Polyphonic Press: Classic Album Reviews

Jeremy Boyd & Jon VanDyk•www.polyphonicpress.com

Polyphonic Press is the show for music fans. Anywhere from the casual listener to the nerdiest of audiophiles. Each week, we review a classic album from a curated list of over one thousand releases, spanning multiples genres. At the top of each show, we have no idea what album we’re going to listen to. So we fire up the Random Album Generator and it gives the album of the week. Join us every Tuesday morning for a new classic album to discover!

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Episodes

Beauty and the Beat by The Go-Go's - Ep. 8

"It’s not quite right to say that the Go-Go’s' 1981 debut, Beauty and the Beat, is where new wave caught hold in the U.S., but it’s not quite wrong, either. Prior to this, there had certainly been new wave hits -- Blondie had been reaching the Top Ten for two years running -- but the Go-Go’s ushered in the era of big, bright stylish pop, spending six weeks at the top of the U.S. charts and generating two singles that defined the era: the cool groove of “Our Lips Are Sealed” and the exuberant “We...

Jan 04, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 8

Funeral by Arcade Fire - Ep. 7

"Fronted by the husband-and-wife team of Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, the Arcade Fire's emotional debut -- rendered even more poignant by the dedications to recently departed family members contained in its liner notes -- is brave, empowering, and dusted with something that many of the indie rock genre's more contrived acts desperately lack: an element of real danger. Funeral's mourners -- specifically Butler and Chassagne -- inhabit the same post-apocalyptic world as London Suede's Dog Man ...

Nov 02, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 7

Time Out by Dave Brubeck Quartet - Ep. 6

"Dave Brubeck's defining masterpiece, Time Out is one of the most rhythmically innovative albums in jazz history, the first to consciously explore time signatures outside of the standard 4/4 beat or 3/4 waltz time. It was a risky move -- Brubeck's record company wasn't keen on releasing such an arty project, and many critics initially roasted him for tampering with jazz's rhythmic foundation. But for once, public taste was more advanced than that of the critics. Buoyed by a hit single in altoist...

Oct 07, 2021•47 min•Ep. 6

Electric Warrior by T. Rex - Ep. 5

"The album that essentially kick-started the U.K. glam rock craze, Electric Warrior completes T. Rex's transformation from hippie folk-rockers into flamboyant avatars of trashy rock & roll. There are a few vestiges of those early days remaining in the acoustic-driven ballads, but Electric Warrior spends most of its time in a swinging, hip-shaking groove powered by Marc Bolan's warm electric guitar. The music recalls not just the catchy simplicity of early rock & roll, but also the implic...

Sep 29, 2021•54 min•Ep. 5

Hejira by Joni Mitchell - Ep. 4

"Joni Mitchell's Hejira is the last in an astonishingly long run of top-notch studio albums dating back to her debut. Some vestiges of her old style remain here; "Song for Sharon" utilizes the static, pithy vocal harmonies from Ladies of the Canyon's "Woodstock," "Refuge of the Roads" features woodwind touches reminiscent of those in "Barangrill" from For the Roses, and "Coyote" is a fast guitar-strummed number that has precedents as far back as Clouds' "Chelsea Morning." But by and large, this ...

Sep 21, 2021•46 min•Ep. 4

Lady Soul by Aretha Franklin - Ep. 3

"Appearing after a blockbuster debut and a sophomore set that was rather disappointing (in comparison), 1968's Lady Soul proved Aretha Franklin, the pop sensation, was no fluke. Her performances were more impassioned than on her debut, and the material just as strong, an inspired blend of covers and originals from the best songwriters in soul and pop music. The opener, "Chain of Fools," became the biggest hit, driven by a chorus of cascading echoes by Franklin and her bedrock backing vocalists, ...

Sep 15, 2021•48 min•Ep. 3

Anthem of the Sun by Grateful Dead - Ep. 2

"As the second long-player by the Grateful Dead, Anthem of the Sun (1968) pushed the limits of both the music as well as the medium. General dissatisfaction with their self-titled debut necessitated the search for a methodology to seamlessly juxtapose the more inspired segments of their live performances with the necessary conventions of a single LP. Since issuing their first album, the Dead welcomed lyricist Robert Hunter into the fold -- freeing the performing members to focus on the execution...

Sep 07, 2021•41 min•Ep. 2

The Joshua Tree by U2 - Ep. 1

In this episode, we travel to 1987 and take a look at U2's breakthrough album The Joshua Tree. Listen to The Joshua Tree: https://open.spotify.com/album/5vBZRYu2GLA65nfxBvG1a7 Website: ⁠https://www.polyphonicpress.com⁠ Contact: ⁠[email protected]⁠ Support: ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/polyphonicpress What did you think of this album? Send us a text! Support the show Patreon Website Polyphonic Press Discord Server Follow us on Instagram Contact: [email protected] DISCLA...

Aug 31, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 1

What is Polyphonic Press?

Polyphonic Press is the show for music fans. Anywhere from the casual listener to the nerdiest of audiophiles. Each week, we review a classic album from a curated list of over one thousand releases, spanning multiple genres. At the top of each show, we have no idea what album we’re going to listen to. So we fire up the Random Album Generator and it gives the album of the week. Join us every Tuesday morning for a new classic album to discover! What did you think of this album? Send us a text! Sup...

Aug 26, 2021•44 sec

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