Underwater Cinematographer
by The Most Serene Republic
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 14
  3. Negative: 2 out of 14
  1. Alternative Press
    100
    Not many albums make you smile so much your face hurts. [Oct 2005, p.156]
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  2. Splendid
    90
    It's hard to imagine a band coming along this year with a better or more enjoyable debut.
  3. Drowned In Sound
    90
    So euphoric are the multiple highlights here that one can overlook the occasional dalliance with silliness.
  5. AllMusic
    80
    Underwater Cinematographer isn't your quintessential debut album. It's too complex, too inquisitive, and too ambitious.
  6. Neumu.net
    70
    It's the conviction and passion within the singing -- both male and female -- that wins me over in the end.
  7. Uncut
    70
    TMSR are a bit more focused and less shaggily psychedelic than [Broken Social Scene], but certainly never short on ideas. [Mar 2006, p.91]
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  8. Lost At Sea
    70
    The next album from the Most Serene Republic will be the real deal breaker, though; they'll have to define their role within Arts & Crafts either by diverging from the Broken Social Scene sound, or by mimicking it even more.
  9. Pitchfork
    68
    Instead of the charming, shaggy stoner vibe that permeates most of the current A&C catalog, Cinematographer shows off a nerdier, bookish quality.
  10. cokemachineglow
    66
    The Most Serene Republic demonstrate plenty of talent in frustratingly short bursts on their debut.
  11. PopMatters
    60
    Although several of the tracks on Underwater Cinematographer lack a certain individuality, the remainder brim with creativity and the notion that there's something spectacular around the corner.
  12. Prefix Magazine
    50
    Spirals downstream into dreary non-sequiturs faster than the glue addict who lives four blocks from me.
  13. Dusted Magazine
    40
    Now, we’re certainly all pro-happiness and exuberance, but the same doggedly optimistic message reiterated during several songs begins to sound more than a little shallow, even if such statements have a way of lending themselves more grandeur than they deserve.
  14. Magnet
    30
    Suggests some arcane Canuck payment scheme in which lyricists are compensated by the syllable. [#70, p.106]
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  15. Junkmedia
    10
    [They] could have easily narrowed the selections from their debut into a three song EP, or possibly even a single. In nixing eight or more of the songs from Underwater Cinematographer, the band would've also cut down on all the annoying shouting, half-melodies, pompous song structures and garbled lyrics.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 13
  3. Negative: 1 out of 13
  1. daveg
    Feb 21, 2007
    8
    this album does not get enough credit.
  2. Magomra
    Jan 30, 2006
    8
    A fun album from the only non BSS-related Arts and Crafts artist. Each track brings something new from sounding like Death Cab, The New A fun album from the only non BSS-related Arts and Crafts artist. Each track brings something new from sounding like Death Cab, The New Pornographers, Postal Service, and believe it or not, Broken Social Scene. I missed this in 2005 but I'm glad I found it in 2006.… Full Review »
  3. bobc
    Dec 12, 2005
    10
    Amazing! some of the best music all year!
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