Customer Reviews

Celebrate the New Dark Age (Reis) (Ogv) [Vinyl]

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It is a pity that the success of "grunge" bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam overshadowed the incredible goldmine of "indie" guitar rock available in the first half of the nineties. For those in "the know", bands like Pavement, Sebadoh, Trumans Water, Guided by Voices and Polvo fired glorious shots of fuzzed-out guitar innovation to the deaf masses. Perhaps it is for the best that radio and MTV have overlooked this mini-rennaissance. In twenty years time, everyone will claim to have owned the likes of Polvo's masterpiece, "Celebrate the New Dark Age". The key here is solid songwriting laced with the most dazzling and moving guitar hooks ever to grace a rock album. The guitar interplay is both fierce and beautiful. What makes this album so special is the definite Eastern influence in the melodies. Bowie is a master of the whammy bar and slide. The album opens with a blast; Fractured Like Chandeliers showcases the frenetic and glorious alternate tuned strumming and picking. City Spirit is one of the most haunting songs they have ever written. Tragic Carpet Ride is a dense tremolo-laced psychedelic masterpiece. For my money the standout track, is a short piece called Solitary Set. This song will bring tears to your eyes; it's that pretty. It's right up there with Dinosaur Jr's Little Fury Things. If one aspect must be criticized, it is the lyrics; but, who cares when Bowie sings the melodies with such emotion.

This is my personal favorite from the band, especially "Fractured." I bought this album on a whim at a used record store some years back and have been a huge fan ever since. These guys, without a doubt, restructure the language of music! I strongly urge anyone looking for a way to break from the humdrum of corporate "alternative" homogeny to listen to Polvo and then try to go back. You will never look at music the same way again.

When this EP came out I was already a fan. Actually, i bought it the first day it came out. I thought , at the time, "It would be best to own the CD so it is easier to listen to- so I can shuffle, or skip..." The release included a three 7" EP that was packaged perfectly. The ep needs no skips or shuffle; I wish I had the three 7". Everyone in music was jumping on Polvo's bandwagon.Perfect. Polvo is in my top five bands of all time. Every album occupies its space, and this one is one of the easiest to listen to, along with This Eclipse. Cor-Crane Secret is the "pop" album, Today's Active Lifestyles is the best/craziest, Exploded Drawings is the "daydream nation" of Polvo.Polvo may be gone, so grab these earlier albums now.

If you prefer safe pop, stay away. This music might hurt you. If you like you music adventurous, welcome home. My personal favorite band. No one does it for me like these guys do. Their music is interesting, creative and most of all HUGELY UNDER APPRECIATED. These guys simply elevated rock to a creative level that just hasn't been matched. And this is arguably one of their greatest records. A true pinnacle of rock evolution. You'll be sorely, sorely missed guy's :-(

"Celebrate" is Polvo's best release. The songs flow so well. The lyrics, such as "modern myths that must be true" are excellent. Supposedly it was in the top 10 in Sweden. Dave Brylawski's dad was my math professor at UNC-Chapel Hill, and though my grade in the class was pretty bad, I did get the extra credit question about "who was playing at the Cradle Feb. 7?" correct.

This is my personal favorite from the band, especially "Fractured." I bought this album on a whim at a used record store some years back and have been a huge fan ever since. These guys, without a doubt, restructure the language of music! I strongly urge anyone looking for a way to break from the humdrum of corporate "alternative" homogeny to listen to Polvo and then try to go back. You will never look at music the same way again.

As anyone who has at the least heard of this band must be aware, Polvo lived an underappreciated existence. Their music - for me, esp. on this CD - will be a constant reminder of how great rock and roll can be and the heights which such a "low" artform can achieve. Recommended for those who like to: a. think, and b. rock out. Hopefully, enough 5 star reviews will help persuade some poor soul out there to pick this up!

While the rest of the world was marching to the Lollapalooza pap, Polvo put together an EP that finally allowed them to display their arrogance. Enjoy this record for what it is and for what it didn't become. Best listened to late at night with the rag top down.

Like all great art, critics will have a hard time pinning this one down. The band plays a unique guitar based sound, and stand a country mile out in a field of copyists. The range of songs display a wide emotional spectrum - the first song angular and vitriolic, the second serene and shimmering, the third powerful and mysterious, the fourth joyous and light.. This continues through the next two tracks into a contemplative finale coloured by a sincere wordplay.

The lyrics appear cryptic (their meaning shining through on closer inspection) and the vocals are louder in the mix than previous releases. The guitar sound and interplay verge on wonderful and inventive throughout - the only weak moment is in the instrumental piece 'Old Lystra'.

While the uninitiated may need patience with the tonally disorientating sounds (I heard it semi-fairly approximated as Sonic Youth goes to Asia), each repeat listen reveals Polvo's finest artistic statement to be an end-to-end rollercoaster full of life, and a superb accompaniment to nearly any season or mood.

Play it loud; it's a guitar classic of the 90's.

Shellac, Slint, power chords loud quiet, blah blah yawn yawn. Since their '90s hayday Polvo have been unfairly suctioned under the vague, useless canopy of "mathrock". But they had very little to do with chavez, unwound, superchunk, archers of loaf, monorchid, and don cab. No offence to those bands -- who were very good -- but Polvo were, and remain, one of the most innovative guitar bands of all time! And this EP is one of their greatest recordings. Are you a fan of MBV, Sonic Youth, John Fahey? ANY FAN OF GUITAR should hear this EP -- this is one of the few places the '90s was interesting! Their recent reunion is a blessing, but their recordings have already confirmed them as peerless.