dickie wrote:
pat wrote:
I find it difficult to replay any of the records from UHH on. Her piano playing is just rudimentery and silly. The autoharp is an instrument for someone who can't play a real instrument. And despite what she says the songwriting is repetitious and trite. There's about one good song on each record.

Love all.
Strong words! But on the whole, i agree!
Okay, I'll take the bait. This is going to be somewhat of a confession.
There is some truth in Pat's comment about the White Chalk piano playing. There's no denying it's rudimentary. Uncomfortably so. I'm surprised Pat didn't also bring up the intentional singing higher than her natural range. I found that even harder to listen to. The times when she's really reaching and briefly out of key are rough going. I did find it really admirable and brave of her to tour the album solo, but we know she did it basically so she wouldn't have to endure the grind of a typical tour schedule.
For the latest album she's found a different higher voice and yet she's been in excellent control. She's a really supurb volcalist this time out. I have to wonder if some coaching or training was involved. The autoharp? Yeah, what Pat said, but I forgive her since I see her as a singer/songwriter and musician (in that order).
Regarding the songwriting, for me Polly's earlier songs have an uncanny ability to seem like she is singing straight to the listener. How anyone could write such gut-wrenching stuff is amazing. I was moved many times. With White Chalk, that happened much less than before however if I imagined a few of the songs were autobiographical (and it's hard not to do that) there were some moving ones there as well. The new album, with it's focus on the outer world (as opposed to the inner world) just doesn't have the same punch. I don't agree with Pat's "repetitious and trite" characterization, but I'll have to say I've connected the least so far with the new album.
Sure she has to evolve artistically and she is the real deal, but LES ranks near the bottom of my list. Polly's music and performance these days just doesn't grab me the way the earlier stuff did. It's like night and day. Watch a clip of her in the UHH era (or almost any earlier era) and compare it to a LES clip. Where's the energy, emotion and excitment?
Yeah, I know she's 41 yo and can't keep doing the rock and roll thing, but damnit I miss the old stuff. We did get glimpses of it in the AWAM tour. I hope her next project evolves her back towards her roots.