A little bit of everything
If you’ve been making and releasing music for the past 22 years, there is sure to be some leftover tracks that never quite made the cut. That is exactly what Unreleashed: Demos and Rarities is for Jonny Polonsky. This hearty 21-track album is filled to the brim with angst and obviously established musicianship, both showcased through demos and rarities.
The beauty of an album like this is that while it stays true to what the artist stands for, it is new material in a sense. The album gets off to an energetic start with the opening track, “Everywhere All the Time.” The punk-inspired vocal style meshed with the loud symbols in the background make for a song that is sure to grab the listener’s attention right off the bat. The song even has a finish to it that feels like something grand, which isn’t a bad way to start an album.
“Let Me In” takes somewhat of a grunge turn, especially with the heavy opening to the track. As the track progresses it starts to become reminiscent of rock and punk tracks from the early 2000s, such as AFI and Avenged Sevenfold. In particular, the vocals feel somewhat out of place in today’s music world, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t impressive, they just tend to feel a little dated at times.
Just when it is starting to feel like the album is getting somewhat repetitive in style, “The History of Numbers” comes in to switch everything around. This slower, acoustic jam takes the energy down by about ten notches and feels completely different than the previous tracks. When comparing the two sounds, it is almost impossible to believe that Polonsky is singing this track as well, but it does a great job of showcasing diversity in his craft.
“See You Around” strikes an equal balance between the lighter, upbeat feeling of “The History of Numbers” and the more charged and angsty vibe of “Everywhere All the Time.” Due to this perfect balance between the two styles, it can easily be argued that “See You Around” is one of the stand-out tracks on the album.
Unreleashed: Demos and Rarities does a great job, from start to finish, of showcasing the diversity in sounds Jonny Polonsky has brought to the table over the many years he has been active in it. From start to finish, the listener is sure to be at least intrigued by the album, whether it be by the more punk-forward tracks or the more indie-based ones, there is something for everyone.
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