I fell head over in heals with The Dears the first time I heard their classic single Lost The Plot. It was a pure blast of romantically doomed indie that sound like a wonderful collision of The Smiths and Blur. Murray Lightburn's vocals were so reminiscent of both Morrissey and Damon Albarn I was amazed to discover that they were Canadian.
While promoting their forthcoming new album, Lightburn has been talking about how his listening habits have changed. Out with the old school indie and in with Miles Davies. I was worried when I heard that - it didn't bode well for the band's music.
Ticket to Immortality confirms those fears. Gone are the sweeping dynamics and stinging razor sharp arrangements and in their place, more complex time structures and a chorus that could be Queen with its heavy power chords. A major disappointment - a ticket to obscurity seems more likely.
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