Back from Nowhere - Radio Special Disk - The Singles
Artist: Polarboy
Label: Rustproof Records / Pamplin Music Distribution
Time: 18 tracks / 7 songs in various formats
Polarboy occupy a space on the musical map somewhere between Collective
Soul, Counting Crows, Hootie & the Blowfish, Third Day, Vigilantes
of Love, and The Monkeys (yes, there is a common thread there...). They
are also gratefully unique enough that none of these influences slap you
upside the ears. Creating their own sound by melding these divergent influences
into an accessible pop-rock format, they are now poised to be the next
Big Thing. And if the marketers keep plugging away, they certainly could
prove to be. In this case, being the next Big Thing would be a good thing.
This particular disk, Back from Nowhere - Radio Special Disk
- The Singles, was clearly constructed for radio promotion. It contains
eighteen tracks representing seven different songs in various formats.
Some, like their single "I'll Try," are offered in four different versions.
For example, the CHR mix, Rock mix, and then both of these mixes with identical
band intros. Other songs, however, are offered in fewer formats, and one,
"Four Leaf Clover," is only offered once. All seven tracks originally come
from the Back from Nowhere album, which, given the strength of these
songs, must be quite enjoyable. Whatever the format, all of these
songs are ready for repeated radio play.
To these ears, the different versions sound more or less the same,
and no indication is made which versions, if any, are in fact the originals.
Regardless, there's not a loser in the bunch. All of these songs have a
great sound that would be right at home on the appropriate radio
stations, resulting in singing-along and toe-tapping pleasure. Due
to the repetitive nature of this offering, however, a wise consumer
would be better off picking up the Back from Nowhere CD first. This
Radio Special Disk is more of a fan curio than a must-have collector's
item, except for those afficionados who crave everything by a band or alternate
song versions.
Polarboy's real strengths lie in a few areas. Firstly, the lead-singer,
Pol, has an incredible voice with a decent range and pleasant appeal. It's
not overly distinctive, but he uses it effectively and interestingly, nonetheless.
Secondly, the band has written some fine lyrics that seem geared
primarily for the youth group or college set, but with the same care and
surprising maturity that Jars of Clay demonstrates. For example, "Do You
Think" is a clever song conjuring Adam's pain at losing Eve late in his
life. Additionally, the lyrics to "I'll Try" are not up to Bill Mallonee/Mark
Heard standards, yet offer a commendable plea to God to help avoid the
mistakes of the "music business":
Run away my dove, run
away my dove
Getting easier to
push and easy to shove
Easier still is learning
to love
Run Away, run away
my dove
Take away my shame,
all my shame
Music business about
nothing but fame
As temptation calls
my name
Take away, take away
my shame
And I'll try to make
it through
The darkness has reached
for me
But You'll lift me
up out from the deep, deep beneath
Whether such a statement is incongruous with the seemingly strong
marketing efforts to push this band into the public ear is up to the listener
to determine. The sentiment, however, is well articulated. My favorite
lines are from "Nickels for Green Eyed Girls":
Pocket full of
gold
Things which
replace my soul
Those things
will fade away
You need to
save what you get
You need to
give me what you got
I know that
college was not for me
I said I like
the education
I just didn't
like the fees.
Anyone paying student loans regrettably relates.
Lastly, the overall upbeat sound the band generates is easy on ears
accustomed to rock radio: both effectively energetic and pleasantly emotional
without being either sappy or silly. Can God use another band of this particular
format to bring praise to His name and encourage His saints? The evidence
in these songs suggests absolutely.
By Steven Stuart Baldwin (10/27/98)
(The actual album
would rate higher)
