The Dear and Departed - Something Quite Peculiar

A British/Australian/Kiwi quintet based in southern California, The Dear And Departed took the title of their debut album from a refrain in The Church's moody 1987 hit "Under the Milky Way," which they have a bash at towards the album's end. Might as well, since on some level, most of the 13 songs that precede the cover are merely a rewrite of Steve Kilbey's most popular tune. In retrospect, "Under the Milky Way" has turned out to be an unexpected touchstone of the pop side of emo: mopey lyrics made opaque by strained attempts at poesy, a catchy tune that's hampered somewhat by the terrible vocals, and an overall sense of self-importance that threatens to overshadow the song's undeniable charms. Read More