Most musicians are driven to prove just how cool they can be. Montreal collective the Dears take the contrary approach. Case in point: They named their latest album, due October 3rd, Gang of Losers.

"It was just a flippant remark you'd say about a group of people," says lead singer Murray Lightburn of the geeked-out title. "But really after much more thought, it became a metaphor for something a little more profound. I think there are so many groups of people and things that make other...