Punk isn’t dead, and new wave is alive and kicking with the Polysics. Polysics or Die: Vista is the band’s first American release on MySpace Records and features 16 tracks from the band’s previous four albums that have only been released in Japan.
"Electric Surfin’ Go Go" opens the record with one of the craziest synth lines imaginable. "New Wave Jacket" is next and at first listen it sounds like samples taken straight out of a Nintendo game. The album doesn’t slow down as "Baby Bias" mixes new wave with a pogo-punk chorus and dueling female and male vocals all sung in Japanese.
"Go Ahead Now" and "Kaja Kaja Goo" are more rock-based, spastic songs that would make bands such as The Vapors and Devo proud. Polysics or Die: Vista also features an all-electronic cover of The Knack’s "My Sharona." " Black Out Fall Out" is a great sing-along pop song with plenty of "do-do’s" and "hey-hey’s".
The Polysics have been rocking since 1998 and play to sold-out crowds on a nightly basis in Japan and Europe. You can catch them on the MySpace Music Tour with Say Anything and Hellogoodbye on Nov. 9 at the Verizon Wireless Theatre.
