The Dears – Nor The Dahlias (1995-1998)
(Grenadine)

Contractual obligations are a bitch. Sometimes bands will do just about anything to get out of their contract, even if it means selling themselves short. They will release EPs, live albums, greatest hits packages or sometimes even the dreaded b-sides/rarities compilation. Granted, some bands release some of their best material through b-side compilations, but on the other hand, some bands just end up releasing a series of mediocre, poorly recorded songs that really didn’t deserve to see the light of day in the first place.

In the case of Montreal’s hip avante-garde pop ensemble, The Dears, the latter case would seem to ring true. It’s not that the music from Nor The Dahlias is terrible, it’s just that it really have very little to do with The Dears as they exist in their current incarnation. I believe Murray Lightburn is the only current member of the band who participated in the writing and recording of these older songs, and he certainly wears his brit-pop influences on his sleeves here. The first half of the album sees him doing his best Morrissey impression as the band provides lo-fi Smiths-esque accompaniment. Then about halfway through the album, keyboards and synthesizers enter the picture and the next wave of brit-pop shines through, with a Blur influence leading way. The vocal style also gradually changes, becoming a lot less morose, and developing a completely different British accent.

It’s definitely an interesting and revealing look back to the simpler roots of the band to see just how much they have grown and matured over the years. However, the recording quality definitely leaves something to be desired, particularly on the first few tracks, and the songs themselves are.. well, nothing special, to be honest. Fans of brit pop may find some of this music appealing, and the Dears completist will likely feel a need to own it, but as a general rule I can’t really recommend the album.

At the very least, The Dears tried their hardest to prevent fans from feeling ripped off by this record. The back of the cd contains no track listing, instead it displays only a website URL. If the thoughtful consumer were to venture to this website, he or she would find the entire album available for download in MP3 format. If that wasn’t enough, the liner notes include a letter from Murray explaining the entire situation quite clearly. Of course, by the time you reach the liner notes, it’s probably too late, as you’ve already purchased the cd. (Like I did.) — Sean