Exploded Drawing

Last updated
Exploded Drawing
Explodeddrawing.jpg
Studio album by
Polvo
ReleasedApril 30, 1996
RecordedOctober 1995
Genre
Length58:48
Label Touch and Go Records
Polvo chronology
This Eclipse
(1995)		Exploded Drawing
(1996)		 Shapes
(1997)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [1]
The Boston Phoenix Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Entertainment Weekly B [3]
The Great Alternative & Indie Discography 5/10 [4]
NME 6/10 [5]
Sputnikmusic4.1/5 [6]

Exploded Drawing is the third studio album by the rock band Polvo. It was released in 1996 as a CD and double-LP on Touch and Go Records. The album was engineered by Bob Weston.

Contents

Reception

Heather Phares of AllMusic called the album "a sonic journey that encompasses nearly every kind of sound that a guitar has been known to make, and a few that might be unheard of until now." She notes the incorporation of "blues, Eastern music, folk, country, and ambient music" into the album's sound "giving each song a twisting, unpredictable quality", despite criticizing its length. [1] According to Entertainment Weekly's Ethan Smith, "despite Polvo’s ongoing virtuosic use of alternative tunings and time signatures, Exploded Drawing disappoints in one major way: The lyrics — now more audible than on previous releases — are not nearly as interesting as the music deserves." [3] Peter Margasak of Chicago Reader writes that the "foursome has discovered a glimmering netherworld at the intersection of alternate tuning, pop hooks, and off-kilter rhythms" on this album. He continued that despite "still [operating] around the noise/melody axis much like Sonic Youth, the stylistic shadows of that influence seem to be receding." [7] In the 23rd issue of Ox-Fanzine published in 1996, Thomas Kerpen wrote that the album "is damn close" to being a "masterpiece" and that it "should have catapulted indie rock into the next decade." [8]

James Oldham of NME gave the album a mixed review, with most of the review itself focusing negatively on the American alternative rock scene of the 90s from which this album emerged, particularly lo-fi music and slacker culture. He criticized its "fiendish pointlessness" and "utterly indulgent riffery [sic]", despite comparing "the delightfully meandering 'High-Wire Moves'" positively to Pavement. [5]

Legacy

In 1999, Pitchfork ranked it at #68 on their original "Top 100 Favorite Records of the 1990s" list, though it was later excluded from the updated version published in 2003. [9] [10]

In the years following the band's reunion, the album has been viewed in a much more positive light, and has often been called their best. The Line of Best Fit called it a "sprawling double album [that] expanded the band’s sound from the surgically-focused twin guitar assaults to psych, folk, hardcore and all points in between. It felt like an ambitious mission statement from a group not content to simply dole out the riffs to anyone who wanted them". [11] A Treble review of In Prism found it to "bear the same skill and adventurousness" of this album. [12] Pitchfork called the "epic double-album statement" the band's "critical peak [...] which saw them successfully unraveling their bee-swarm guitar buzz to explore the polarities of their sound, from psychedelic-folk lullabies to brutalizing post-hardcore." [13] In a retrospective article on the band's discography, Louder Than War hailed the album as Polvo's best & a "masterpiece" which "represents its namesake in every single way." [14] Sputnikmusic staff member Hugh Puddle similarly described the album as "definitive", praising the tight performances, "banger" songwriting, "innovative" guitar-work & lyricism. [6] In his book Gimme Indie Rock, Andrew Earles opined that Exploded Drawing "should be put in a rocket or a time capsule as the ultimate proof that indie rock could reach perfection, years into the game, while being so ahead of its time that future generations are still trying to catch up." [15]

Track listing

  1. "Fast Canoe" – 6:41
  2. "Bridesmaid Blues" – 3:30
  3. "Feather of Forgiveness" – 3:45
  4. "Passive Attack" – 1:12
  5. "Light of the Moon" – 2:12
  6. "Crumbling Down" – 3:06
  7. "Street Knowledge" – 1:51
  8. "High-Wire Moves" – 4:21
  9. "Monoloth" – 2:52
  10. "In This Life" – 4:05
  11. "The Secret's Secret" – 2:03
  12. "Snowstorm in Iowa" – 2:23
  13. "The Purple Bear" – 3:27
  14. "Taste of Your Mind" – 3:50
  15. "Missing Receipts" – 1:47
  16. "When Will You Die for the Last Time in My Dreams" – 11:43

Personnel

Related Research Articles

Indie rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand in the early to mid-1980s. Originally used to describe rock music released through independent record labels, the term became more widely associated with the music the bands produced by the 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polvo</span> American indie rock band

Polvo is an American indie rock band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The band formed in 1990 and is fronted by guitarists/vocalists Ash Bowie and Dave Brylawski, with Steve Popson playing bass guitar and Brian Quast playing drums. Eddie Watkins was the band's original drummer, but did not rejoin the band upon its reunion in 2008, after breaking up in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flower (Sonic Youth song)</span> 1985 single by Sonic Youth

"Flower" is a song by American alternative rock band Sonic Youth. It was originally released as a 12" single in 1985 by UK record label Blast First, with "Satan Is Boring" as the B-side. This version was quickly withdrawn at the band's request. In January 1986, Blast First and the band's American label, Homestead Records, both released "Flower" as a 12" backed by "Halloween"; the first run of the UK edition was on yellow/orange vinyl. Blast First also issued the song as a 7" single in edited form, retitled "Flower ", with a backwards version, "Rewolf ", on the flipside.

<i>On Avery Island</i> 1996 studio album by Neutral Milk Hotel

On Avery Island is the debut studio album by American rock band Neutral Milk Hotel, released on March 26, 1996, by Merge Records. At the time, Neutral Milk Hotel was a solo project of American musician Jeff Mangum, who recorded the album with producer Robert Schneider from February to May 1995. On Avery Island is an indie rock and psychedelic folk album, with a lo-fi sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trans Am (band)</span> American rock band

Trans Am is a three-piece American band from Bethesda, Maryland, that was one of the originators of "post-rock" in the mid-1990s. Their work combines elements of Krautrock, heavy metal, hardcore punk, synthpop, electronic music, and folk music. Since their inception, the group has toured with Tortoise, Pan Sonic, The Fucking Champs, and Tool.

Indie pop is a music genre and subculture that combines guitar pop with DIY ethic in opposition to the style and tone of mainstream pop music. It originated from British post-punk in the late 1970s and subsequently generated a thriving fanzine, label, and club and gig circuit. Compared to its counterpart, indie rock, the genre is more melodic, less abrasive, and relatively angst-free. In later years, the definition of indie pop has bifurcated to also mean bands from unrelated DIY scenes/movements with pop leanings. Subgenres include chamber pop and twee pop.

<i>Sebadoh III</i> 1991 studio album by Sebadoh

III is the third album by the American indie rock band Sebadoh. It was released by Homestead Records in 1991.

<i>It Was Hot, We Stayed in the Water</i> 2000 studio album by the Microphones

It Was Hot, We Stayed in the Water, sometimes shortened to It Was Hot, is the second studio album by American indie folk and indie rock band the Microphones. It was released by K Records on September 26, 2000. After Phil Elverum—the frontman, principal songwriter, and producer of the Microphones's albums—had gained a small following with 1999's Don't Wake Me Up, he recorded It Was Hot in Dub Narcotic Studio in Olympia, Washington, between September 1999 and March 2000. The album was recorded on analogue tape; Elverum embraced the medium's technical imperfections. The album was described as indie rock, lo-fi, and indie pop and was inspired by Elverum's visits to the ocean. As a whole, the album centers on the theme of water, while its lyricism is heavily themed on nature. The 11-minute track "The Glow" acts as the album's climax and introduces the concept of the "glow", which was explored in more depth on 2001's The Glow Pt. 2.

<i>Cor-Crane Secret</i> 1992 studio album by Polvo

Cor-Crane Secret is the debut studio album by North Carolina indie rock band Polvo. It was recorded at Duck Kee Studios in Raleigh, North Carolina, and released on Merge Records in 1992.

<i>Todays Active Lifestyles</i> 1993 studio album by Polvo

Today's Active Lifestyles is Polvo's second studio album. It was produced by Bob Weston and released on Merge Records in 1993.

<i>Shapes</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Polvo

Shapes is Polvo's fourth studio album and the last album released prior to breaking up shortly after its release. It was recorded by Bob Weston and released on Touch and Go Records in 1997.

<i>Dilate</i> (Bardo Pond album) 2001 studio album by Bardo Pond

Dilate is the fifth studio album by Bardo Pond. It was released on April 24, 2001, on Matador Records.

<i>The Dirt of Luck</i> 1995 studio album by Helium

The Dirt of Luck is the first full-length album from American indie rock band Helium. It was released in April 1995 on Matador Records and was produced by Adam Lasus.

Ashley Hideyo "Ash" Bowie is an American musician.

<i>Turn</i> (The Ex album) 2004 studio album by The Ex

Turn is a double album by Dutch anarchist post-punk band The Ex. After 20 years of working with Luc, their former bass guitarist, Turn is the only Ex album to feature double bass player Rosemarie giving the band a sound akin their prior work with cellist Tom Cora. In tandem with The Ex's drummer Katrin, Rosemarie also contributed significant female vocal harmonies to the album.

<i>Do You Know Who You Are?</i> 1996 studio album by Texas Is the Reason

Do You Know Who You Are? is the first and only studio album by American rock band Texas Is the Reason. After finalizing their line-up, wrote and released their self-titled debut EP in late 1995. Following it, they began recording their debut album at Oz Studios in Baltimore, Maryland, co-producing it with Jawbox member J. Robbins. Preceded by an east coast tour with labelmates Gameface, Do You Know Who You Are? was released on April 30, 1996 through Revelation Records. It was promoted with a European tour with Samiam, two US tours, and a tour of Germany with Queerfish and Starmarket. Shortly after the Germany stint, the group broke up.

<i>Last Summer</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Eleanor Friedberger

Last Summer is the first solo album released by American indie pop musician Eleanor Friedberger, most notable for being the vocalist in the band The Fiery Furnaces with her brother Matthew Friedberger. The album was released on 12 July 2011 on the Merge Records record label.

<i>Cha Cha Damore</i> 1997 studio album by Pegboy

Cha Cha Damore is the third album by Pegboy. It was released on October 14, 1997, through Quarterstick Records.

<i>Siberia</i> (Polvo album) 2013 studio album by Polvo

Siberia is Polvo's sixth studio album. It was released on Merge Records on September 30, 2013. Unlike its predecessor, 2009's In Prism, the album was not accompanied with a tour.

Capsize 7 was an indie rock band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina that was active during the 1990s. The band's members were Mike Jackson, Chris Toms, Joe Taylor, and Geoff Abell. Their sound has been compared to that of other, better-known indie rock bands from the same region and era, including Polvo, Superchunk, and the Archers of Loaf.

References

  1. 1 2 Phares, Heather. Exploded Drawing at AllMusic
  2. ↑ Matt Ashare. "The Boston Phoenix July 12-18, 1996: Vol 25 Iss 28".
  3. 1 2 "Exploded Drawing". EW.com.
  4. ↑ Strong, Martin Charles (1999). The great alternative & indie discography. ISBN   9780862419134.
  5. 1 2 "NME.COM - POLVO - Exploding Drawing - 11/5/1996". NME . October 9, 2000. Archived from the original on 2000-10-09.
  6. 1 2 "Review: Polvo - Exploded Drawing | Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com.
  7. ↑ Margasak, Peter (18 July 1996). "Polvo". Chicago Reader.
  8. ↑ Deutschland, Ox Fanzine, Solingen. "Review". www.ox-fanzine.de (in German). Retrieved 2021-02-20.
  9. ↑ "The Old Acclaimed Music Forum". pub37.bravenet.com. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
  10. ↑ Heard, Jaron (2018-11-06). "Pitchfork's Best Albums of the 1990s: changes from 1999 to 2003". Medium. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
  11. ↑ "Polvo – Siberia". The Line of Best Fit.
  12. ↑ Morgan, Chris (September 14, 2009). "Polvo : In Prism".
  13. ↑ "Polvo: In Prism". Pitchfork.
  14. ↑ Banjo (2020-07-11). "A Buyer's Guide to Polvo: "Nothing less than kings of the underground"". Louder Than War. Retrieved 2020-12-14.
  15. ↑ Earles, Andrew (2014-09-15). Gimme Indie Rock: 500 Essential American Underground Rock Albums 1981-1996. Voyageur Press. ISBN   978-0-7603-4648-8.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.