Together We're Heavy

Artist: The Polyphonic Spree
Label: Hollywood Records
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 2

UPC: 720616245526
EAN: 0720616245526
ASIN: B0002IQ1QC

Release Date: 2004-07-13

Together We're Heavy

Related Categories:

General

| Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock

| Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Chamber Pop

| Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Neo-Psychedelia

General

| Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock

| Pop | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Section 11 (A Long Day Continues/We Sound Amazed)
Section 12 (Hold Me Now)
Section 12 (Diamonds/Mild Devotion To Majesty)
Section 14 (Two Thousand Places)
Section 15 (Ensure Your Reservation)
Section 16 (One Man Show)
Section 17 (Suitcase Calling)
Section 18 (Everything Starts At The Seam)
Section 19 (When The Fool Becomes A King)
Section 20 (Together We're Heavy)

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Customer Reviews:

Tremendous in every way possible........2007-04-10

The Polyphonic Spree are a like a gift from heaven to those (admittedly few) of us not enamoured with the likes of such dubious pop bands as Fall Out Boy or My Chemical Romance. Quite possibly the happiest band of all time, the Spree are a wholly unique phenomenon in this time of disingenuous, image-obsessed pop idols. Together We're Heavy is their best release to date. It is a work of incredible power and emotional depth. The music, written by the aptly surnamed Tim DeLaughter, is some of the most uplifting and optimistic stuff I've ever heard. Sure, the themes are childish. Cynics take endless delight in driving this point home over and over again, flogging the proverbial dead horse unto mucilage. But I find their innocent approach to music to be a breath of fresh air. And don't think for an instant that this innocence is a reflection of their musical abilities. The songs on Together We're Heavy are well written, very well played, and exceptionally well recorded.

The album gets off to a thunderous start with Section 11, which is surely one of the greatest album beginnings ever. Its majestic rock beat and blasting theremins are sure to draw comments like "Dude is that the music or are your speakers going to explode?" The rest of the album progresses similarly. I guess if you don't like one of the songs on this album you probably won't like any of them. It's not that there is no variety, but there is a similar sound from song to song. The Spree have a Steinman-esque affinity for excess, which often manifests itself in the form of a colossal wall of sound. This not-so-subtle approach might come off as a bit of a cheap thrill if it wasn't offset by some lovely quieter tracks. At any rate, covering a vast array of styles at once is clearly not one of the Spree's priorities. Section 12 (Hold Me Now) and Section 14 (Two Thousand Places) are definite highlights, as well as the climactic Section 19 (When The Fool Becomes A King). However, the best song is Section 17 (Suitcase Calling), as it contains just about everything you could ever want in a Polyphonic Spree song. All the songs contain strong melodies and most also have endlessly repeated chorus lines, as per Spree tradition.

Together We're Heavy is an epic album in a time when epic albums are no longer welcomed. I predict that it will someday be appreciated for what it is: A remarkably unique and heartfelt expression of people's desire to escape the stress of work and world events and be happy for no particular reason at all.

Makes Yes' "Tales From Topographic Oceans" sound like the Ramones.......2007-01-29

I was recommended this album by a respected music fan, describing it as a fantastic Smile-era music-loving collective of monks. Boy, what a huge disappointment.

Led by Tim DeLaughter, a guy whose voice grated on my nerves like nails on a chalkboard when he was in Tripping Daisy, Polyphonic Spree are nothing more than a bunch of stoned Up With People rejects in a bad production of Godspell.

Their music is tremendously dull, although they have all the right instruments: theremin, mini orchestra, flutes, happy horn sections, choir, you name it, it's here. Tim DeLaughter obviously thinks just having the 'right' instruments is enough.

There aren't songs per se, but mostly 'sections', as if this is a concept album, or a long magnum opus that must be heard from beginning to end (neither of which it is or should be). Without any memorable melodies or focus about what the heck Tim is singing about, the whole thing smacks of pretentia. Any similarity to Brian Wilson you might read about is pure superficial.

The Spree work better as a visual medium than on record, hence the DVD I got with the CD. When they weren't scaring me with their Mexican jumping beans on Speed routine, I laughed as Tim tried desperately to validate the band as a musical spiritual enlightenment, rather than the stoned gimmicky tripe it actually is. In the live portion, the band jump around constantly, trying REALLY hard to enjoy themselves. Too bad they don't try as hard to play their instruments correctly.

Also included are videos for the one decent song they had in them, "Light & Day" which unfortunately is from their last album, not this one.

Love this album.......2007-01-26

Saw the Spree playing of PBS live and couldn't get them off my mind so I took a chance and bought this album and love it. Feel good awesome pop 70's style. Try it you'll like it.

A diamond in the rough.......2006-08-04

Look, this is not a great or even very good cd but, it is well worth getting. It comes with a free DVD which is amazing.

This is not so much a musical group, rather it is a visual, utopian concept. If you do not buy the hippy optimism, then you will hate it. But if you like something different, this is the alternative of all alternative!

Be realistic, a 30 person band cannot make music compareable to a trio or quartet. It is probably hard to compose a song which lends itself to their choral sound. There is not a weak song on the cd, there is no filler but there are only 3-4 really good ones. I think the first track is the best.

The dvd is awesome. When you see the band play live, it is truly beautiful. "Light and day" is wonderful. The interview with the lead singer demonstrates that he is truly a very intelligent, creative and innovative person.

They probably cannot tour that much b/c of the costs of moving so many people. To see them live would be divine.

Musically, they are not a big deal but music lovers should appreciate their orginality. Nobody does what they do.

There is so much potential for this band. I think that they are the velvet underground of modern times.

It does what it's supposed to do!.......2006-06-11

It seems that the wrong crowd is listening to this band. Indie scenesters, psychadelia nerds and depressed adults all seem to think that this music was directed their way. Sorry, it really wasn't. The band doesn't jump enough bandwagons to be indie, they don't go on enough solo-benders to be akin to 60's psychadelia and they are way to mature to lower themselves to Bright Eyes-esque "adult" depression. What's the message? It's a simple one: don't let bad things ruin your life; just accept them and be merry.

Another attack on the band is the lack of complex or thought provoking lyrics. This was also the wrong aspect of the band to analyze. If it was all about the lyrics, than the 20-some other members would be superfluous and redundant. If you want thought-provocation, look elsewhere. There are plenty of other musicians out there who want nothing more than to warp your brain (in my opinion, Pink Floyd is NOT one of those bands). But music is subjective. Apparently the Spree don't want to make you feel stupid or depressed. They want you to be happy.

Which brings me to what makes this band truly stand out. Contemporaries are sighted as Mecury Rev and the Flaming Lips, who actually are largely different in both lyrics and execution. Fairer, more like-minded groups, would be The Arcade Fire or The New Pornographers or even, to a lesser extent, Sufjan Stevens. Truly, it's the bands pure innocence (or at least portrayal of) that makes them stand out. The loss of innocence is considered to be the true sign of adulthood, but the Polyphonic Spree make it a mission to prove otherwise. The band eminates a kind of non-christian purity that is not only infectuous, but also uplifting. Personally, I don't much care for being depressed. It is a breath of fresh air to see a band try dilligently to liven the spirits of a finicky crowd of people who want desperately to be reminded of why the world is so wrong.

I'm not saying that Bright Eyes, Death Cab or any other similar artists are wrong or unnecessary. In fact, their existence is one of the reasons that contemporary music is so wonderful and varied. But at least companion pieces like the Spree add a touch of sunshine to a very desolate musicscape. So people, please, be a bit more compassionate and a bit less arrogant.

If we had it your way, everyone would sound like Pink Floyd and Radiohead and than it would be no fun at all.

Music Album:

Music Album

Music Album

Music CD

What Is There to Say? ~ Gerry Mulligan

The King of Hot-Cha ~ Harry Roy

Big Band Era, Vol. 10 ~ Various Artists

Requiem ~ Lennie Tristano

Mir Shlufn Nisht ~ God Is My Co-Pilot

F4D ~ Electro Mana

Todos Sus Exitos ~ Lucybell

Cammenammo ~ Gigi d'Alessio

Gentlemen De Paris: Groovy Sounds From The 60's, Vol. 1 ~ Various Artists

To You ~ Stardust Revue