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Feb 19, 2019 By Christopher Roberts The Dears

Murray A. Lightburn, frontman of Montréal’s The Dears, is releasing a new solo album, Hear Me Out, this Friday (February 22) via Dangerbird. Now he has shared another song from the album, “Fan Fiction (Ballad of a Genius).” Listen below, followed by his upcoming tour dates.

Previously Lightburn shared Hear Me Out‘s first single, “Belleville Blues” (which we premiered and was one of our Songs of the Week), which was followed by two other songs from the album: “Changed My Ways” and “To the Top” (via a black & white video for the track, which was also one of our Songs of the Week).

Lightburn had this to say about the album in a press release: “This album is about grown-up stuff. Having kids, having to sustain careers and sustain relationships, finding that thing that keeps you together in the midst of other circumstances that could tear you apart. The reason why the album’s called Hear Me Out, is it’s not only about expressing yourself, but listening too. Being able to communicate in a relationship is utterly crucial, if you’re gonna survive anything.”

Lightburn wrote and arranged all the songs on Hear Me Out, which was produced by Lightburn and Howard Bilerman (Leonard Cohen, Arcade Fire, Godspeed You Black Emperor!). It was recorded and mixed at Hotel2Tango in Montréal. Lightburn plays a lot of different instruments on the album: lead and background vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, organ, Mellotron, piano, tubular bells, vibraphone, tambourine, and maracas. The album also features guest vocals from Catherine McCandless of Young Galaxy and Ariel Engel of Broken Social Scene and La Force, as well as Hawksley Workman on bongos. Plus the album includes the following players: Jeff Luciani (drums), Rémi-Jean Leblanc (bass guitar), Steve Raegele (electric guitar and acoustic guitar), Gregory Burton (piano), and Liam O’Neil (piano and tenor saxophone).

Under the Radar and The Dears go way back. We first discovered the band as they were preparing to release their 2003 sophomore album, No Cities Left, which still remains one of our favorites and made the Top 20 in our Top 200 Albums of the Decade list in our Best of the Decade issue in 2009. We then put Lightburn on the cover of our print magazine in honor of The Dears’ 2006 album, Gang of Losers. The Dears’ last album was 2017’s Times Infinity Volume Two, which was the follow-up to 2015’s Times Infinity Volume One. Lightburn’s last solo album was 2013’s Mass: Light.

Murray A. Lightburn Tour Dates:

02/23 - New York, NY @ Rockwood Music Hall
02/28 - Toronto, ON @ The Burdock (early)
02/28 - Toronto, ON @ The Burdock (late)
03/01 - Montreal, PQ @ Bar Le Ritz
03/07 - Vancouver, BC @ Fox Cabaret
03/08 - Los Angeles, CA @ Hotel Café
03/09 - Mexico City, MX @ Departamento
03/11 - Austin, TX @ The Mohawk (AV Club/SXSW, 8pm)
03/12 - Austin, TX @ Carita’s Community Kitchen (South by Soup Fest/SXSW, 11am)
03/13 - Austin, TX @ The Clubhouse (SXSW - 5pm)
03/15 - Austin, TX @ Barracuda (Dangerbird/SXSW)
03/27 - Waterloo, ON @ Starlight Club
03/28 - London, ON @ Rosewood Room
03/29 - Burnstown, ON @ Neat Café
04/01 - Boston, MA @ Middle East Upstairs
04/02 - Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle
04/24 - London, UK @ St. Pancras Old Church
04/25 - Bristol, UK @ Colston Hall Foyer
04/26 - Halifax, UK @ The Lantern
04/27 - Newcastle, UK @ Think Tank
04/28 - Cambridge, UK @ Portland Arms
04/30 - Newton Abbot, UK @ Kingskerswell Church
05/01 - Leicester, UK @ Soundhouse
05/03 - Genova, IT @ Theater Bloser
05/04 - Vicenza, IT @ Orvettspace
05/05 - Rome, IT @ Casa Agileto
05/07 - Utrecht, NL @ Tivoli Vredenburg
05/09 - Hesselt, BE @ Hasselt Café

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