Who: The Polyphonic Spree
What: Together We’re Heavy
Where: Dallas, Texas
Why: If you’re very lucky your favourite band will make at least one truly brilliant masterwork of an album. Not unlike Talk Talk’s Spirt Of Eden, The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, The Flaming Lips’ Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Radiohead’s Ok Computer, Klaatu’s Hope, The Zombies’ Odyssey And Oracle, Arctic Monkey’s Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, XTC’s Skylarking, the Kate Bush catalogue, Public Enemy’s Fear Of A Black Planet and practically everything from The Beatles psychedelic period, The Polyphonic Spree have conjured up just such a masterpiece. Formed in the ashes of Tripping Daisy, Texas native Tim DeLaughter assembled The Polyphonic Spree along with 24 other musicians after the tragic overdose death of his longtime friend and collaborator Wes Berggren at the age of 28. Throughout the duration of “Together We’re Heavy” the magical healing properties of The Polyphonic Spree’s symphonic choral pop induces a joyfully uplifting sonic catharsis.
When: 2004