Mediac

Six years after the Most Serene Republic last delivered a proper album, the group make it clear they weren't twiddling their thumbs during their downtime, releasing their fifth long player, Mediac, in 2015. The Most Serene Republic has always made music with a broad, panoramic scope, and Mediac is no different. The arrangements are as big and ambitious as ever, and the production by MSR keyboardist Ryan Lenssen (and the mix by David Newfeld) make this one of their most striking sounding works to date. It's full of layers of sonic detail but constructed with enough clarity and depth that the multiple elements work individually and as part of a grand larger canvas. And this is one band that knows how to paint a picture with its sounds — from the smooth but uneasy late-night slink of "Benefit of the Doubt," the unabashed joy of "Ontario Morning," and the frenetic mass of guitars on "The Feels," these performances are technically precise and emotionally compelling at the same time. While Mediac is a marvel in terms of performances and studio craftsmanship, the same can't be said of all the songs, some of which just don't register strongly from a melodic or lyrical standpoint ("Brain Etiquette" in particular is an inspired arrangement built around what sounds like a throw-away riff from a second-wave ska band). But if the songwriting is not as effective as it could be, the Most Serene Republic are in stellar form as a band, and Mediac confirms that in the studio they're a force to be reckoned with. When they do have a song that's worthy of their skills (like "Failure of Anger" or "The Feels"), they're still one of the most interesting and effective bands on the fertile Toronto indie music scene.