Man, I love the Dears.  This, the newest release from the Montreal four-piece, is a collection of songs from the 1995 to 1998 period of their existence.  I don't even have to hesitate to say that this is an excellent album.   However, those looking for more of the pop noir that the band introduced us to on "End of a Hollywood Bedtime Story" may be disappointed.   Fortunately, their disappointment won't last for long.  In fact, it will only last until they realize that this, although different, is still one heck of an album.

In their earlier years, the Dears made some really catchy pop music.  Even under the limitations of lo-fi recording equipment, they still manage to rock through each one of these ten songs.  "Nine Eight Two," for example, is an amazing track.  Combining delicious riffs with a to-die-for melody, the Dears have crafted the song perfectly.  Meanwhile, "Can't Remember Anything Else" succeeds as a mellower song, kind of sounding like a less electronic Spiritualized track.

Altogether, this is a superb collection of music from the Dears' early years.  Combining rockers like "Everlasting" and the infectious "Mute Button" with gentler material like "The Way the World Treats You" and "Can't Remember Anything Else," this album is a great choice for any indie rock fan.