Polysics has come a long way since their first release over ten years ago. While their noisy new-wave spirit is still firmly in place, their sound has evolved. While their first album 1st P was full of noise and crazy synths lost on the sea of distortion, their more recent efforts are much more clean and slick, with very clear vocals, drums and razor sharp synths. In a way they've dropped the DIY punk side in favor of studio polish. While some my cry foul of their new pop production, one has to admit that the songs are just as true to the Poly-spirit as ever.
The new single for "Pretty Good", released on 3-19-2008, is exactly that. Pretty good. I really wish I didn't have to resort to that obvious observation, but it's true. It's not their best material, but it's still pretty damn good.
"Pretty Good," the song, is straight up pop rock, with a pounding piano line (something new to the Poly sound) and a straight drum beat. It's a laundry-list of standard Poly-tricks, with a repeated but slight changed chorus, total non sequitur bridge, and tempo change-up at the end. Still, it's supper poppy and catchy and easy to swallow.
"Super Spin Girl" is a more groovy affair. A bit like their version of "My Sharona", only slowed way down. It doesn't pull a single trick, and while it has a nice chorus, it's almost instantly forgettable.
The final track "Uno Dos" is one of their excellent almost instrumental songs. If "Super Spin Girl" was too bland, then "Uno Dos" is the spastic counterpart. It only has a couple main parts to it, alternating from mid-tempo, to fast then faster, then very slow. The main hook is the crazy 8-bit synth line. Once again Hiro plays a really strange half-assed trumpet part out of the blue that's pretty hilarious.
Overall, the "Pretty Good" single is a bit of a let down. The songs are solid, but it does indeed show even more of a normalization of the Polysics sound. They are still crazy and energetic, but they aren't taking the same sorts of chances and challenges. This could be a symptom of over work, as they seem to release both albums and singles almost non-stop, all while touring the world. While it pains me to say it, perhaps it's time for the band to take a break, regroup and reconnect with the fighting spirit they had ten years ago.
Just a thought.
[You can buy Polysics CDs here, and help me buy more stuff too!]
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