Life in A. Minor: Two for the Price of One

By Broadside Columnist Andy Minor

I have two things to discuss, and they both have to be done this week otherwise they won’t be within the realm of acceptable, timely journalism anymore. So instead of blabbering on about some individual topic, I’m going to blabber about two topics. I don’t really mean to confuse any of you by this, but there was an album out Tuesday from one of my favorite bands, plus a sweet show coming up next weekend that is a must-attend. That being said, I’ll begin with part one.

The Dears’ Missiles Released October 21

Many of you have heard me mention these Montreal mopers several times now, and naturally I was excited when, as a faithful member of their e-mail list for several years, I found out they were releasing another album this month. I was then impressed when their album got leaked on the internet, and I got an e-mail from the lead singer, Murray Lightburn, saying that I had one of three options: 1.) Download it now; 2.) Wait and buy it later; 3.) Both. Never before have I noticed a band resigning to the unstoppable wave of internet piracy in this way, aside from feeble statement-albums like the Smashing Pumpkins’ miserable Machina II. In that e-mail, I saw someone trying to make music for a living openly admitting that you can steal from him and he won’t know. Wild stuff, if you ask me, considering that the issue of mp3 pirating and copyright laws are probably the biggest issues facing the music industry today.

Due to this e-mail, I was a good boy and didn’t steal it; I waited until I could get the album and the lawyers couldn't get me. Was it worth it? Not all the way. I’ve only been through it a few times since Tuesday, but right now I feel the same way about Missiles as I did about the Dears’ previous release, Gang of Losers, when it first came out. None of the songs have that just-got-to-hear-again-and-again feel to them, and I think it will take a live show of these tunes to really set them in my ear properly. This album sees The Dears’ first efforts since losing most of their lineup, leaving only Lightburn and his wife as remaining original members. The sound really hasn’t changed, as Lightburn is clearly still the genius of this project, but there is a much more somber tone to this album. It’s almost as if Lightburn struck a heartfelt, minor chord on his favorite malaise-synthesizer and let it run constantly throughout recording. Missiles has all of my favorite melancholy Dears’ moments without as many of The Dears’ pick-me-ups. If I have to boil it down, don’t make this your first Dears album, but definitely put it in the mix once you have a firm handle on the band.

Hercules and Love Affair at 9:30 Club on November 2, 10 p.m.

I gave Hercules and Love Affair a very brief plug at the beginning of the semester, a short few weeks after I saw them open for Gnarls Barkley. If you properly recall, I was blown away by them then, so I was ecstatic when I saw they were headlining a set with D.C. natives the Dance Party (prolific name, if you ask me) opening up. The show is Sunday and doors don’t open until 10 p.m., so I am inviting all of you to create a good reason to skip your Monday morning classes and stay out all night dancing. If you still aren’t convinced that this show is going to rule, I’d like to attempt to relate to you the experience I had when I first saw Hercules and hopefully that will persuade you enough:
I was standing, legs tired, slightly drunk, in the pit of D.C. hipsters who came to get closer to the stage and exercise their patience at the same time. When the bland between-bands music went off the speakers I witnessed what looked like two men, one in a flowing white cloak and the other dressed from tip to toe in black leather, run onto the stage. They climbed atop the massive eight-foot speakers at either sides of the stage, promoting their black and white contrast at a level taller than the entire club. The band filed out after them, and when they began to play the two men, still seated, began to dance from the waist up. They remained that way for the entire show, while I was introduced to some of the best post-disco-synth-pop-dance-house I’ve heard in a while. My ears and eyes were overloaded sensually, so I retreated to the bar for another drink, dancing, spinning and grooving the entire way: the music had taken me over. See you Sunday.