The Dears Gang Of Losers. Release Date : October 3, 2006. Label: Maple Music. Rating: Adequate. (Screw points. To each his own!) This is one of those things I'm going to get shot for. But I don't think the Dears are the greatest thing since sliced bread. I'm liking this album so far, but I'm not getting all hear-ye-hear-ye about it. Maybe because there's not anyone left to hear-ye about it anyways. Everyone knows the Dears by now, don't they? Dare I say though, I find this just mildly on the dull side... or something. Maybe more like "uninspired." The tempos seem off, the vocals don't seem spirited enough for the music. I should like this, and I certainly don't hate it, but I think there's room for more spunk. "There Goes My Outfit" has a cute spunk to it. Rufus Wainwrightish. Everything before that has been largely background noise. "Ballad Of Humankindness" is also a standout - far more vibrant than the rest of the album. "I Fell Deep" is pretty snazzy too. So isolated bits and pieces - but they're going to have to step it up a bit to convince me those songs weren't just flukes. Song of choice : "There Goes My Outfit" -Andy Scheffler Elsewhere The Dears website Published : January, 2007.