Modern rock in that Delirious fronts Hootie way, Polarboy's second full-length 4008 starts on the skin by going for blues and pop hooks amid masked new-country twang, and then slowly works its way through flesh to a soul.
Searching for the not-all-that-elusive Matchbox / Wallflowers formula, Polarboy's first six songs croon and strum and bop (sans 'sha-la-la') for a Campus Crusader audience -- similar to the almost-post-modern lyrical and fun-loving-but-too-mature-to-sweat-plugged-in-but-why-jangle angle taken by college poppers Jars of Clay and Smalltown Poets.
Near the middle of the album "Mountainman" subtracts the amps and adds the elements of banjo, acoustic guitar, female BGVs, and surely a washboard (although I can't prove it) -- really letting their yeeha get loud and proud -- to an innocent, mid-tempo southern spiritual of sorts about a man named Joseph who finds Jesus (oops, spoke too soon -- this one does have some 'sha-la-la' action).
"Fall" comes like a sonic wall off the sparse "Train Song" (an emotive number with wonderfully conservative drumming), layered and spiced with eclectic strings and shakers. The FYC whines (i.e. "Not the Man I Used to Be") frontman Pol -- or someone -- lets loose during the pre-bridges of "Fall" are shocking and nerve tingling; and combined with other eccentric, cautious touches (like an almost-gothic choir given one back up verse) make for a character rich, musically whole, and even daring song.
The album finishes with the honestly heart-wrenching, meandering piano passion-ballad, "Bria" -- a song that actually forces a pervasive image of psalmist David sitting on a foggy hill pouring out questions, laments, sorrow, and nervous anger. 4008 grows up along the way.
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Michial FarmerI've been listening to Polarboy's new album, 4008, for almost three weeks now, and I'm still finding it nearly impossible to write this review. The album is most certainly Southern rock, but I think there's more Lifes Rich Pageant than Second Helping to it -- various songs are colored with banjos, dobros and mandolins, and there's not a trace of the testosterone riffs and banal lyrics common to…Similar sounding releases
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