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Gang Of Losers Image
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 23 Ratings

  • Summary: The Montreal band led by Murray Lightburn is a little more rocking and a little less orchestral on this follow-up to 'No Cities Left.'
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 29
  2. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. The Dears have never sounded so comfortable in their own skin.
  2. A haunting disc that lingers long after the laser dies.
  3. The real difference between this album and past Dears efforts, though, is not so much musical directness as Lightburn's lyrical attempts to become the spokesman for the dispossessed.
  4. In the end, what makes the Dears a cut above, a band that deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as its Canadian indie compatriots the New Pornographers or Broken Social Scene, is the voice of Lightburn.
  5. The overall tone of the album isn't entirely dark and hopeless, although Lightburn fails to leave us with any specific resolve, instead content for some questions to remain unanswered.
  6. The Dears are now less idiosyncratic but have successfully made the kind of straightforwardly satisfying album that you'd expect from a band on their second decade.
  7. Shorn of the orchestral lushness that distinguished their previous effort, The Dears now have little to recommend them.

See all 29 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 12
  2. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. Cat
    Aug 11, 2007
    10
    Truly emotional and powerful stuff from this talented band. This was the best album of 06.
  2. ChrisM
    Dec 23, 2006
    10
    A full, satisfying listen. Haven't gotten so deep into an LP in quite a long time. The negative reviews leave me a little confused - A full, satisfying listen. Haven't gotten so deep into an LP in quite a long time. The negative reviews leave me a little confused - mainly because the substantive claims these reviewers make don't seem to match up at all. Expand
  3. BlakeL
    Aug 11, 2007
    10
    Great, great album.
  4. matta
    Oct 12, 2006
    9
    This is such a good album, definitely a step above No Cities Left and in my top twenty of the year so far. Some of the negative reviews are This is such a good album, definitely a step above No Cities Left and in my top twenty of the year so far. Some of the negative reviews are just lazy, and the Pitchfork one is especially maddening because it is pretty obvious that the writer is just someone at Pitchfork's girlfriend or sister (come on, she compares Lightburn's voice to Ben Folds). There are several stand-out tracks, especially Ticket To Immortality, Hate Then Love, and You And I Are A Gang Of Losers. Sure, it's been done before, but when it sounds this good, who cares? Expand
  5. OttoZ
    Nov 29, 2006
    9
    A great album. Spare yet lush, smart yet compulsive. Lightburn's vocal style is truly impressive. This is an album (and now a band) that A great album. Spare yet lush, smart yet compulsive. Lightburn's vocal style is truly impressive. This is an album (and now a band) that sounds like nothing you've heard before. Expand
  6. ewanm
    Oct 10, 2006
    8
    Impassioned, lyrical, and wonderfully melodic, the Dears have cast off those Smiths/ Blur comparisons to make a fine second album. Ignore the Impassioned, lyrical, and wonderfully melodic, the Dears have cast off those Smiths/ Blur comparisons to make a fine second album. Ignore the daft comments of the BBC collective review because this record has at least five outstanding tracks - a pretty good ratio by any reckoning. Expand
  7. JohnC
    Oct 3, 2006
    5
    It's alright, just awfully dull compared to No Cities Left (which is still ace). I've listened to this loads and not a single song It's alright, just awfully dull compared to No Cities Left (which is still ace). I've listened to this loads and not a single song on it leaves any real impression. It's just all OK in a Coldplay/Snow Patrol kind of way. Which is just terribly disappointing. Expand

See all 12 User Reviews