Thermal Treasure- Polvo's guitars go krang!

You know, in my younger and more vulnerable years (i.e. two years ago), I didn't really think much of Chapel Hill, North Carolina's native sons, Polvo. They seemed talented as instrumentalists, I thought, but, damn, is it too much to ask they write some fucking songs?

Man. I just didn't get it.

To my younger self: Hey genius, these are songs! Sure they require a calculus degree to figure out their time signatures, but songs they are, nonetheless.

Polvo's style is a pretty weird one, to say the least- a fusion of punked out guitar histrionics, avant-garde riffs, Asian musical motifs and instruments, and the occasional pretty, fragile hook buried in a squall of storming, slashing, howling madness. They remind me of Mission of Burma in a way- like Burma, they don't get easily pigeonholed, their style ranges quite a bit, but their songs couldn't be done by anyone else quite so well. You can spot a Mission of Burma song structure from a hundred paces, same with Polvo's twisted, spazoid guitar notes.

Perfect illustration- from their excellent reunion record, In Prism, here's a personal fave, Beggar's Bowl.



Fuckin' mean hooks there. Love it. It's their most immediately arresting song.

An oldie from the vault- Fast Canoe from '96. First track from Exploded Drawing.



Fantastically tight musicianship, great interplay.

A medley of Fractured (Like Chandeliers) and Solitary Set. This one's got a great slide riff, plus their guitars go Krang! and Brank! which is quite cool shit.



Polvo's work is available on Amazon, iTunes, and elsewhere. Please patronize reunited bands so sensitive indie kids who don't know how to rock can starve.

All In the Game- Running out the Wire

Finished Season 5 of the Wire recently, folks. Great TV, must be seen to be believed. Throughout the show's run, one character struck me as representative of the strengths of the show's collective talents. Andre Royo as drug fiend Bubbles is undoubtedly one of my favorite characters from any TV show. His evolution through the seasons of the Wire, his homespun wisdom, and his charm and fortitude of character all establish him as the surprising moral center of the show. From the outset, Bubbles is portrayed without apology or whitewash- he scams drug dealers, steals junk that he can hock, shoots up. In the first season, the injury of a friend he has taken under his wing compels him to become a confidential informant for the police. As the show progresses, he struggles to make ends meet through other odd jobs, like by selling junk metal, selling wares on the street from a cart, and working at a fruit stand.

But when tragedy forces him to turn his life around, his struggle to survive becomes entangled with the struggle to get clean. Accompanying him on his journey of self-redemption, we as viewers can't help but root for him, feel for him; he may be down on his luck, but he doesn't pity himself. He doesn't blame others, either. He accepts his lot, not by acquiescing, but by facing reality and fighting the good fight to stay clean, stay off the streets, and stay true to his own principles. Here's actor Andre Royo's take on his character as the fifth season begins.



We loves ya, Bubs. You da man.