Polly and the Billets Doux – album review
The full length debut by Polly and the Billets Doux titled “Fiction, Half Truths and Downright Lies” is an absolute joy to listen to. From the energetic guitar intro that kick-starts the album in “Follow My Feet” to the bluegrass rhythms of album closer “Back to Earth”, the band takes the listener on a blissful journey of americana/roots music. At first glance, one would think they’re from middle-America but surprisingly Polly and the Billets Doux hail from Winchester, England. No need to worry though, their retro-americana sound doesn’t feel like a gimmick or a ploy for attention. The love and respect for this style of music really shines through in their enthusiastic performances and lovely vocal harmonies. All the elements of a great album are present here – strong material, solid performances, great vocals and a sense of excitement and fun.
Take the album opener for example:I just go where my feet take me, I just wander where my legs decide, and I know that life won’t break me ’cause I’ll take it all in my stride.
Right after Polly Perry sings that first verse, the band makes an abrupt left turn into a totally different feel and rhythm. It definitely takes the listener by surprise and that type of fearlessness and sense of adventure make the album all the more fun and enjoyable to listen to. The band keeps it varied by mixing in jazz, folk, R&B and country through the course of the album. But even with all the different elements and influences, Polly Perry’s strong voice and Andrew Steen’s signature semi-hollow body guitar sound keep things from sounding too disjointed.
I also have to give “props” to producer/engineer Lewis Childs for creating a “live sounding” record which compliments this style of music and gives the songs a raw immediacy that’s very appealing. It’s definitely a notable contrast in this day and age of over-digitized pro-tooled junk that gets passed off as music nowadays.
Find out more about the band by heading over to PollyandtheBilletsDoux.co.uk
retroGrade: A
album: Fiction, Half Truths and Downright Lies
artist: Polly and the Billets Doux
produced by: Lewis Childs, Paul Isaac
release date: August 10, 2009
label: Bleak Mouse Records
TrackList:
1. Follow My Feet
2. To Be a Fighter
3. Charmed
4. The Cup and the Lip
5. I Would Ask
6. The Rounder
7. Don’t Trouble Trouble
8. Lead Me On
9. The City and the Sailor
10. Back to Earth
personal favorites include: “Follow My Feet”, “To Be Fighter”, “The Cup and the Lip”, “The Rounder” and “The City and the Sailor”
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live dates:
Jul 6 2009 Wickham Festival Gosport
Jul 12 2009 The Cellars (Afternoon Show) Portsmouth
Aug 2 2009 Harbourside Festival Bristol
Aug 5 2009 Firefly Worcester
Aug 6 2009 The Porter Bath
Aug 7 2009 The Westgate Winchester
Aug 8 2009 The Tower Arts Centre Winchester
Aug 22 2009 Plum Jam Festival Worcester
Sep 6 2009 Folk Festival Burnham-on-Sea
Sep 12 2009 The Folk House Bristol
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Polly and the Billets Doux
Polly Perry – vocals
Andrew Steen – guitars, vocals
Dan Everett – bass, vocals
Ben Perry – drums
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for more info on the lives dates in the UK, check out the NoblePR webpage.
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watch Polly and the Billets Doux performing “Follow my Feet” on youtube:
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