It started when I caught just a quick snippet of song which I had no idea who was singing on an iPod commercial. The only part I could make out was the phrase “reach for the sun.” But it sounded nice, so I figured I’d look it up. I Googled the phrase without much hope, but sure thing one of the first links that come up was for a group called “Polyphonic Spree.”
Yes, I downloaded the song from Kazaa. I’m an evil, evil man. But once I heard the whole thing it got played over and over and over and over and over and over and over … etc. you get the idea. I went out last night and bout the CD. I’ve been playing it at top volume in the car with all the windows open as a spell against falling objects.
I haven’t bought any new music sing Radiohead’s “OK Computer” came out a few years ago and this is the first group that has really created an interest this extreme in me. These guys rock. Imagine, if you will, what The Beatles may have sounded like of they had stayed together and continued on in the style of the Seargent Pepper / Yellow Submarine days. The comparison is apt, I think. The first track does owe a lot stylistically to “Free as a Bird.” Now imagine it done by a twenty piece rock /chorale / band / orchestra including traditional rock instruments but also viola, car tailpipes, a moog synthesizer (how long has it been since you’ve seen one of those?), flugelhorns and a full choir.
See them live if you get the chance. I caught them at the Coachella festival and they’re really a trip. All wearing long white robes…they look like some weird cult. I’m catching them in San Diego in November.
I recently discovered Polyphonic Spree through Amazon’s Best of 2002: Editor’s picks. I also Kazaa’d a song from them, “It’s the Sun.” I like it, but I haven’t bought the CD yet. If the rest of their catalog is like that song, I just might have to get it.
What’s really weird though, is that the main guy used to be in a band called Tripping Daisy.
Anyone remember them? They had a minor hit called I Got A Girl (“I got a girl who stares in the mirror, I got a girl who blames it on her period”). It was a grunge-pop thing from the early '90s and sounded nothing like Polyphonic Spree. It’s like the musical equivalent of changing your name to Mother Shabubu and moving out into the woods.
I chanced across a performance of theirs in Central Park a couple of Saturdays ago. Very unique live. Gex gex has the cult thing right. White robes and hippies galore!
Personally, I think the versions of the songs on the CD are too short. I don’t like the fit of the slow building intros, that take a minute to play out, with a 3:30 length song. They were better live, playing the same songs as 7-10 minute jams. Also, I prefer the versions of the songs on the Promo EP (that came with the album).
One interesting thing about the CD is the cover picture. It’s tacky 70’s crap and really ugly. But if you flip it over, it matches the back cover and the whole package works better.
I just wanted to say that I saw the VW commercial the other day, and did the exact same thing as Euty. Googled the lyrics, found them, and the band as well! It wasn’t until later when I did a search in the SDMB for threads related to this band that I found this one.
I went to high school with Tim DeLaughter, though he was a couple years ahead of me. I rather liked Tripping Daisy (“I Got a Girl” is in no way representative of that band), and Polyphonic Spree isn’t too far away from T.D. on some of their songs, like the one from the Volkswagen commercial. Very similar melodies, and DeLaughter’s voice is about as distinctive as can be. So if you like these guys, you might see if you can find some Tripping Daisy, particularly I Am an Elastic Firecracker and Bill.
I’m even more geeked now since I found out that their new album is due out around Christmastime and working on it is none other than Eric Drew Feldman who used to play with Captain Beefheart.
They seem to be one of those American bands who’re much bigger in Britain, possibly because they fulfil certain British expectations of what Americans are like (insane, grandiose, religious cultists).
Definitely very cool live: I’ve seen them play 3 times, once at a festival (immediately following The Moldy Peaches in a masterpiece of scheduling), once on a bill in between Interpol and The Datsuns (it was funny watching all the metallers there for the Datsuns try to mosh to the Polyphonic Spree, but you have to dance to the Spree’s music) and once headlining, when they all walked through the audience to the stage to an insane crowd response.
Their performances always have a mad rush of happiness, and the band on stage are totally insane, jumping around, doing backflips, and generally acting like proper rock stars in their robes. The album’s certainly worth having, and I’ve been playing it a lot in the car this summer. They also sell the robes at some of their shows, if you want to blend in.