"some of us will win, some of us will scream, some of us will die and some of us will sing..."
Diving into the latest from the much loved iconic choral art rock outfit The Polyphonic Spree'd latest psychedelic gospel avant pop spmg "Got Down To The Soul" and I did (gleefully) think of The Flaming Lips circa 1999 (The Soft Bulletin period) with drum cymbals on fire but much more elegant as if George Martin produced after wiped off all the fake blood. The Polyphonic Spree does have, after all, a touch of The Lips but have, to me, always felt more embracing and even though a large number of people in white or multi-color robes kind of freak me out I have always been able to feel moved by a lot of their work over the many years they have been in and around and out and about.
Tim DeLaughter lead vocal countenance has always felt more 'real' than the vocal artifice of Wayne Coyne who at times (face it) can feel more like a provocateur and even full on creep. Delaughter taps into the loss he has experienced and the intrinsic hope contained in all struggles and horrible things even if only held on by threads. For me "Got Down To The Soul" does, can, move from ID to carefully constructed ennui to causing chills. When those plaintive melodies and deep orchestral arpeggios hit you in the right way it can cause heart and stomach aches. It is the kind of song that can pour over me at my most depressed state and allow me to slowly float to the surface to live another day.
-Robb Donker Curtius
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM - PRESS NOTES:
https://www.facebook.com/polyphonicspree
https://twitter.com/PolySpree
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0inqWv3OS4VpWt691ki8yk
https://thepolyphonicspree.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/polyspree/
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-polyphonic-spree/3647816
https://thepolyphonicspree.com/
When the Polyphonic Spree first appeared in 2000, the Dallas symphonic pop group was as much a band as a "happening," in the 1960s sense of the word. The Spree's two dozen members, led by Tim DeLaughter, took the stage in flowing robes of snowy white, an appropriate backdrop for their happy and uplifting blend of pop, orchestral rock, and minimal touches of gospel. They found chart success with Together We're Heavy (2004) and The Fragile Army (2007), and after a long hiatus, issued a covers LP, Afflatus, in 2020. The costumes changed over the years, but the Polyphonic Spree's message remained consistent, drawing comparisons to the Flaming Lips and the Beach Boys with a smidgen of lively Godspell-like attitude thrown into the mix.
The Polyphonic Spree were founded by vocalist Tim DeLaughter, who fronted the band Tripping Daisy until 1999, when a drug overdose killed his bandmate Wes Berggren. Tripping Daisy subsequently folded, and DeLaughter pulled together surviving members of the group for the Polyphonic Spree, a massive collective that admitted more than 20 new members into its fold. The band put together a demo entitled The Beginning Stages of the Polyphonic Spree and distributed it to fans during a holiday performance; a Dallas-based indie label, Good Records, later issued the release. Boasting a ten-member choir, two keyboardists, percussion, bass guitar, flute, trumpets, trombone, violin, French horn, theremin, pedal steel, and an electronic effects wizard, the group had little trouble carving out their own unique niche.
DeLaughter emerged as the band's musical director and lead vocalist, and the Polyphonic Spree hit the road with more than a dozen full-sized vans. Despite the cumbersome nature of touring with an immense lineup, the group drew attention with their cathartic performances, including a gig during 2003's Reading Festival. The single "Follow the Day" was featured in Volkswagen commercials as well as the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind soundtrack, which helped the Polyphonic Spree earn even more exposure. The group's proper debut, Together We're Heavy, was co-released by Good Records and Hollywood Records during the summer of 2004, garnering the Spree additional accolades despite a vicious review by Entertainment Weekly.
Released in 2007, the Wait EP found the band moving in a darker, slightly more atmospheric direction, and they returned that summer with The Fragile Army, a reprise of the vibrant Technicolor sound of their earlier work. The group now sported black military outfits with red crosses stitched onto the front, signaling a newfound darkness that flecked The Fragile Army with brief flashes of melancholy and textured rock. As before, the Polyphonic Spree took their tent revival-esque show on the road, and the Live from Austin TX CD/DVD captured their strength as a live act later that year. In 2012, the psych-pop extravaganza decided to take on the challenge of holiday music, releasing Holidaydream: Sounds of the Holidays, Vol. 1, which found the band putting their own exuberant spin on some classic Christmas standards. Continuing to color the pop culture world with their brand of vibrant psychedelia, the group took on a cult classic and released the live album Songs from the Rocky Horror Picture Show in 2013, as well as the studio album Yes, It's True. Another full-length effort, Psychphonic, arrived the following year, and in 2021 the group released a collection of cover songs, Afflatus.
** At this particular time we find ourselves in a financial pinch due to many factors. We want to keep AP going. It has been a passion project for over 13 years. PLEASE consider donating, we could really use the support. Thanks so much
We get by with a little help from our friends
The Polyphonic Spree, indie rock, art rock, gospel, choral pop, avant pop, "Got Down To The Soul", ten member choir, keyboards, French horns, pedal steel, flute, guitar, theremin, lead singer Tim DeLaughter,
When the Polyphonic Spree first appeared in 2000, the Dallas symphonic pop group was as much a band as a "happening," in the 1960s sense of the word. The Spree's two dozen members, led by Tim DeLaughter, took the stage in flowing robes of snowy white, an appropriate backdrop for their happy and uplifting blend of pop, orchestral rock, and minimal touches of gospel. They found chart success with Together We're Heavy (2004) and The Fragile Army (2007), and after a long hiatus, issued a covers LP, Afflatus, in 2020. The costumes changed over the years, but the Polyphonic Spree's message remained consistent, drawing comparisons to the Flaming Lips and the Beach Boys with a smidgen of lively Godspell-like attitude thrown into the mix.
The Polyphonic Spree were founded by vocalist Tim DeLaughter, who fronted the band Tripping Daisy until 1999, when a drug overdose killed his bandmate Wes Berggren. Tripping Daisy subsequently folded, and DeLaughter pulled together surviving members of the group for the Polyphonic Spree, a massive collective that admitted more than 20 new members into its fold. The band put together a demo entitled The Beginning Stages of the Polyphonic Spree and distributed it to fans during a holiday performance; a Dallas-based indie label, Good Records, later issued the release. Boasting a ten-member choir, two keyboardists, percussion, bass guitar, flute, trumpets, trombone, violin, French horn, theremin, pedal steel, and an electronic effects wizard, the group had little trouble carving out their own unique niche.
DeLaughter emerged as the band's musical director and lead vocalist, and the Polyphonic Spree hit the road with more than a dozen full-sized vans. Despite the cumbersome nature of touring with an immense lineup, the group drew attention with their cathartic performances, including a gig during 2003's Reading Festival. The single "Follow the Day" was featured in Volkswagen commercials as well as the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind soundtrack, which helped the Polyphonic Spree earn even more exposure. The group's proper debut, Together We're Heavy, was co-released by Good Records and Hollywood Records during the summer of 2004, garnering the Spree additional accolades despite a vicious review by Entertainment Weekly.
Released in 2007, the Wait EP found the band moving in a darker, slightly more atmospheric direction, and they returned that summer with The Fragile Army, a reprise of the vibrant Technicolor sound of their earlier work. The group now sported black military outfits with red crosses stitched onto the front, signaling a newfound darkness that flecked The Fragile Army with brief flashes of melancholy and textured rock. As before, the Polyphonic Spree took their tent revival-esque show on the road, and the Live from Austin TX CD/DVD captured their strength as a live act later that year. In 2012, the psych-pop extravaganza decided to take on the challenge of holiday music, releasing Holidaydream: Sounds of the Holidays, Vol. 1, which found the band putting their own exuberant spin on some classic Christmas standards. Continuing to color the pop culture world with their brand of vibrant psychedelia, the group took on a cult classic and released the live album Songs from the Rocky Horror Picture Show in 2013, as well as the studio album Yes, It's True. Another full-length effort, Psychphonic, arrived the following year, and in 2021 the group released a collection of cover songs, Afflatus.
** At this particular time we find ourselves in a financial pinch due to many factors. We want to keep AP going. It has been a passion project for over 13 years. PLEASE consider donating, we could really use the support. Thanks so much
We get by with a little help from our friends
The Polyphonic Spree, indie rock, art rock, gospel, choral pop, avant pop, "Got Down To The Soul", ten member choir, keyboards, French horns, pedal steel, flute, guitar, theremin, lead singer Tim DeLaughter,
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