Review Summary: A decent band release a decent album, with some decent songs.
The Dear & Departed are a band that gather members from all corners of the globe. They are an indie-pop-gothic band, with a few electronics thrown in, centered around a self-deprecating vocalist. The band is surprisingly unknown, considering they’ve toured with the likes of Avenged Sevenfold, Tiger Army, and AFI.
Something Quite Peculiar is a decent album, and provides an above average experience for the listener.
The music itself is rather depressing, but presents elements of pop. The album was co-produced by Jade Puget, of AFI, who put the majority of electronics within the music. One can hear a tinge of AFI at some moments. The guitar work and drums are pretty average, which push the vocals to the front, which is good since the vocals are what the band seemingly concentrated on the most. Under writes typical, yet good, lyrics. They cover a familiar topic of depression and angst, which can get annoying to some. However, there are some of these slightly cliché lyrics that do sound quite nice.
All along, I’ve tried to erase this pain,
I persevere but it’s always the same,
After all, that's how I’m told you are meant to feel,
But I refuse to believe this is real.
Something Quite Peculiar is a group effort. There are some good moments, and some not so good. One of the best would have to be the cover of
Under the Milky Way, which is a must hear track.
Hometown Hero presents a catchier-than-herpes chorus, and
Tonight’s the Night displays gang vocals and pop hooks. Many of the songs have great pop hooks and fantastic choruses, which makes the album very accessible.
The Dear & Departed have written a great album in
Something Quite Peculiar. It is catchy, accessible, and not overly cliché. I really wonder how the band went unnoticed, considering their touring past. They can drastically improve their musicianship and creativity, but when it comes to catchiness and pop hooks, they’re spot on. This album is definitely for those who enjoy a pop sound, as well as depressing themes in music. The Dear & Departed have made something quite peculiar.
