Polyphia - potentially the most interesting thing happening in the guitar world at the moment?

Ché

My friend turned me on to these guys. I feel I should like them but honestly, I've never been so turned off by guitar music in my life. If they're going for that cold, alien vibe that makes me shudder to listen to it, then well done. 

Saying that, if you gave this music to Andy Timmons to play, I think it would sound (and more importantly) FEEL more musical, human and therefore relatable to me. Their musical ideas are great but the execution lacks the emotion that I personally need to respond positively to a piece of guitar music. 

soma1975

monquixote said:

I think it's cool that they are doing something new and interesting, but I find it quite tiring to listen to. 

If I was going to listen to killer musicians doing something interesting I'd be looking at Snarky Puppy 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuhHU_BZXSk

Snarky Puppy really wind me up. It's like if a bunch of virtuosos all got a job as baristas in an indie coffee shop to support their dreams of working in musical theatre.

Stop being so zany, you pricks!

EricTheWeary

soma1975 said:

monquixote said:

I think it's cool that they are doing something new and interesting, but I find it quite tiring to listen to. 

If I was going to listen to killer musicians doing something interesting I'd be looking at Snarky Puppy 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuhHU_BZXSk

Snarky Puppy really wind me up. It's like if a bunch of virtuosos all got a job as baristas in an indie coffee shop to support their dreams of working in musical theatre.

Stop being so zany, youmpricks!

I really liked them live a couple of years ago which was really just  music whilst I chillaxed on a summer's day but, yes, they could all calm down a bit now.  

p90fool

Branshen said:

I love their stuff. Another great tune is 40oz, but I'm sure a majority of the folks here will find it overly technical and unmusical..

I actually like that, possibly because it's not ego-driven shredding, it's more textural and orchestral. 

Although most of my favourite music is three minute pop songs I do kind of "get" Polyphia as a group who sound like they bring MIDI compositions to life using real instruments. 

It reminds of The Ensemble Moderne staging the tortuous Synclavier music of Jazz From Hell using classical musicians. 

Although I'd always rather hear New Rose, Jesus Built My Hotrod or No Scrubs, there's definitely room in my life for a bit of virtuosity as long as it's not Yngwye-style bad comedy.

Moloch

If my migraines and my tinnitus decided to form a band, that's exactly how I imagine they'd sound.

brooom

within this mood and still pleasurable to listen to I much prefer to listen to covet.

joetele

brooom said:

within this mood and still pleasurable to listen to I much prefer to listen to covet.

Definitely. Much more musical and soulful. 

jonnyburgo

Sounds like the stuff 10 yr old Korean kids play  with their dad just out of shot holding a big stick.

tabano

I find it as boring as blues...

SteveRobinson

I preferred Tim Henson when he did the Muppets

ChuckManual

SteveRobinson said:

I preferred Tim Henson when he did the Muppets

Wow... He did The Muppets AND had a half-decent career in tennis.  Not bad...

PolarityMan

I would stake money on the fact that polyphia songs start their life in guitar pro

Sassafras

What none of you lot seem to understand is that music is all about how it makes you feel even if it makes you feel like killing yourself.

LuttiS

I genuinely enjoy their music, I find it really interesting and it's great for working to. Saw them live in January and they were fantastic.. properly good band. I was really surprised at the crowd too.. people were going nuts, jumping around, moshing, constant crowd surfing. It's not the kind of music I would have associated with them antics

New levels new devils is a really good album.. there are some making of videos on YouTube and it's really interesting where the concepts came from.

Arrogant as fuck through. Love em.

Fiftyshadesofjay

Music for nerds, made by nerds

breakstuff

Fiftyshadesofjay said:

Music for nerds, made by nerds

If that's the case, surely there'd be a lot more love for them on here. 

  

axisus

brooom said:

within this mood and still pleasurable to listen to I much prefer to listen to covet.

Yes, Covet are excellent. Helped by being fronted by a beautiful, talented woman.

Barnezy

Interesting to listen to, but not exactly listenable. Pretty much the same concept in ever song, to get as many harmonics in 4 minutes as possible. I appreciate the technical abilities are fantastic though. 

idiotwindow

The thing I love about that kind of music is how much it makes you appreciate silence when you switch it off. I've just listened to about a minute of the video above (the one with the old biddies pretending to play guitar) and all it serves to do is raise my stress levels.

I can imagine this music, played at a loud volume into headphones taped to your head, would be more effective torture than waterboarding.