reviews

Reviews of the Pretty Polly 'Now Or Never'.
"Now Or Never"

Reviews of the Pretty Polly: That Was Then & This Is Now E.P.
"That Was Then & This Is Now"

Inside Connection: Oct. 2003 issue pg. 51- Notes on Touring 495: "Finally this month, Mr. Beery's in Bethpage was a veritable who's who of bands and fans. Steve Beery, ever the gracious host, had nothing but good things to say about Pretty Polly, Twenty After, Bluish, and Broken. Of course, it certainly helps that these are some of the scene's more seasoned veterans. Twenty After, for example is going to be opening for the legendary Mike Doughty of Soul Coughing at Dave Glicker's Downtown in Farmingdale, NY later this month. Meanwhile, Pretty Polly has been pounding the pavement on the New York scene since The Island Ear was in publication (remember that one, kids?) and they never fail to deliver a rousing performance, a good time, and stellar music. Tonight, of course, was no different. Moving on to the second round from this show are Broken and Pretty Polly. See you all next month!" - Bernadette Giacomazzo.

Reviews of the Pretty Polly full length
"Somewhere Between Then & Now"

www.LongIslandMusicScene.com - Pretty Polly: Somewhere Between Then & Now- The boys from Pretty Polly are no strangers to the Long Island music scene, having been cranking out tune after powerhouse tune since 1994. Their latest offering is a generous helping of eleven delicious tracks, proving that they are showing no signs of slowing down. The cover art is almost Floydian, and you'll soon come to realize that listening to this album is like trying to solve a really cool puzzle. You'll find trace elements of Pink Floyd sprinkled throughout the music, particularly in the song "There's Just Something About You That Hurts Me". But don't get the wrong idea. Unlike Floyd, Pretty Polly approaches music in much the same manner as an infantry battalion prepares for battle. You'll also discover trace elements of latter-day grunge here, but don't be fooled. It's just another red herring.

The guitars and vocals are capably handled by frontman/stuntman Rob G.. The power chords are plentiful and his voice glows like a bug zapper. The drumming is generated by the acrobatic Stevie D., and he is tremendously talented. The listener will can hear flashes of both Dave Grohl and Stuart Copeland in his style. As they say in the old neighborhood, "he got chops"! The bass grooves are churned out by John Walsh, and his instrument seems to come alive in his hands. At times, the music becomes brooding and the lyrics become introspective, but one should remember that a whole is the sum of its parts. The clever structure of each song is a true testament to their potential. "Some Real Life Poetry" ropes the listener in with a killer hook, and then proceeds to slap the listener upside the head with aural artillery. "Obsolete" begins with a juggling drumbeat, as the guitar and bass creep up like a stalker on the prowl. "For You" is a flammable rocker, and the bridge is simply amazing. From top to bottom, this album has one standout track after another, and the mood swings of the music are enough to leave you in a daze. -Tim Connelly

Reviews of the Pretty Polly E.P.
"Getting Over It"

Under The Volcano- Pretty Polly: Getting Over It- Long Island's own Pretty Polly are back with yet another fine self-released effort. Getting Over It is in fact the band's most polished and hooky effort thus far. Loaded with infectious chords, energetic rhythms and melodic yet at time "angered" vocals, this CD would up convincing me that these chaps are on the road to success. Somewhat emo, somewhat poppy, the bottom line is this; Pretty Polly is the finished product of the Wipers impregnating Sunny Day Real Estate. Don't get me wrong, aside from some obvious influences, there's plenty of originality lurking throughout this unit. Definetly make an effort to snatch this CD up if you can. -Alex St.Dred.

Reviews for Pretty Polly related projects


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Reviews of the Pretty Polly 'Now Or Never'. "Now Or Never"
Aural Fix: Volume 5 Issue 4 April 2005 *Pretty Polly 'Now Or Never'- Pretty Polly* is rocking and rolling on the wings of a DVD/CD combo that is getting plenty of attention at the hip Ultrasound Lounge in Levittown (a fantastic venue that always brings it home) and frontman Rob G. Love is again reminding us that great music truly does exist on Long Island. - Notes From Easytown USA by Tim Connelly Grave Concerns: 3/7/05 *Pretty Polly 'Now Or Never'- After dealing with many setbacks that would destroy lesser willed musicians, including the recent departure of their bass player due to time restraints, the imposing prospects of a long recording and mixing effort that encompassed most of a year, and the auditioning process to find a new bass player, you might expect the death of Pretty Polly. But that dear readers, would be a horribly wrong assumption. This is a band that can not be swayed by tragedy, a band who are completely dedicated to their sound, and absolutely refuse to give up. And with good reason. Pretty Polly* return with vehement brilliance with the release of their latest E.P., "Now or Never", and show exactly why they must do everything in their power to continue. This is a band brimming with pure and unaldalterated emotion. A creature that is fed by both negative and positive energy that produces strangely addictive, intensly passionate musical compositions. Currently consisting of Rob G. on guitars and lead vocals and Stevie D. on drums and vocals, Pretty Polly have carved a niche for themselves in the alternative rock/post hardcore scene. Rob's guitarwork is both melodic, heavy and crunching, and his songwriting skills are top notch. Stevie D... what can I say? This guys is amazing. A veritable rythym machine, churning out beat after dynamic beat with a force that leaves you slack jawed. Together they form a symbiosis. And when Stevie sings, take cover. His vocals are just as hard-hitting as his drums. Songs full of harmony, vigorous energy, and intelligent lyrics. I defy you to hear this album and not be moved. Seriously. You just can't. Pretty Polly, know what they were meant to do, and they do it well. In the words of one of their biggest fans, "They rock your socks off". And they do. Rest assured. Songs that really impressed me were "Lesson Learned" with it's beautiful chord progressions and harmonic vocals, the sometimes gritty and harsh changes and spectacular drums of "And All That You're Lacking Is Substance" , and my favorite of the album, the undeniably powerful "So Long", which blows me away in every way. As if the album wasn't great enough already, Pretty Polly also include an exceptional accompanying DVD that features tons of live, practice, and fan footage. A great way to really learn who they are, totally satisfying and humorous to say the very least. The only problem I had with this album was that it was only an EP! Every song on "Now or Never" is thoroughly enjoyable, and I would have liked to hear many more on this release. This is an album I recommend highly to any fan of music, whatever genre they may be most comfortable with. Pretty Polly harken back to the salad days of the Sub Pop and Touch and Go greats, have structures comparable to bands like Helmet and Jawbox, and I see a very bright future for them. -Jeremy Eckhart
Reviews of the Pretty Polly: That Was Then & This Is Now E.P. "That Was Then & This Is Now"
Good Times: Aug. 10 -23, 2004 pg. 25 *Pretty Polly: That Was Then & This Is Now EP- Hard-hitting trio Pretty Polly* rocks with a vengence on "The Waiting", poised as the opening cut on their heat-seeking CD. The music is punched up and coated by melodic angst by lead singer Rob G. "Sympathy" has a classic rock/sweetened metal hybrid. "Problem Solving" is modern rock with a harder stance and power ballad vocals. Stevie D. brings his pummeling drum-style to the forefront on every track. The disc is a platform for his style and technique, incorporating his percussive beats on each song. "Rebound" flows with John Walsh's streamlined bass. The cut showcases the nuances of the band applied to a framework of ebb and flow. "Over Run" twists and turns, giving the aura of late 90's brass waves of musical breakers. Pretty Polly presents a solid, inter-locking network of chords and lyrics. On this 6-song CD, they leave you thirsty for more. Pretty Polly has break-out potential and far-reaching seismic music. -Rikki Lana
Live Reviews
Inside Connection: Oct. 2003 issue pg. 51- Notes on Touring 495: "Finally this month, Mr. Beery's in Bethpage was a veritable who's who of bands and fans. Steve Beery, ever the gracious host, had nothing but good things to say about Pretty Polly, Twenty After, Bluish, and Broken. Of course, it certainly helps that these are some of the scene's more seasoned veterans. Twenty After, for example is going to be opening for the legendary Mike Doughty of Soul Coughing at Dave Glicker's Downtown in Farmingdale, NY later this month. Meanwhile, Pretty Polly has been pounding the pavement on the New York scene since The Island Ear was in publication (remember that one, kids?) and they never fail to deliver a rousing performance, a good time, and stellar music. Tonight, of course, was no different. Moving on to the second round from this show are Broken and Pretty Polly. See you all next month!" - Bernadette Giacomazzo.
Reviews of the Pretty Polly full length "Somewhere Between Then & Now"
Under The Volcano: Issue 70 pg. 40 Pretty Polly: Somewhere Between Then & Now- This is a reunion of sorts. After existing for several years in the early 90's, the band broke up for a brief period. The band gave it a shot at getting back together, and that venture produced this disc. It is self-released and features 11 tracks. Only one member is different from the initial three piece run of the early years. Vocals and drums are still manned by the same two musicians while bass duties have been picked up by a new member, Matt. (note: Rob G. played bass on this recording, & our new member is actually John Walsh) Pretty Polly has matured a great deal since the early demo. While there is still a hint of the earliest song structures, gone are the over abundant comparisons to Nirvana. Incorporated into the new songs are elements of the strong Emo scene on Long Island, as well as Alterna-Rock that was hitting college radio. Bands like Pitchblende come to mind, as does Don Caballero and some Touch & Go bands. I'm really impressed with the writing growth the band has shown over the years, and it couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of guys! The big draw back to this album is the recording. The guitars are too low, the vocals are muffled, and the only true drum sound you can hear is the snare. It really detracts from the listenability, and probably hurts the overall song structure as well. -Myk The Islandear: Issue 579 pg. 21 Pretty Polly: Somewhere Between Then & Now- Part of the beauty of the musical genre known as emocore - which, quite frankly, may be the Next Big Thing - is its intricate musical stylings that blend punk rock with crunching guitars and blistering lyrics and vocals, all while keeping a definitive anti-corporate sensibility and a left-of-center socio-political stance. Enter, then, Long Island natives Pretty Polly. Formed after a few abortive attempts begining in 1994, Pretty Polly's debut effort, Somewhere Between Then & Now, can only be described as a burst of inspiration set down with the barest of equipment in the barest of time with most emotion that could possibly be mustered in 45 minutes of musical time. In what can only be described as 12 uppercuts, the boys could teach the rock world a thing or two about integrity. A -Bernadette Giacomazzo
www.LongIslandMusicScene.com - Pretty Polly: Somewhere Between Then & Now- The boys from Pretty Polly are no strangers to the Long Island music scene, having been cranking out tune after powerhouse tune since 1994. Their latest offering is a generous helping of eleven delicious tracks, proving that they are showing no signs of slowing down. The cover art is almost Floydian, and you'll soon come to realize that listening to this album is like trying to solve a really cool puzzle. You'll find trace elements of Pink Floyd sprinkled throughout the music, particularly in the song "*There's Just Something About You That Hurts Me". But don't get the wrong idea. Unlike Floyd, Pretty Polly* approaches music in much the same manner as an infantry battalion prepares for battle. You'll also discover trace elements of latter-day grunge here, but don't be fooled. It's just another red herring. The guitars and vocals are capably handled by frontman/stuntman Rob G.. The power chords are plentiful and his voice glows like a bug zapper. The drumming is generated by the acrobatic Stevie D., and he is tremendously talented. The listener will can hear flashes of both Dave Grohl and Stuart Copeland in his style. As they say in the old neighborhood, "he got chops"! The bass grooves are churned out by John Walsh, and his instrument seems to come alive in his hands. At times, the music becomes brooding and the lyrics become introspective, but one should remember that a whole is the sum of its parts. The clever structure of each song is a true testament to their potential. "*Some Real Life Poetry" ropes the listener in with a killer hook, and then proceeds to slap the listener upside the head with aural artillery. "Obsolete" begins with a juggling drumbeat, as the guitar and bass creep up like a stalker on the prowl. "For You" is a flammable rocker, and the bridge is simply amazing. From top to bottom, this album has one standout track after another, and the mood swings of the music are enough to leave you in a daze. -Tim Connelly*
Reviews of the Pretty Polly E.P. "Getting Over It"
The Island-Ear- Pretty Polly: Getting Over it- A fine example of heavy metal hardcore a la The Last Crime and A Day For Honey, Pretty Polly - vocalist Rob G., guitarist James B., bassist Matt Campbell and drummer Steve D. - provide a handful of tight, well-produced anthems of suburban aggression and existential ennui. Getting Over It is great listening for a little non-Satanic head-banging. B+
Under The Volcano- Pretty Polly: Getting Over It- Long Island's own Pretty Polly are back with yet another fine self-released effort. Getting Over It is in fact the band's most polished and hooky effort thus far. Loaded with infectious chords, energetic rhythms and melodic yet at time "angered" vocals, this CD would up convincing me that these chaps are on the road to success. Somewhat emo, somewhat poppy, the bottom line is this; Pretty Polly is the finished product of the Wipers impregnating Sunny Day Real Estate. Don't get me wrong, aside from some obvious influences, there's plenty of originality lurking throughout this unit. Definetly make an effort to snatch this CD up if you can. -Alex St.Dred.
*Reviews for Pretty Polly* related projects**
Good Times: Musician's Talent Directory pg. 37 The Great Below: A Fallen Sorrow EP- The Great Below's debut EP sounds like the marriage of the moody psychedelic prog rock of early Smashing Pumpkins with the sweetness of a classic Britpop melody. Reminiscent of being recorded in the bedroom of a melodramatic teen straight after high school (perhaps the days when Pumpkins fans literally wore their heart on a concert T-shirt), the lyrics wallow in the comfy depression and mellow highs of love lost, found, and dreamily obsessed over. "You make me feel so alive" has the classic early nineties rock structure- whispered verses, screaming chorus, of a fan genuinely nostalgic for the days of angst and flannel and brown coruroys. "Brittle" is the catchiest, showcasing vocalist/bandleader Rob G.'s ability to sound tired without whining, angry yet loveable. At times, as in "I can't believe how good I feel", the band can get too dreamy. As the title suggests the Great Below's biggest weakness is pushing the heart-on-the-sleeve lyrics to an extreme. There's a reason I don't go back and read my old high school English notebooks- it's embarassing. But this shouldn't stop the group from exploring the naive longings of love. You can leave your bedroom, just keep the posters on the wall. -Michael Buening