I'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 kind of way. This disc is filled with jangly swirling guitars, soaring melodies and lots of emotion.
Serene is primarily the work of Ryan Beatty, a 21-year old who has listened intently to the music of bands like Sunny Day Real Estate, capturing the essence of 90s era emo without merely cloning what he has heard. And he has brought together a great group of musicians, including drummer Jesse Sprinkle, as well as a guest shot from Morella's Forest vocalist Sydney Rentz (who adds a nice touch with vocals on songs like "The Angels are on Our Side.") Members of 7 Head Division are also along for the ride.
Even at its heaviest, there is an airiness about this music, and unlike most bands steeped in the emo tradition; it is delivered without the typical self-centered hand wringing and emotional writhing. This music is introspective, but Beatty isn't moping. Many of the songs are about broken and lost relationships, with a nod to what might have been, but there is an inherent hope and optimism buried just beneath the surface. And there is an element of spirituality. As for those of us who are Christians, Beatty throws down the gauntlet in songs like "Last Words of a Fallen Angel," trying to spur us on to a faith with teeth. Not just a faith based on what we have been told to believe by our parents or a particular denomination, but a faith that we have thoughtfully worked through on our own.
Arena Rock was wise in picking up this band that is already making a splash at college radio. This is an album any fan of well-crafted indie-pop will want in their CD player.
4.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
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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