There’s something heavily attractive and overwhelmingly endearing about the music of The Dears.  Missiles, their new album is a kaleidoscopic blend of styles that catches your attention right from the first song.  The steady wall of sound that bedrocks “Disclaimer” is washed by a mournful sax making the whole of the song an immediate download for your iPod or PC.  Take my word…go get the song and then come back here.  But then it is followed by an extraordinary “Dream Job,” and a great, noisy yet melodic “Money Babies.”  After which, you still have seven more exhilarating tunes.

The Dears come from Montreal.  Canada is fast becoming a hotbed of engaging new talent that is making me watch what comes out of the North much more closely.  And with bands like The Dears, who has honed every song on this new album (their 4th) to individualistic perfection, we’re getting lots of excellent and thoughtful music for our consumption.

Punkish, era-Pop with a melancholic edge, at times noisy and at times tender, The Dears has come to capture attention.  And they will do it with Missiles.