The Republic Tigers

Let's go ahead and say you like Coldplay. You find their inoffensive take on Bends-era Brit pop rather charming, and why shouldn't you? It fixes you when you need a quick interjection of nice-guy music. But you have a darker side—namely, Depeche Mode, and have always wondered what the two would sound like as a super group. Look no further, because Kansas City (of all places) has yielded the answer in The Republic Tigers.

Knowing these reference points, it's a bit weird to think that Keep Color was born from Americans minds; there are a few cultural reference points from the good ole US of A, such as the song "Air Guitar," a tongue and cheek tune about the odd subcultural rise of playing with the imaginary, but that said, the overarching '80s, synthy sound gives most of the album a very serious, brooding feel that's more fish 'n' chips than burgers and fries. Highlights include the futurist sound of "Feelin' The Future," a modest discussion about jet packs and hovercrafts, and the whispy, delicate closer "Cast On, Cast Off" leaves the listener with the perfect lulling-you-to-sleep feeling. One could complain that a lot of the tunes seem to bleed into each other—there's a certain depth that they're going for that might not be there quite yet—but it's still a modest yet striking debut.

—Michael D. Ayers
05.14.08