Tracks
The Most Serene Republic: "Sherry And Her Butterfly Net"
(2007)
By Jessica Faulds | 31 January 2008
With this, the first single from their sophomore release, ADHD savants the Most Serene Republic have done it again, though what "it" is might vary depending on your penchant for sugary grandeur. If you aren't one for the precious precociousness of uber-ambitious wunderkinds, "it" might mean another five minutes of hookless, hyperspeed flailing, fruitlessly grasping at congruity. But from a perspective more sympathetic to flair, "it" could be seen as a powerhouse showcase of warmth and exultance, communicated through virtuosic performances. With "Sherry," it's a matter of taste rather than something you can actually place on the spectrum of good and bad. Either you like this strange amalgamation of twee and prog or you don't.
Whatever your inclination, there are things to pick at. The track starts off a bit unnecessarily, with the sounds of an orchestra tuning -- an unexpected cliché from a band that's trying to escape convention (but strings don't come cheap, so this might just be TMSR's way of flashing their bling). There's also the vocal mix, which errs a little on the low side, and the vocals themselves, which err a little on the superfluous side. And then there's the linear arrangement, borne of an unwillingness to repeat absolutely anything, the result of which is that you come away with a vague memory of lushness and intensity, but nothing you could hum. Despite their tendency toward the cerebral, TMSR haven't written something that can etch itself deeply into our neurons. I mean, even Rush had a track on Guitar Hero. The Most Serene Republic have the skills, the talent, and the energy to become the preeminent Arts & Crafts band -- now they just need learn to rein it in a little, and write a hook or two.
Whatever your inclination, there are things to pick at. The track starts off a bit unnecessarily, with the sounds of an orchestra tuning -- an unexpected cliché from a band that's trying to escape convention (but strings don't come cheap, so this might just be TMSR's way of flashing their bling). There's also the vocal mix, which errs a little on the low side, and the vocals themselves, which err a little on the superfluous side. And then there's the linear arrangement, borne of an unwillingness to repeat absolutely anything, the result of which is that you come away with a vague memory of lushness and intensity, but nothing you could hum. Despite their tendency toward the cerebral, TMSR haven't written something that can etch itself deeply into our neurons. I mean, even Rush had a track on Guitar Hero. The Most Serene Republic have the skills, the talent, and the energy to become the preeminent Arts & Crafts band -- now they just need learn to rein it in a little, and write a hook or two.