Siberia

While this may be Polvo's most direct statement in all their recorded history, it ranks with the best of anything the band has released prior to 2013. This may be easy to write, but let it be said, this feat of a band taking an extended break and returning with a great album, "In Prism" - and later a dare to be argued out right classic in "Siberia" - rarely EVER happens. It just doesn't. Real life intrudes, responsibility pulls creative energy to more domestic, well regarded directions - and that's alright, I would never wish my favorite band and empty existence all because their life is ruled by 'expected' albums and tours. That's alot of weight to pack on the shoulders of anyone. "Siberia" harbors the uniqueness, and surprise as their best "Today's Active Lifestyles" delivered, and yet their are a multitude of moments that leave the listener breathless. I would even argue this the album to convert underground guitar rock fans that have yet to hear the band. Your damn right I'm biased - Polvo has been my favorite band since the early singles (kitchen puff?) - my favorite show happened to be catching them in a tiny room above a sports bar across from Boston Garden so many years ago...just like a living room show, their was even a keg in the corner...leaving during Helium's set just so we could catch transit and make it back to Nashua, NH where I lived at the time...I hope they keep making music, I still cannot believe how relentlessly impressive "Siberia" is - I sincerely doubt any one album will beat this for the year's best release. On a side note, the bass playing is at an all time high, and is recorded fantastically to where it is featured and pulls your attention in without rolling all over the twisting, twining guitar impressions. 10/10.

I heard about this recording in Stereophile magazine. I listened to a few tracks and loved it. This is great stuff and great to hear some different style of music that is above what is out there in the mainstream. Highly recommend you give a listen.

The only song I knew from years ago was "Mexican Radio". Since then, I've bought all their albums, and there isn't one dud on any of them. These guys are truly top-notch musicians and know how to weave a mood using their instruments. I like their off-beat lyrics which rank up there with the best of the beat poets. After a long hiatus, Siberia is back, and I'm giving it front-burner attention as I do with all new purchases. But Polvo's music I keep going back to over and over, and find that particular riffs or a slice of a lyric pop into my head at odd times (sometimes inconvenient, but welcome nonetheless) during the day. This is a 5-star event. Welcome back, boys.

I’m not sure how this band does it. Each album is just as good if not better than the last. Very enjoyable from start to finish

amazing that they could take a decade plus long break and come back with this. the best polvo album

perfection

6th album from North Carolina band—solid, edgy indie guitar rock that rides a fine line between melody and terse, angular delivery. The songs are meticulously aggressive, stirring emotions with the balance of opposites: anger vs beauty, control vs explosiveness, math rock tempo vs liquid riff flows. The production has an immaculately clean fuzz-roar that lays a heavy hand on the tunes. The level of musicianship is at an all-time high for the band; songwriting, bass, drums and the brilliantly innovative guitar lines are all tenaciously crisp with an inviting muscularity. Members have played in Helium, Libraness, Idyll Swords. Includes some guest guitar from Mitch Easter. At times I hear influences like Built To Spill, Pinback, Seam, Archers Of Loaf, Slint, Squirrel Bait, The Entrance Band, XTC, even Neil Young/Crazy Horse & the Rolling Stones. This is the kind of album that reveals additional layers and depth to the sound with every listen and never loses touch with its rock ‘n’ roll core. --Excellent--

The comparisons to Polvo's loosest back catalog album Today's Active Lifestyles are apt, at least for the first side of Siberia, which sounds lively and wired. Polvo has always been a band capable of Zeppelin-like riff mastery, but unlike that hoary classic rock monolith they were never satisfied to let those riffs take center stage. Instead, left turns and musical density abound. It's mathy yet organic, and Ash Bowie has never sounded better on vocals than on their two post-reunion albums.Where I diverge from the press sheet on this album is that I feel like the second half opens up into quite a colorful tapestry of sounds, maybe less rocking and swaggering than the first several tracks, but finished with lots of absorbing touches that keep me coming back. The mainly acoustic "Old Maps" is a prime example, and a little bit unique in the Polvo canon. Almost Spanish guitar flourishes and deft sonic touches fill out what is at its heart an extremely well-written song. The writing and arranging of the album as a whole scratches that itch for something "rock" that isn't just "rock." If that makes sense.So this is a little less polished than its predecessor In Prism, but also an extremely reassuring album that avoids any present day production trappings or obvious plays for media attention, instead sounding like Polvo essentially picked up where they left off and continued the sort of rock/post-rock explorations they've been doing since day one. This sits very easily alongside my favorites like Exploded Drawing and Celebrate The New Dark Age. If you still have a place in your heart for this band, get this album.Also, really nice packaging and graphics by Delicious Design League!