What is the question?
The emphatically positive title of the Polyphonic Spree's fourth studio album is an answer to something, an attempt to reassure, restore or reinforce a belief in something.
Led by Tim DeLaughter, the band—with its matching robes and 20-plus members—has always been a bit of a curiosity. Even beyond the aesthetic presentation, and name, there's perhaps a hint of cultishness in the colorfully joyous music.
Yes, It's True., however, is a celebration of individuality, self-assuredness and self-reliance, and as such, it's evocative good-mood music. Starting with "You Don't Know Me," DeLaughter lyrically lays out his hopeful take on life, singing, "Keep yourself high, don't keep yourself low," and, "There's always more to you than there are of them."
At turns wild ("Blurry Up the Lines"), weird ("Let Them Be"), dance-y ("Hold Yourself Up") and psychedelically woozy ("Popular by Design"), it's an album that hits its message from several angles. Nowhere is that message better distilled than on "What Would You Do?" when DeLaughter sings, convincingly, "We're tragic, we're human, we're beautiful, don't ever forget."
Upbeat, bright and weirdly infectious, the Polyphonic Spree have honed their craft remarkably well in the last 13 years. The band may still be a bit of an acquired taste, but for those who get it, Yes, It's True. is an uplifting thrill of an album.
The Polyphonic Spree perform with the O's and Seryn at 7 p.m., Monday, Aug. 26, at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. $18 advance, $20 day of; all ages. 622-8848; hotelcongress.com/club.
