Polly (Moses Sumney song)

"Polly" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Moses Sumney. It was released on December 13, 2019, as the second single from his second studio album Græ through Jagjaguwar.

"Polly"
Single by Moses Sumney
from the album Græ
ReleasedDecember 13, 2019 (2019-12-13)
Length4:16
LabelJagjaguwar
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Moses Sumney
Moses Sumney singles chronology
"Virile"
(2019)		 "Polly"
(2019)		 "Me in 20 Years"
(2020)
Music video
"Virile" on YouTube

The song was written by Sumney with American singer-songwriter Tom Gallo. Sumney also solely produced the track.

Composition

The song was described by Elizabeth Aubrey of NME as a "gentle acoustic ballad".[1]

Lyrically, Marcus J. Moore of Entertainment Weekly stated the song "delves into the frustrations that arise in situationships" as Sumney "volleys between joy and sadness, satisfaction and restlessness".[2] Grady Penna of Beats Per Minute observed that Sumney explored the dynamic of polyamory and unrequited affection through lines: "I want to be cotton candy / In the mouth of many a lover / Saccharine and slick technicolor / I'll dissolve".[3] Sumney also "croons about giving himself an octopus hug, the downside of competing interests, and the desire to dance in time with another lover", as described by Nina Corcoran of Consequence of Sound.[4] Tom Breihan of Stereogum interpreted the lyrics was about "a confused, ambiguous sexual relationship".[5]

Critical reception

Upon its release, Pitchfork named it as the "Best New Track". Contributor Colin Lodewick connected the track to Sumney's 2017 single, "Doomed" in which Sumney questioned "whether it is okay not to feel love at all". While reviewing "Polly", Lodewick stated that the track "finds him finally full of love, but forced to contend with the truth that he's not loved equally in return".[6] David Crone of AllMusic commended Sumney to sound "transcendent". "Polly" also was described as a "stunning intimate space" and was compared to the work of Bon Iver.[7] While reviewing the associated album, Pitchfork's contributor Jayson Greene described the music as "devastating" and "resonant". "...exists only by the grace of his calloused hands fingerpicking a simple pattern and his voice, which does more to generate cosmos than all the prodigious talents on græ combined", Greene added.[8] A.D. Amorosi of Variety called the song "folky", "open" and "humble". Amorosi further added: "[The song is] allowing Sumney to hold his notes [...] as if holding his breath while submersed in icy water".[9]

Music video

The accompanying music video of "Polly" was released the same day as the track. It features Sumney cries as he stares into the camera, acting out and reacting to the lyrics.[10][5] Jayson Greene of Pitchfork called the video as Sumney's "most exalted work".[8]

Live performances

Sumney performed the song as a part of NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts session, released on August 10, 2020.[11]

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Græ.[12]

References
  1. Aubrey, Elizabeth (May 14, 2020). "Moses Sumney – 'grae' review: complex two-part double album defies boundaries and genre". NME. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  2. Moore, Marcus J. (May 14, 2020). "Moses Sumney's græ is a sonic marvel". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  3. Penna, Grady (May 14, 2020). "Album Review: Moses Sumney – græ". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  4. Corcoran, Nina (December 13, 2019). "Moses Sumney shares new song "Polly": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  5. Breihan, Tom (December 13, 2019). "Moses Sumney – "Polly"". Stereogum. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  6. Lodewick, Colin (December 16, 2019). ""Polly" by Moses Sumney Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  7. Crone, David. "græ - Moses Sumney". AllMusic. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  8. Greene, Jayson (May 15, 2020). "Moses Sumney: græ Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  9. Amorosi, A.D. (May 14, 2020). "Moses Sumney's 'Græ': Album Review". Variety. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  10. "MOSES SUMNEY EXPLORES THE DOWNSIDES OF POLYAMORY ON "POLLY"". Afropunk. December 24, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  11. Gallagher, Alex (August 11, 2020). "Watch Moses Sumney perform his Tiny Desk Concert from home". NME. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  12. Græ (PDF) (booklet). Moses Sumney. Jagjaguwar. 2020. JAG348. Retrieved October 8, 2020.CS1 maint: others (link)
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