Dears

Missiles

[3.5/5]

You could very academically discuss Montreal’s the Dears’ transition from orchestral pomp on 2000’s End Of A Hollywood Bedtime Story to more hard-hitting directness (2006’s Gang Of Losers) to the dreamy, intimate sound of their latest release, Missiles. Or you could just admit that the differences end up being negligible, and that the vocals, pop craftsmanship and fixations of frontman Murray Lightburn are a powerful enough constant to make categorization unnecessary. The Dears remain best when Lightburn and founding keyboardist Natalia Yanchak surround his keening vocals with epic constructions, as on the gorgeous, saxophone-assisted opener “Disclaimer,” or the eight-minute centerpiece “Lights Off,” which couches a Brian Wilson-esque plea for tenderness within its Beach Boys harmonies. Like Wilson and frequent critical reference point Morrissey, Lightburn’s musings are best met with equal grandeur-such as the low-key but effective sort Missiles usually provides. (DANGERBIRD) Dan LeRoy