No Cities Left is the second album by Canadian band The Dears, released in 2003 on MapleMusic Recordings. The album features fellow Canadian indie-rocker Sam Roberts playing violin on "Never Destroy Us".
Track listing All songs written by Murray Lightburn. "We Can Have It" – 5:42 "Who Are You, Defenders of the Universe?" – 3:41 "Lost in the Plot" – 4:48 "The Second Part" – 5:42 "Don't Lose the Faith" – 3:10 "Expect the Worst/'Cos She's a Tourist" – 7:52 "Pinned Together, Falling Apart" – 6:01 "Never Destroy Us" – 4:29 "Warm and Sunny Days" – 5:47 "22: The Death of All the Romance" – 5:56 "Postcard from Purgatory" – 7:57 "No Cities Left" – 5:23
"Don't Lose the Faith" was omitted from the original American release.
Re-releases The 2005 re-release of No Cities Left included "Don't Lose the Faith" and also the content of their EP Protest.
In 2024, a 20th anniversary edition of the album was released, featuring six extra tracks of demos and acoustic versions.Megan Lapierre, "The Dears Reissue 'No Cities Left' for 20th Anniversary, Sign to Outside Music". Exclaim!, August 14, 2024. The reissue was promoted in part with a series of full-album concerts in Montreal, Toronto, and Hamilton. During the Montreal show at the Rialto Theatre, Murray Lightburn was spontaneously moved to tell the audience that life—despite its hardships—is fundamentally beautiful. After he asked the crowd to chant "Life is beautiful!" back to him three times, the moment inspired the title and themes of the band's 2025 album, Life Is Beautiful! Life Is Beautiful! Life Is Beautiful!Dave MacIntyre, "The Dears go all in on their new album Life Is Beautiful! Life Is Beautiful! Life Is Beautiful!". Cult MTL, November 20, 2025.
Videos Videos were released for "Lost in the Plot" and "22: The Death of All the Romance".
Personnel Murray Lightburn - Lead and background vocals, electric and acoustic guitar, Fender Rhodes, piano, melodica, midi programming, tambourine, maracas, handclaps Natalia Yanchak - NordElectro organ and clavinet, piano, synthesizers, Fender Rhodes, lead and background vocals, handclaps Martin Pelland - Bass guitar, background vocals, handclaps George Donoso III - Drums, background vocals, handclaps Valerie Jodoin-Keaton - background vocals, handclaps Sam Roberts - Violin Heather Schnarr - Violin Matthew Perrin - Double Bass Josh Fuhrman - Tenor Saxophone, baritone saxophone Brigitte Mayes - Cello, synthesizers, Fender Rhodes, flute, background vocals, handclaps The Brebeuf Brass : Matthew Watkins (trumpet), Chris Seligman (French horn) and Evan Cranley (Euphonium, trombone)
References