The Arena Rock Recording Company (Elf Power, Gloria Record, Mink Lungs) recently signed Serene to its already healthy roster of well known and respected indie bands. Serene's first album, Beggars of the Sea, is the brain-child of Ryan Beatty. This album was released earlier independently with 10 songs. Now, it is a full 13-song album with many of the songs being re-mastered and re-recorded. Swirling guitar sounds that make you feel like you are surrounded by an enchanted sea light up the background and shape each song on Beggars... The gentle sounds work in relationship with Beatty's vocals that are reminiscent of Jeremy Enigk or Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie). Jesse Sprinkle's drum work adds a lot to Serene, but never overpowers. "The Angels Are On Our Side" features Sydney Rentz from MoFo, and her sweet singing fills out this track nicely. "Admiral Of the Oceans, Viceroy of India" drives forth the hardest of all the tracks, but is still introverted and pretty. Snippets of the Appleseed Cast can be heard on "Truth Never Fear Exposure To The Light" with sudden switches in tempo and sound levels. Beggars... captures a refreshing sound.
Editors' ratings - Doug 3.5/5, Jason 3.5/5
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Ken MuellerI'm not a very emotional guy. In fact, there are those who probably feel that I lack any emotions at all. But this new disc from Serene just has me flying high. This is perhaps one of the most beautiful albums I've heard in a long time. I hesitate to use the word "pretty" because of all the connotations that brings with it, but the songs on this disc are pretty. Not in a soft rock, love ballad…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Trae CadenheadAt first listen, Serene's self-titled release may seem to just be pretty music. However, repeated listens will reveal the music to be beautiful instead of just pretty, and the lyrical backdrop only contributes to this sonic art. Ryan Beatty released most of these songs on the Beggars of the Sea album in 2000 on Lewis Hollow Records. Now, re-recorded and released on a larger label, Beatty's work…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Michael LearyIt seems that one of the characteristics of our age is that a work of art doesn't have enough meaning unless it is dark and dreary. Whether in film, literature, or music, art doesn't affect us unless it shocks us through sadly immoral narratives or fatalistically depressing "slices of life". And nowhere is this notion clearer than in the independent music scene where it seems that so many artists…Opus 2001Reviewed by Jason MoreheadConsistency is a musical double-edged sword. If you lack it, you run the risk of sounding all scattered and unfocused. The result is music that claims to be adventurous, but just sounds like it has a bad case of ADD. On the other hand, too much consistency is just as bad (if not worse), because it produces music that quickly becomes formulaic and CDs that sound exactly the same from start to…Similar sounding releases
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