''No Hats Beyond this Point'' is the sixth studio album by Canadian

synthpop Synth-pop (short for synthesizer pop; also called techno-pop; ) is a subgenre of new wave music that first became prominent in the late 1970s and features the synthesizer as the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s a ...

group

Men Without Hats Men Without Hats are a Canadian New wave music, new wave and synth-pop band, originally from Montreal, Quebec. Their music is characterized by the baritone voice of their lead singer Ivan Doroschuk, as well as their elaborate use of synthesizers ...

. Released in 2003, it was their first album in twelve years. After the release of the album, the group broke up. It was the group's third and final album to be produced by Stefan Doroschuk.

Style and availability

The album's music consisted almost entirely of synthesizers, reverting to the group's previous sound. "How Does it Feel", the fourth track on the album, dates back to 2000, having been written for

Ivan Doroschuk Ivan Eugene Doroschuk (, ), born 9 October 1957, is an American-born Canadian musician. He is the lead vocalist and founding member of Men Without Hats, best known for the hit song "The Safety Dance". Early life Ivan Doroschuk was born on ...

's putative second solo album. It is considered an "underground" album, a rarity that was not released to any record stores. In 2011, however, Stefan released the album commercially on several platforms for digital streaming and download. All instruments were played by brothers Ivan and Stefan Doroschuk, with Ivan as lead singer. Female background vocals were provided by Stefan's wife Mary-Lou Deehy, joined on one track by Stefan's daughters Mary-Lynn and Emmy-Lou Doroschuk.

Critical reception

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

's David Jeffries noted the return of the band's iconic graphic symbol and synthesizer sound, in a negative review that contrasted "the wry songwriting and catchy melodies of the early days" with unsatisfying "juvenile instrumental backing" and "insipid melodies" on the new album. The review criticized the album's social commentary as excessive, "simplistic and filled with clichés," and added, "It's hard not to cringe when main man Ivan Doroschuk delivers such sophomoric lyrics so sternly."

Track listing

Personnel

– vocals, guitar, synthesizer * Stefan Doroschuk – vocals, guitar, violin * Emmy-Lou Doroschuk, Mary-Lynn Doroschuk – backing vocals * Mary-Lou Deehy – backing vocals

Notes

References

External links

* * {{Authority control Men Without Hats albums 2003 albums