Review of Polaris Rose's album 'Ocean Blue, Velvet Skies'

Polaris Rose are a heartfelt Los Angeles bunch intent on baring their souls with their latest album Ocean Blue, Velvet Skies. Following their Telescopes debut from 2014, this next album is the second in a six part series of interconnected albums, a melodic blend of shimmery alternative psychedelia.

According to The Process, the band’s music blog, this album “is about finding peace in ourselves” as they grow themselves and let go of those things unobtainable.

With just nine tracks of material members Peter Anthony and Madelynn Elyse waste little time, both singing over driving guitars and soaring melodies right from the start in album openers “Stars & Stripes” and “Rose.” Catchy hooks fly about in the power pop-tinged single “TigerBait” in a moment that visualizes total technological takeover.

The social commentary moves from technological infiltration to stereotyping roles in “SodaJerk” as guitars and vocals work in tandem, where the ending of “Tell Me All Your Secrets” layer and fade out in electronic space bleeps.

The alternative crunch churns slower on “That Lonely Road” and even more so the acoustic echoes out in “The Great Western Highway” with a good ole fashioned heartache. “Slipstream” is packed with a melodic urgency in brooding reflection of a dream just passed.

By the time the closing “AstroBoy” kicks in the subtle guitars interspersed between the honest emotion feels hopeful, as Polaris Rose reminds you that you won’t have to go it alone.

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