The Most Serene Republic

Fri., June 26, 9 p.m., with Buried Beds and Missing Palmer West, North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St., 215-787-0488, northstarbar.com

by Brian Howard

rock/pop

Yes, they're from Canada (Milton, Ontario), have myriad members (seven current, four former), and write sprawling, operatic songs with so-precious titles ("You're A Loose Cannon McArthur...but You Get the Job Done"). But don't lump in The Most Serene Republic with Arcade Fire, Stars and Broken Social Scene and then call it a day. Yes, there are similarities, but think of TMSR as these bands' younger brother — a bit naïve, a bit wide-eyed and always willing to pull off some crazy stunt to get attention. Sometimes the results are stunning, and sometimes they're not. Luckily the former outnumber the latter on the band's third LP, ...And the Ever Expanding Universe (Arts & Crafts).