The Funk: The Most Serene Republic

Posted by Dan October 10th, 2007 at 12:41pm In The Funk

The last time I came up to NYC to drink with the TiFaux crew, my trip was centered around a performance by Maria Bamford. A year later, the reason I finally got off my butt to make the trip up north was to see The Most Serene Republic.

The Most Serene Republic is a seven member army of Canadians who make dreamy, dense guitar pop. Their first album, Underwater Cinematographer, grabbed me enough to make it my favorite album of 2005. As wonderful as it was, it was also kind of all over the place. Layers of guitars, electronic beats, turn-on-a-dime mood switches — it was like when I was a little boy and made “stew.” Stew was made up of a little bit over everything in the fridge and pantry (baking chocolate, spicy mustard, milk, curry powder, rice, pepper, bay leaves, yellow mustard). Afterwards, I’d dare the kid down the street to eat it, and he did once. (yes, this is a tangent)

TMSR’s new album, Population, just came out last Tuesday and it is a lot more dramatic than their debut, but also more focused and melodic. It’s more cohesive and less experimental.

Here’s a clip of the band gallivanting about Europe. It makes me want to be young and creative and Canadian and in a band. And in Europe.

The song in the background is called “The Men Who Live Upstairs” and is my favorite track off the album.

It’s so melancholy and twinkly.[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/CkXkru38gis" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]