Since the first date in a courtship that’s lasted five years, Ottawa’s
the Polytones have swept audiences off their feet. With the latest
Canada-wide release of their debut full-length, You and I were made of
dynamite..., the Polytones are sending a strong signal — they're ready
to commit.
On dynamite (co-produced by local celebrity Marty Jones), the songs
tell the whole story: “What are you waiting for?” asks you out, “April
afternoon” is the honeymoon, “King of Siam” puts everything on the
rocks and “Broken stems” dumps your ass like the Thursday trash. “The
Weatherman” is the teary conversation with your bestest friend ever on
your pink mattell-o-phone.
The Polytones are made up of ex-members of celtic rock stalwarts Jimmy
George, hairy kelp records-folk Paperjack and That's the Spirit, and
Toque whose toque toque can be seen on the head of Moe Berg.
The past year saw Polytone folk win a Toronto Independent Music Award
for 'best indie rock', and a song featured as a closing theme on the
Comedy Network's The Jon Dore Television Show. The follow up to dynamite
is being recorded at Antique Room in Ottawa...the release, fireworks
ceremony, touring and more polytones merch are coming soon in 2008!
what folks are saying about you and i were made of dynamite:
"If sleepy, melancholic pop songs were Canada's new currency, then the
Ottawa-based Polytones would be rolling in dough...bare-bones, honest
music...[and a] sweet, sincere voice [that] makes the music so
endearing. The Polytones seem to have struck a perfect balance for
tunes that are both catchy and emotional."
Evan Davies, NOW Magazine (Toronto)
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"If writing undyingly catchy, straightforward pop ditties is what the
The Polytones strive for, then success is theirs...This long-awaited
debut record of sharply arranged pop-rock tunes is a display of the
best of the band's musical wares...irresistably head-bopping, upbeat
numbers (and) wistful, folk-tinged gems."
Jennifer Tattersall, Ottawa XPress
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"..A gem...they sound like music should. Gorgeous vocals are supplied
by Lesia Manchulenko as she sings powerfully and elegantly on this
emotional ride. This CD blows most other local releases out of the
water. You won't regret picking it up."
Michael Vickers, The Fulcrum (University of Ottawa)
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"The Polytones live up to their name with a nicely varied palette of
sounds...Reverbed and distorted guitar mix in some grit without
straying from pop melodies...bittersweet vocals tremble and swoop in
the same ballpark as Jane Siberry or a more forceful Nina
Nastasia...drums and bass provide nuanced rhthyms...Strong songs put a
sprightly turn on problems of the heart and unrequited longing ... You
and I were made of dynamite is a consistently fine album."
Andrew Carver, Ottawa Sun
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"Dream-pop in the tradition of Cocteau Twins...A really solid group...their live show has great energy."
Matthew Crosier, CBC-Radio
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"...If you're curled up by the fireplace on a cold winter night, this record is the one to play."
Kathryn Dougherty, The Charlatan (Carleton University)
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"[Grade: 'A'] Lead vocalist Lesia Manchulenko takes you on a tranquil
tour with her enchanting voice as you follow her storybook version of a
relationship...[The Polytones have] made it pristinely clear that they
intend on sticking around for a bit and making their presence known
within Canada."
Joe Zabukovec, The Newspaper (University of Toronto)
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"Lesia Manchulenko's voice is what makes The Polytones - and this album
- stand out. You and I Were Made of Dynamite is full of potential pop
hits...an excellent indie album which will probably build and carry The
Polytones career...definitely worth picking up."
Matt Harwick, Partyinkingston.com