Album Review of the Week - NO LAND’S MAN by the Republic Tigers

THE REPUBLIC TIGERS --“NO LAND’S MAN” EP

 Chop Shop Records

In one of my first samplers of the year, I picked up a SXSW sampler, containing the Republic Tigers.  I dug 'Merrymake It With Me' from the beginning, and had included it on my best of 2011 list.  I was intrigued when I noticed The Republic Tigers among the searches that were leading to my blog.  Here's what I learned:

THE REPUBLIC TIGERS returned earlier this year with NO LAND’S MAN EP.  Available on April 16th at Indie Record stores nationwide as a Record Store Day Exclusive; and a digital album April 19. The experimental indie pop band The Republic Tigers' much-awaited 4-song EP, No Land's Man was self-produced and recorded in the band’s hometown of Kansas City, MO. No Land's Man includes three new songs, plus 'The Nerve (Nervous Dancing),' an uptempo reworking of the song 'the Nerve' from KEEP COLOR.

'Merrymake It With Me', starts of well, putting me in a chill-happy trance pondering what exactly it is to "merrymake it" with someone.  I had an odd feeling when listening to the track for the first few times, trying to figure out who they remind me of.  But once I listened to the full No Land's Man E.P. 'The Infidel' immediately incited memories of Duran Duran's early 90's album with 'Come Undone' and 'Ordinary World'.  I kept this thought to myself, but when asking friends their thoughts, the same band and even album comes to mind.  The 'Infidel' is another favorite song, pulling me further into my music trance.  'Lonely As I Was' snaps me out of it with an 80's beat.  Overall, the four track E.P. gets a 4.5 star rating from me, with 'The Nerve/Nervous Dancing' being the default weak spot as it is the only non five star track.

The band had been reported to have begun work in Kansas City on their second full-length album, expected to arrive later in 2011.