The Most Serene Republic
“Heavens To Purgatory” (mp3)
from “…And The Ever Expanding Universe”
(Arts & Crafts)
Buy at Rhapsody
More On This Album
Genre: Alternative
Release Date: 7/14/09
UPC:827590440029
Territory: Worldwide
The Most Serene Republic is a Canadian indie rock band formed in Milton, Ontario, by band members Adrian Jewett, Ryan Lenssen, and Nick Greaves, who had all left school to pursue more artistic ventures. The band takes its name from the sobriquet of formerly independent Venice under the Doges, which was regarded as “The Most Serene Republic of Venice.” The six-piece released its debut album, Underwater Cinematographer, in 2005 on the Juno Award-stockpiling Arts & Crafts label. As the first band on A&C that isn’t related in one way or another to Broken Social Scene (though Ryan and Adrian perform sometimes in their live shows), this group of newcomers draw a curious eye in the labels roster and have subsequently set out to create a discography of unique and engrossing material. They later released a tour EP in spring/summer of 2006, titled Phages, capturing more of the sweep of their highly recommended live performances alongside BSS, Metric, Stars, and The Strokes. Their sophomore album Population was released by Arts & Crafts in 2007 to positive reviews for their complex, precise, and highly layered sound.
With their previous two acclaimed albums and an EP already under their belts, these just now 24-year old musicians have prepped their third full-length, …And The Ever Expanding Universe. Produced by Dave Newfeld (Broken Social Scene, Super Furry Animals), their new record depicts Republic confidently striding forward with a more mature, diverse and exhilarating sound fueled by classical piano, an obsession with musical history, attention to detail, and Joycian stream-of-conscious lyrics.
Here’s what Much Music’s online blog, The New Music has to say about TMSR’s new album, a great description if we may say so:
“Recorded with Broken Social Scene’s in-house producer Dave Newfeld, the band’s third full-length, …And the Ever Expanding Universe, begins with a grand proclamation in “Bubble Reputation,” an urgent opus filled with dizzying twists and turns. From there both “Phi” and “Four Humours” borrow some ancestral inspiration from forefathers Broken Social Scene with heavy distortion and tight Teutonic drumming.
But it’s the album’s central couplet of “All of One is the Other” and “Patternicity” that really introduces the listener to this TMSR’s unlimited ability. The former is a sweeping comedown accentuated by undulating piano keys and languid vocals. The latter is arguably the finest moment of their six-year career: an instrumental juggernaut that eschews the band’s more pop tendencies for classical brilliance and a string-led, dramatic arc that sounds as though it was designed for a BBC natural history series.
Don’t let their aspirations fool you, …And the Ever Expanding Universe is more of a loose, kaleidoscopic pop album than it is a young band indulging in some overexcited prog rock gesturing.” –The New Music
Be sure to pick up this fantastic new record from Arts & Craft’s brave young explorers. Broken Social Scene isn’t the only great indie band in Canada donchyaknow!
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Tags: Arts & Crafts, Broken Social Scene, Metric, Stars, The Most Serene Republic, The Strokes
