Saturday, April 10, 2004
THE POLYPHONIC SPREE
The Beginning Stages of The Polyphonic Spree
Hollywood Records, 2003
After reading an article about this group, I had to check out their debut release, initially released independently and then picked up by Hollywood Records. This is not everyone's cup of syrup, I realize, but I think this is genius. I've listened to it all the way through multiple times.
If anyone doesn't know about it, it's best described in shorthand as Choral Symphonic Rock, but that really fails to capture the true majesty of both the concept and reality of The Polyphonic Spree. First of all, they play music that's somewhere between ELO, The Beach Boys and White Christian Gospel music. They take all the best elements of these and put them together in a delicate yet loud ensemble. And what an ensemble it is: I think they have about 20 people, including guitarists, bassists, drummers, and full-time players of viola, timpani drums, gong, piccolo, trumpet, flugelhorn, cello, bells, organ, keyboard and tambourine, as well as about 10 vocalists.
Then there's...the robes. They all wear white choir robes, giving the whole group the appearance of a group of maniacally grinning deranged cultists cavorting about the stage in ecstacy. Concertgoers must have the uneasy feeling that any minute the band members will assault them with requests for change and distribution of religious tracts. Unfortunately, the gimmick of the robes will clearly cause many people (unfairly) to dismiss these folks as a mere novelty act. I wish I would be wrong about that, because I would surely relish a long and productive recording and concert career for The Polyphonic Spree, with lots of interesting releases to collect. Here's hoping. RATING: Used Buy.
See The Cover
The Beginning Stages of The Polyphonic Spree
Hollywood Records, 2003
After reading an article about this group, I had to check out their debut release, initially released independently and then picked up by Hollywood Records. This is not everyone's cup of syrup, I realize, but I think this is genius. I've listened to it all the way through multiple times.
If anyone doesn't know about it, it's best described in shorthand as Choral Symphonic Rock, but that really fails to capture the true majesty of both the concept and reality of The Polyphonic Spree. First of all, they play music that's somewhere between ELO, The Beach Boys and White Christian Gospel music. They take all the best elements of these and put them together in a delicate yet loud ensemble. And what an ensemble it is: I think they have about 20 people, including guitarists, bassists, drummers, and full-time players of viola, timpani drums, gong, piccolo, trumpet, flugelhorn, cello, bells, organ, keyboard and tambourine, as well as about 10 vocalists.
Then there's...the robes. They all wear white choir robes, giving the whole group the appearance of a group of maniacally grinning deranged cultists cavorting about the stage in ecstacy. Concertgoers must have the uneasy feeling that any minute the band members will assault them with requests for change and distribution of religious tracts. Unfortunately, the gimmick of the robes will clearly cause many people (unfairly) to dismiss these folks as a mere novelty act. I wish I would be wrong about that, because I would surely relish a long and productive recording and concert career for The Polyphonic Spree, with lots of interesting releases to collect. Here's hoping. RATING: Used Buy.
See The Cover
