Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 16, 2026

No Cities Left

No Cities Left 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".

Last revised
Jul 16, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
455 w
Citations
6
Source
Wikipedia ↗
No Cities Left
Studio album by
The Dears
ReleasedApril 15, 2003 (2003-04-15)
RecordedApril 2002–2003
GenreIndie rock, baroque pop
Length62:51
LabelMapleMusic Recordings
ProducerMurray Lightburn
The Dears chronology
Protest
(2002) 		No Cities Left
(2003) 		Thank You Good Night Sold Out
(2004)
Singles from No Cities Left
  1. "We Can Have It" / "Summer of Protest"
    Released: 16 August 2004
  2. "Lost in the Plot"
    Released: 8 November 2004
  3. "22: The Death of All the Romance"
    Released: 2 May 2005
Alternative cover
US release cover
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic79/1001
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar2
Pitchfork6.8/103
The GuardianStarStarStarStar4
Drowned in Sound7/105
The A.V. ClubC+6

No Cities Left 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.

  1. "We Can Have It" – 5:42
  2. "Who Are You, Defenders of the Universe?" – 3:41
  3. "Lost in the Plot" – 4:48
  4. "The Second Part" – 5:42
  5. "Don't Lose the Faith" – 3:10
  6. "Expect the Worst/'Cos She's a Tourist" – 7:52
  7. "Pinned Together, Falling Apart" – 6:01
  8. "Never Destroy Us" – 4:29
  9. "Warm and Sunny Days" – 5:47
  10. "22: The Death of All the Romance" – 5:56
  11. "Postcard from Purgatory" – 7:57
  12. "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 an extra six tracks of demos and acoustic versions.

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

References

  1. "No Cities Left by The Dears". Metacritic. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  2. Monger, James Christopher. No Cities Left at AllMusic
  3. Abebe, Nitsuh (July 10, 2003). "No Cities Left". Pitchfork. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  4. Simpson, Dave (9 December 2004). "The Dears, No Cities Left – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  5. Farley, Andrew (September 21, 2004). "The Dears – No Cities Left". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  6. Modell, Josh (January 3, 2005). "The Dears: No Cities Left". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 28 January 2026.