The Most Serene Republic
Underwater Cinematographer
Release Date: Jul 12, 2005
Genre(s): Indie, Rock
Record label: Arts & Crafts
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Album Review: Underwater Cinematographer by The Most Serene Republic
Excellent, Based on 2 Critics
Based on rating 8/10
The Most Serene Republic might tip their hats to their Arts & Crafts labelmates on their debut album Underwater Cinematographer, but this theatrical sextet is their own supergroup. Underwater Cinematographer comes off shiny and happy at first with its majestic piano arrangements dancing around angst-ridden guitar riffs and warm harmonies. Frontman/songwriter Adrian Jewett wears his heart on his sleeve like so many of indie rock's tortured souls (Lou Barlow, Ben Gibbard, Joey Sweeney), particularly on songs such as "The Protagonist Suddenly Realizes What He Must Do in the Middle of Downtown Traffic" and "In Places, Empty Spaces.
Opinion: Mediocre
The Most Serene Republic, a six-piece band from Milton, Ontario, just released their debut album on Arts & Crafts, a label that, thanks to the success of Broken Social Scene and Stars, has become the clearinghouse for up-and-coming Canadian bands. Whether or not you can sensibly call them products of a Canadian scene, MSR’s Underwater Cinematographer does resemble some of the recent releases on the label. Like Stars, the Arcade Fire, and now Wolf Parade, they have a precious and evidently entirely sincere lyrical outlook.