Polyphonic Spree –My Fragile Affection for The Fragile Army

The Polyphonic Spree in their new black togs looking uber-serious.

I have an admittedly complex relationship with The Polyphonic Spree.  First of all, we’re both from Texas.  Because of us both being from Texas, I happened to, in my youth, catch many Tripping Daisy shows.  Tim DeLaughter, the musical director of Polyphonic Spree, used to be in that very nineties band that was one of the few “alternative” bands to play in El Paso, Texas.  So basically we go way back.  But that’s all ancient history.

This is what Tim DeLaughter used to look like back in the Tripping Daisy days when we used to hang at Club 101.

Read about why The Spree freaks me out and why I still like their music after the jump.

See?  Don't those white robes give you the shivers?

In more recent years, I’ve been admittedly freaked out by the Spree.  Robes?  Anything remotely cult-like scares me.  And then a Volkswagen commercial?  Slightly tacky at best (although that song was really catchy).  Plus, I don’t usually get the whole happy, love thing.  I like my music more angsty and tortured than that.  But on the upside, I love orchestrated rock.  And the new outfits are less culty and more fashionable (being black and all).  The one thing I’m still not sure about is the sentiment behind the songs.  Are they making some sort of political statement?  And if so, how does that fit in with doing a car commercial?  But I’ve always been good at separating the artist from the art and suffice it to say, that I like their new album, The Fragile Army.  It’s large and occasionally breathtaking and ultimately at it’s base got some solid pop-song writing.  But I’m not going to, like, pledge allegiance to them or anything. 

Comments

[drea]

Who woulda thought that a few bad nights at a bad club in a bad border town would have helped you write a uber-licious review of a band while you're living on the other side of the world? Awesome!

[drea]

Who woulda thought that a few bad nights at a bad club in a bad border town would have helped you write a uber-licious review of a band while you're living on the other side of the world? Awesome!