...And The Ever Expanding Universe
by The Most Serene Republic
LABEL: Arts & Crafts
Usually when a band tries to incorporate different styles into a single album, it comes out gimmicky and, quite frankly, a little annoying. These eclectic mixes might seem disconcerting, but And the Ever Expanding Universe... pulls it off wonderfully. The Most Serene Republic has scored again with another album that is very catchy without being sugary sweet. Like a trip through the evolution of today's modern sound, The Most Serene Republic teams up piano and acoustic guitar arrangements with poppy synth while the beat varies from thunderous rock to stylish electronic breakbeats. They even include an interlude composed of a string quartet, which strangely doesn't feel out of place; it's completely on theme.
Dampened and understated, the vocals become part of the musical instrumentation as a whole. Hearing the actual content of the lyrics is just a tinge tedious, but the harmony it creates with the rest of the sound is mesmerizing. With little distinction made between the human voice and breathy mellow background synths, everything is molded into one spellbinding melody. This sweet and harmonious interplay between vocalists Adrian Jewett and Ryan Lenssen really colors the entire ambiance and feel of the album. Thankfully, the boy-girl dynamic isn't used to the create sappy love song cliché of call and response between the two sexes.
The drum mechanics are absolutely brilliant. Most of the album takes place in a sort of spacey half-time feel in which the drums have an amazing capacity to innovate and create. There are many moments when the songs shift to a lofty, grandiose movement, giving the percussion copious amounts of time to shape and mold. Much of the the album's success relies on drummer Adam Balsam's performance and he capitalizes on the opportunity. If you like bopping your head up and down like a human metronome, this album is definitely worth checking out.
REVIEWED BY BRANDON McKINNEY
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