Goddamn, I hate the Polyphonic Spree

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You can't turn around in Dallas without knocking over a member of this fucking hippie cult band. They must die.

Please share your hatred with me here.

― A Girl Named Sam (thatgirl), Saturday, 13 December 2003 09:58 (twenty-two years ago)

i don't hate them, i just can't quite take to them. they have a really forced sense of "joyousness" that i actually find a bit creepy. they remind me of the sinister cult my aunt is a member of, which is also off-putting. shame, because they have one or two nice tunes.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Saturday, 13 December 2003 10:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Last weekend some customers were talking about the pencil drawing of me taped behind the bar. I joked that I would like it a lot better if there wasn't a stupid PS postcard taped above it and pretended to pull it down.

Stone faces.

I said "because, I hate the Spree, get it?"

They furtively point to a fellow seated next to them. I ask "Are you in the Spree?" He nods. "Sorry, can't stand yr band."

Both times they've been on national tv, they've given shout-outs to "Sh1ps Lounge in East Dallas". I do not want them associated with my bar. I live in fear of little hippie cult band fans wandering in and asking how often "the Spree" come in.

Clearly, they must die.

― A Girl Named Sam (thatgirl), Saturday, 13 December 2003 10:06 (twenty-two years ago)

it was nice of them to give your bar some free advertising after you dissed them!

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Saturday, 13 December 2003 10:08 (twenty-two years ago)

They and their dirty hipster fans patronize our bar one night a week and pay for their $1.50 beers with loose change as they're all dirty hippies who live with their parents.

Also keep in mind there's like 40 people in this band so me dissing one of them to his face isn't like the whole band is saying, "hey that one bartender hates us!"

damn hippies.

― A Girl Named Sam (thatgirl), Saturday, 13 December 2003 10:13 (twenty-two years ago)

haha, Sam is becoming Cartman!

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 13 December 2003 10:37 (twenty-two years ago)

(that's a good thing!)

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 13 December 2003 10:37 (twenty-two years ago)

They don't wear those choir outfits at all times, do they?

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Saturday, 13 December 2003 11:09 (twenty-two years ago)

they do an interesting version of "Wig in a Box" on the Hedwig tribute comp, at least.

when their first album came out, it was sent with rolls of the similarly-named candy. This candy was subsequently dumped all over the floor of the music office when we were absent-mindedly opening mail one day.

a few of the members are hot.

the vid that mtv2 plays has WAY too much of the Jeeper Creepers/Jesus Christ Superstar vibe for me, tho.

― El Santo Claus (Kingfish), Saturday, 13 December 2003 14:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Ever since I heard "Soldier Girl" I thought they were overrated. My opinion of them as a Primal Scream fixated on the Mike Curb Congregation rather than the Stooges -- and without any of the elements of all three of those acts that make them interesting to me -- stands. So rah Sam! (Personally I also think bandmembers should have enough self-confidence to deal with the fact that others might not like their work in public to their face.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 13 December 2003 16:22 (twenty-two years ago)

(But, I mean, if your band has fifty gazillion members, then even if you're getting MTV2 airplay you're gonna still be poor, right? So of course they live with their parents.)

― Casuistry (Chris P), Saturday, 13 December 2003 17:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, how did Mr Spree react to your dis? Did he laugh it off or take offense?

I think I have documented my loathing of TPS in ILM several times.

You know what? I'm not sure I even like Good Records. Dumb decor, ZERO selection, Tripping Daisy/PS/Grandaddy shit shoved in your grill... To their credit, they do host some decent in-stores with beer and hot dogs. But fuck, they never have a single thing I'm looking for.

To be nice, I will say that the last TD record was pretty good (nobody bought it).

― Aaron A., Saturday, 13 December 2003 19:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Is Good Records still there? Last time I was in Dallas I couldn't find it in the phone book which sucks 'cause I desperately needed something to do--Plano is extremely dull.

― adam (adam), Saturday, 13 December 2003 19:14 (twenty-two years ago)

It's on Good-Latimer right outside of Deep Ellum.

― Aaron A., Saturday, 13 December 2003 19:31 (twenty-two years ago)

They don't bother me. The album's kind of boring, and too chipper for my tastes, but they were okay when I saw them at the Ridglea in Ft Worth many moons ago. It looks like the group has doubled in size since then.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Saturday, 13 December 2003 20:25 (twenty-two years ago)

I suppose they're one of those bands (you can fill in your own equivalents I'm sure) where the music itself isn't particularly offensive, though gawd knows, I can't imagine ever buying one of their rekkids, even if it was only a quid, but a period of constant hype grates enough that it makes you think there must be something more going on than just people who write for music papers liking them, and eventually you wind up hating them for a bit, before forgetting all about them (a model of clear thought, clearly expressed there har har)

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Saturday, 13 December 2003 20:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Everyone on this thread hates fun.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Saturday, 13 December 2003 20:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, I've hated fun for over 20yrs, an look where it got me.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Saturday, 13 December 2003 20:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't hate fun but I think it's fallen out with me.

― Lara (Lara), Saturday, 13 December 2003 21:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Loved them when I saw them live. Didn't convince me to give the album another go, though.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Saturday, 13 December 2003 21:05 (twenty-two years ago)

The Spree dude (I think he was the bassist) didn't seem too hurt by my dissing of them.

Agreed with Aaron that the only good thing about Good records is the in-stores. I like CD World for local music.

And yes, when fun is disguised as a hippie cult, I detest it.

― A Girl Named Sam (thatgirl), Saturday, 13 December 2003 21:06 (twenty-two years ago)

I remember my sister being very excited about seeing them for free.

― Lara (Lara), Saturday, 13 December 2003 21:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I was expecting more from that "Wig in a Box" cover, actually. So I hate them, I guess. 60 French Girls are way better.

― Arthur (Arthur), Saturday, 13 December 2003 21:17 (twenty-two years ago)

PFFF URBAN SAX ownz in the band as scary cult stakes!!!

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Saturday, 13 December 2003 21:18 (twenty-two years ago)

look!@#

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Saturday, 13 December 2003 21:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I was ecstatic when I discovered the name of the band whose song echoed in my head for days, the song that was on that computer commercial, you know? I'm glad I know because now I know which fucking band to avoid, unless they're crossing the street in front of me, then I shall run them over. If there were only a few members of PS, they might dodge my death car, but considering there are about 187 members, my chances of taking out a large number of them are quite good. It's possible that I would be arrested, but I would represent myself in open court. Exhibit A in my defense, and the only exhibit I need, would be this band's CD. The jury would acquit me on the spot.

― Gear! (Gear!), Saturday, 13 December 2003 22:29 (twenty-two years ago)

two years pass...

http://www.tough-cookie.co.uk:80/images/polyphonic_spree_derobe.jpg

new ep :

Mental Cabaret (new album track)
Love My Way (Psychedelic Furs cover)
Sonic Bloom (Tripping Daisy cover)
Lithium (Nirvana cover)
I'm Calling (new album track)

― mark e (mark e), Friday, 3 November 2006 13:23 (nineteen years ago)

so what, they've dumped the hippie cult look for nazi death camp cult look? knew this was coming. . .

― Sam rides the beat like a bicycle (Molly Jones), Friday, 3 November 2006 14:05 (nineteen years ago)

They are Rescue Rangers!

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 3 November 2006 14:08 (nineteen years ago)

"Ilsa, She-Wolf Of The Community Centre Glee Club".

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Friday, 3 November 2006 14:10 (nineteen years ago)

This is how Pinochet's Chile started.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Friday, 3 November 2006 14:12 (nineteen years ago)

That makes a change.

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 3 November 2006 14:17 (nineteen years ago)

"Meet The Challenge, Make The Change" (1992 Labour Party election song for those who remember)

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Friday, 3 November 2006 14:22 (nineteen years ago)

I can't help thinking this is some kind of Danielson tribute. Note the harts on their uniforms and the red cross implies some kind of medical thing like the Danielson nurse uniforms.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Friday, 3 November 2006 16:08 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, this looks like straight darkside/alt.universe Danielson

― kingfish prætor (kingfish 2.0), Friday, 3 November 2006 16:21 (nineteen years ago)

http://eil.com/newgallery/New-York-Dolls-Red-Patent-Leathe-361522.jpg

― Edward III (edward iii), Friday, 3 November 2006 16:47 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, but how can you hate Tim DeLaughter when he gave the world this:

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b132/mel_face/bencurtis.jpg

― Dear Cafes of London (kate), Friday, 3 November 2006 17:14 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.scifilm.org/images2/fahrenheit451-2.jpg

― Orgy of Pragmatism (Charles McCain), Friday, 3 November 2006 17:19 (nineteen years ago)

fourteen years pass...

Time to think about this band and how you feel about them almost 20 years later

― Urbandn hope all ye who enter here (dog latin), Sunday, 19 September 2021 01:10 (four years ago)

This is... An uncomfortable listen

― Urbandn hope all ye who enter here (dog latin), Sunday, 19 September 2021 01:17 (four years ago)

Like on an existential level

― Urbandn hope all ye who enter here (dog latin), Sunday, 19 September 2021 01:17 (four years ago)

It wasn't a very good album.it had high expectations it didn't meet.

― Urbandn hope all ye who enter here (dog latin), Sunday, 19 September 2021 01:18 (four years ago)

A bit like me when I was 21, right guys?

*Laughter*

― Urbandn hope all ye who enter here (dog latin), Sunday, 19 September 2021 01:18 (four years ago)

saw em at the black cat well past their sell-by date, maybe 2014(?) I was drunk and probably on drugs but I remember having a blast. never really had time for the albums tho

― caddy lac brougham? (will), Sunday, 19 September 2021 01:41 (four years ago)

lol I actually hate read a long polyphonic ilm thread the other week because i am messed up and this terrible band haunted me

― brimstead, Sunday, 19 September 2021 01:49 (four years ago)

polyphonic spree! not ilx poster polyphonic <3

― brimstead, Sunday, 19 September 2021 01:50 (four years ago)

St. Vincent/Annie Clark was a member in their immediate post-hype period.

― Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Sunday, 19 September 2021 01:53 (four years ago)

I think their first album holds the record for "shortest time I've owned a used CD before selling it back"

― Vinnie, Sunday, 19 September 2021 06:54 (four years ago)

I dug some of the tunes

― Glower, Disruption & Pies (kingfish), Sunday, 19 September 2021 08:46 (four years ago)

This exists

https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a1609205558_10.jpg

― it's gonna take a spiracle (Matt #2), Sunday, 19 September 2021 09:06 (four years ago)

I was into them at the time, when choral groups were popular with kids of all ages (the Young at Heart oldsters, that Langley Schools Music Project reissue.)

― henry s, Sunday, 19 September 2021 14:14 (four years ago)

This is how Pinochet's Chile started.
― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Friday, November 3, 2006 9:12 AM bookmarkflaglink

― you had me at "giallo" (Neanderthal), Sunday, 19 September 2021 14:37 (four years ago)

At the time the I was horribly disappointed that their first album had like an EPs worth of actual songs, and over half the running time was made up of an extended Tim DeLaughter audio cut-up which had nothing to do with the band. On top of that, they didn't even include the much better single version of "Solder Girl", not even as a bonus track.

Just felt like a big rip-off. Although these days if I put it on at all, I suppose I'd be more inclined to just put the experimental track on and skip the rest.

From memory the second one was a better album relatively speaking, but I also have no desire to revisit it these days.

Just checked, that final track on The Beginning Stages was THIRTY-SIX MINUTES! Fucking come on, that's ridiculous.

― "Spaghetti" Thompson (Pheeel), Sunday, 19 September 2021 19:04 (four years ago)

Since the new Low record came out, I've found myself humming the 'days like these, keep me warm' melody from the first (?) album. Nice enough track.

― Vanishing Point (Chinaski), Sunday, 19 September 2021 19:24 (four years ago)

i am not going to deny it : i absolutely love them.
saw them do the Rocky Horror thing at a family festival followed by them doing their full on Spree thing later that day.
best day ever.
re the debut : for the uk edition the extended track of indulgence was thankfully cut, and a few radio friendly edits of their tunes were added instead.

― mark e, Sunday, 19 September 2021 19:40 (four years ago)

for their 'yes, its true' release i pre-ordered a cd/t-shirt combo.
come release day and nothing.
come a month later and still nothing.
i wrote to them via the options and still nothing.
after a long time i posted something on their FB page.
was then contacted by their crew.
massive apologies and a big parcel of : signed double vinyl, robes, cd version, and a signed print that is now framed and on the wall.

― mark e, Sunday, 19 September 2021 19:49 (four years ago)

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