Polyphonic Spree, The / Yes, It's True
| Album: | Yes, It's True | Collection: | General | |
| Artist: | Polyphonic Spree, The | Added: | Aug 2013 | |
| Label: | Good Records | |||
A-File Activity
| Add Date: | 2013-09-09 | Pull Date: | 2013-11-11 |
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| Week Ending: | Nov 10 | Nov 3 | Oct 27 | Oct 20 | Oct 13 | Oct 6 | Sep 29 | Sep 22 |
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| Airplays: | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
Recent Airplay
| 1. | Nov 13, 2015: | Time Traveler
Section 35 (Hold Yourself Up) |
4. | Nov 13, 2014: | The Fishbowl
Section 43 (Battlefield) |
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| 2. | Nov 08, 2015: | Breakaway Bluff
Section 42 (What Would You Do?), Section 41 (Raise Your Head) |
5. | Jan 07, 2014: | Meow: The Best Of 2013
Section 33 (You Don't Know Me) |
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| 3. | Apr 24, 2015: | Time Traveler
Section 36 (Carefully Try) |
6. | Nov 15, 2013: | Time Traveler
Section 35 (Hold Yourself Up) |
Album Review
Francis D
Reviewed 2013-09-04
Reviewed 2013-09-04
“Yes, It’s True” The Polyphonic Spree
The Polyphonic Spree is a 23-member choral symphonic indie pop-rock band from Dallas, Texas that was formed by lead singer, Tim DeLaughter, in 2000. This is the Spree’s fourth full-length album and first since 2007. DeLaughter’s original inspiration was to explore the music of bands from the 1960s and 1970s, and that inspiration remains quite apparent in this CD. The band lives to perform (in floor-length robes, most of the time!) and its music is saturated with such positive energy that one is not sure whether it’s all a big put on. But real persona or not, the Polyphonic Spree has produced another CD that is well worth your time. RIYL: The Flaming Lips, The New Pornographers, David Bowie (try tracks 6 and 5), or Super Furry Animals.
— Francis
Recommended: 1, 10, 2, 4, 11, 5, 6. No FCCs detected.
1. (3:24) You Don’t Know Me — Great indie pop, with a bit of a retro sound. Strong beat, rich vocals — plus a few swirls and flourishes. Big sound created by the 23-member ensemble — including an 8-voice choir. ****
2. (4:13) Popular By Design — Another up-tempo, fully orchestrated indie pop song with a strong hook. Cheesy, cheerleader-style backup vocals. Effects like a tape stopping and starting are added in one lead break. The cheers are played backward in the final few stanzas. ***
3. (4:23) Hold Yourself Up — Delicate synth open, then accelerates into another up-tempo indie pop standard that sounds a lot like the New Pornographers. Bells and “na-na-na” chorus in lead break.
4. (3:55) Carefully Try — Strings, horns and timpani rumbles accompany an indie pop tune with nice dynamics. Careful!! Prototypical FM DJ back-announces the tune at the end. ***
5. (4:08) You’re Golden — Very nice piano ballad. Polished, yet with a raw and real delivery — like a David Bowie slow song from the 1970s. Gimmick — music played backward in lead break. ***
6. (3:42) Heart Talk — Did I just mention David Bowie? Here’s a playful Bowie tribute/knockoff right down to the beat, saxophone, honky tonk piano, and clackers. **
7. (4:25) Blurry Up the Lines — Song alternates between halting and mysterious and clashing and crashing. Fully orchestrated by end.
8. (3:13) Let Them Be — March-like drumming, piano, processed vocals (suggesting underwater?), and glockenspiel-like synths. Lyrics are about aquatic life. Very old-fashioned feel.
9. (5:18) Raise Your Head — Noise and distortion transform into a synth-pop-driven, layered anthem. Synths are somewhat reminiscent of songs from the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album.
10. (4:36) What Would You Do? — Another polished, power pop, glam-like anthem sounding like it’s out of the 1970s. DeLaughter sings with a kind of crazy energy at times. ***
11. (7:27) Battlefield — Great closing piano ballad that feels very Beatlesque. Brass and other instruments are added as the song progresses. Note — false ending at 3:55. Then, after a 15-second break, synth chords are looped endlessly for the last 3:15 like a 2013 version of the Sgt. Pepper’s “A Day in the Life” trail-out. ***
The Polyphonic Spree is a 23-member choral symphonic indie pop-rock band from Dallas, Texas that was formed by lead singer, Tim DeLaughter, in 2000. This is the Spree’s fourth full-length album and first since 2007. DeLaughter’s original inspiration was to explore the music of bands from the 1960s and 1970s, and that inspiration remains quite apparent in this CD. The band lives to perform (in floor-length robes, most of the time!) and its music is saturated with such positive energy that one is not sure whether it’s all a big put on. But real persona or not, the Polyphonic Spree has produced another CD that is well worth your time. RIYL: The Flaming Lips, The New Pornographers, David Bowie (try tracks 6 and 5), or Super Furry Animals.
— Francis
Recommended: 1, 10, 2, 4, 11, 5, 6. No FCCs detected.
1. (3:24) You Don’t Know Me — Great indie pop, with a bit of a retro sound. Strong beat, rich vocals — plus a few swirls and flourishes. Big sound created by the 23-member ensemble — including an 8-voice choir. ****
2. (4:13) Popular By Design — Another up-tempo, fully orchestrated indie pop song with a strong hook. Cheesy, cheerleader-style backup vocals. Effects like a tape stopping and starting are added in one lead break. The cheers are played backward in the final few stanzas. ***
3. (4:23) Hold Yourself Up — Delicate synth open, then accelerates into another up-tempo indie pop standard that sounds a lot like the New Pornographers. Bells and “na-na-na” chorus in lead break.
4. (3:55) Carefully Try — Strings, horns and timpani rumbles accompany an indie pop tune with nice dynamics. Careful!! Prototypical FM DJ back-announces the tune at the end. ***
5. (4:08) You’re Golden — Very nice piano ballad. Polished, yet with a raw and real delivery — like a David Bowie slow song from the 1970s. Gimmick — music played backward in lead break. ***
6. (3:42) Heart Talk — Did I just mention David Bowie? Here’s a playful Bowie tribute/knockoff right down to the beat, saxophone, honky tonk piano, and clackers. **
7. (4:25) Blurry Up the Lines — Song alternates between halting and mysterious and clashing and crashing. Fully orchestrated by end.
8. (3:13) Let Them Be — March-like drumming, piano, processed vocals (suggesting underwater?), and glockenspiel-like synths. Lyrics are about aquatic life. Very old-fashioned feel.
9. (5:18) Raise Your Head — Noise and distortion transform into a synth-pop-driven, layered anthem. Synths are somewhat reminiscent of songs from the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album.
10. (4:36) What Would You Do? — Another polished, power pop, glam-like anthem sounding like it’s out of the 1970s. DeLaughter sings with a kind of crazy energy at times. ***
11. (7:27) Battlefield — Great closing piano ballad that feels very Beatlesque. Brass and other instruments are added as the song progresses. Note — false ending at 3:55. Then, after a 15-second break, synth chords are looped endlessly for the last 3:15 like a 2013 version of the Sgt. Pepper’s “A Day in the Life” trail-out. ***
Track Listing