Polkas for a Gloomy World

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Polkas for a Gloomy World
A black-and-white dreary photo of a city bridge, with the text 'Brave Combo' and 'Polkas for a Gloomy World'. The text is all white except for the word "polkas," which is colorful.
Studio album by
Brave Combo
Released1995
GenrePolka, Tejano music, Latin music
LabelRounder[1]
ProducerBrave Combo
Brave Combo chronology
The Hokey Pokey: Organized Dancing
(1994) 		Polkas for a Gloomy World
(1995) 		Girl
(1996)

Polkas for a Gloomy World is an album by the American band Brave Combo, released in 1995.[2][3] The band intended for it to be a return to their traditional polka fusion roots.[4]

The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Polka Album".[5]

Production[edit]

The album was produced by Brave Combo.[6] The songs are sung in English, as well as in Spanish, German, Russian, and Polish.[7] "Flying Saucer" was inspired by frontman Carl Finch's observation of bizarre illuminations over Marfa, Texas; the standard "In Heaven, There Is No Beer" contains additional, original lyrics.[8][9]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[11]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[6]

The Washington Post wrote that the album "proves the polka can be every bit as invigorating as a Cajun two-step, another dance music rescued from wedding-reception hell."[12] The Chicago Tribune stated that Brave Combo "plays Polish polkas and waltzes, German polkas, Czech drinking songs and conjunto and tejano tunes, or 'Mexican polkas'... With the exception of the waltzes, the music careens at breakneck speed."[13]

The Sunday News determined that the album breaks down "snob barriers with a feel-good feast for the ears and feet."[14] The Omaha World-Herald deemed it "a tasty mix of polka, country and blues—all with a hard-rock attitude."[15] The Post-Tribune concluded that Polkas for a Gloomy World is "upbeat and silly—but really, you only need one Brave Combo album in your collection for novelty's sake."[16] The Columbus Dispatch labeled it "a typical exotic mix of polka, norteno and tejano music"; the paper later named it one of the best albums of the year.[17][18]

AllMusic called the album "a collection that finds the meeting place between Eastern Europe and the Tejano brand of accordion demolition music."[10]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleLength
1."Hosa Dyna" 
2."Flying Saucer" 
3."Eloina's Marbles" 
4."The Faithful Hussar" 
5."Near the Karpat Mountain" 
6."Quiero Que Sepas" 
7."Mystery Spot Polka" 
8."Potato Chips Polka" 
9."Breslau" 
10."Pije Kuba" 
11."Buscando Tu Curazon" 
12."Katiusha" 
13."Camino De Dolores" 
14."In Heaven, There Is No Beer" 

References[edit]

  1. ^ Morthland, John (Aug 1995). "Sounds of summer — Polkas for a Gloomy World by Brave Combo". Texas Monthly. Vol. 23, no. 8. p. 58.
  2. ^ Crain, Zac. "Polka + Grammy = Brave Combo". Dallas Observer.
  3. ^ Norris, Chris (Jun 19, 1995). "They Might Be Geniuses". New York. Vol. 28, no. 25. p. 100.
  4. ^ Beal Jr., Jim (November 17, 1995). "Better living through polka – Brave Combo dedicated to chasing gloom away". Arts. San Antonio Express-News.
  5. ^ "Brave Combo". Grammy Awards. November 23, 2020.
  6. ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 156.
  7. ^ Jarvey, Paul (22 June 1995). "Brave Combo adds dash of polka to Big Easy Bash". Telegram & Gazette. p. C1.
  8. ^ Keller, Martin (May 16, 1996). "Space is the place". Rolling Stone. No. 734. pp. 21–22.
  9. ^ Terrell, Steve (30 June 1995). "Terrell's Tune-Up". Pasatiempo. The Santa Fe New Mexican. p. 41.
  10. ^ a b "Polkas for a Gloomy World". AllMusic.
  11. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. p. 814.
  12. ^ "Brave Combo's Punchy Polkas". The Washington Post. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  13. ^ Stetson, Nancy (11 Aug 1995). "Polka Combo Takes: Asks the Musical Question: What Is Hip?". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
  14. ^ Ruth, Jim (18 June 1995). "Chameleon earns name by booking a polka band". Sunday News. p. H5.
  15. ^ Minge, Jim (August 19, 1996). "Nuclear Polka". Living Today. Omaha World-Herald. p. 27.
  16. ^ Knopper, Steve (July 19, 1996). "Beware of Polka-ing Moshers—Moshing Polkaers?—at Brave Combo". Post-Tribune. p. D8.
  17. ^ "Brave Combo Mixes, Matches Bargain Tunes". Weekender. The Columbus Dispatch. June 1, 1995. p. 8.
  18. ^ "Best Albums". The Columbus Dispatch. December 31, 1995. p. 7F.
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