Happy June, everyone. I hope you are all healthy and safe. I know I just returned and all, but these next two posts are going to be off the beaten path. Today's post is a waltz record, which isn't straying too far from the norm. A lot of polka groups have (and continue) to play waltz songs. Next week's record, however, is not necessarily polka related, but you'll find out more about that in a few days.
A quick Polka Hole history lesson. If I recall correctly, this blog blossomed from a discussion I was having with my friends Nick, Chris, and Matt. I think we were at Spunky Dunkers in Palatine, so I must have been home from school for a break or something. My memory is awful these days. This could have happened at a completely different location and time, or maybe it didn't even happen at all.
Alas, if my memory is indeed serving me correctly, we started talking about the different styles of music that people our age (at the time we were in our early 20's) seemed to choose to not listen to. Polka was brought up, and Chris (again my memory sucks, this may have not happened or it may have been Nick) said that "polka was the original punk," comparing the two genres use of the 4/4 time and quick tempo.
So if polka is the original punk, then waltz is undeniably the original emo. This brings us to today's highlighted release, the double-disc 22 Favorite Waltzes with The Mom and Dads. May was undoubtedly an emotional month for a lot of people, and I was surprised to find that the music on this release really helped me reflect on my somber mood. With titles like Are You Lonesome Tonight?, Tears On My Pillow, and It's a Sin to Tell a Lie, you'd think you were listening to a Mineral record.
However, the mood isn't always that of melancholy. Feelings of optimism and calmness arise during such ditties as Springtime in the Rockies, The Sidewalk Waltz, and my personal favorite, The Naughty Waltz. The track Beautiful Ohio comes as a rare breed, as it may be the first time I've seen those two words used consecutively.
I'm sure at the point of time when this was released, folks would be welcoming of a double-disc with nearly two dozen tracks. Double the fun for a LOW, LOW PRICE! However, through modern ears, this record suffers the fate of being more about quantity than quality. Upon my first real playback, I thought I had accidentally saved Mexicali Rose twice, as Love is a Beautiful Song is nearly identical.
All in all, despite its repetitive nature, this record is great to listen to after smoking a bowl and going for a walk. Spring is almost over. Enjoy this as its curtain-call soundtrack.
Download the album here:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/1jswtj4kso0zvkz/The_Mom_and_Dads_-_22_Waltzes_With_MP3s.zip/file
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