overly polite tornadoes

Overly Polite Tornadoes consists of guitarist Mark Morris and vocalist Holly Klutts-Morris, both of whom are part of the band Glowfriends. Specializing in atmospheric pop that is equal parts shoe-gaze, folk and psychedelic, the duo creates a lush tapestry of sound that is both calming and thought-provoking.

“New Leaf Turns Over” recalls the stillness of autumns past, before giving way to the frantic guitar playing of Morris. The pace quickens for “Songbird,” which is reminiscent of ’90s bands like The Sundays and Blake Babies. While Morris is the lead singer, Klutts-Morris provides vocal counterparts that offer a sweet kind of contrast.

“When You Wake Up” plays like an album should. This is not a couple of good songs padded out to make a long player, this is an entire piece of art. I haven’t listened to it in headphones yet, but I expect that experience to draw me even farther in. Very well done. - Kenosha News

Sporting a great name that simply impossible to forget, Overly Polite Tornadoes features Mark Andrew Morris and Holly Klutts-Morris, who are husband and wife and also perform in Glowfriends, a critically acclaimed band from Kalamazoo, Michigan. Following the same template as Glowfriends, Overly Polite Tornadoes fit firmly in the file stamped shoegaze pop. The duo’s new album When You Wake Up (JAM Records) locks in as a model specimen of the genre, which originated in Europe in the late ’80s by bands like My Bloody Valentine, Ride, and Chapterhouse. One of the most alluring aspects of shoegaze pop is the leap-frogging of contrasting sounds, and Overly Polite Tornadoes carefully balances their material with expressive shades, colors, and emotions. From soft to hard to coarse to refined to quiet to loud, the twosome manages to sustain a solid sense of melody throughout their songs. The dynamics are strong and supple, and the feel is organic and intimate. Whispering vocals complement dreamy harmonies, while strummy guitars turn into squalling explosions of feedback. A hymn-inflected aura, dabbed with psychedelic lint, further occupies much of When You Wake Up, and the lyrics favor a spirited and often abstract slant.Every track on the album projects its own special rhyme and reason, with the scorching “Don’t Tell Me How It Ends,” the fuzzy Teenage Fan Club styled pop of “Empty Light Squares,” the ethereal electricity of “New Leaf Turn Over,” and the enigmatic poetry and general quirkiness of “Stuffed Rabbit” posting as select songs to take note of. Shivering, cascading, and levitating with creative flashes, When You Wake Up is an enthralling expedition into contemporary shoegaze pop. Overly Polite Tornadoes make a perfect pair, and this record validates their talents. - Something Else Reviews

Kalamazoo, Mich., the hometown of Overly Polite Tornadoes, has a name as catchy as the band’s. Married couple Mark Andrew Morris and Holly Klutts-Morrismake bedroom loop-pop with subtle vocals, full arrangements and double-helix-like harmonies. They’re also members of the band Glowfriends, who are in the same shoegazing genre. This year’s When You Wake Upfollows the band’s seven-song EP, Almost, and those records have shown OPT to be a solid sonic wingman — this is music you can just hang out with, knowing it’s always up for a party. See for yourself when the duo plays Club Caféalong with The Velcro Shoes, Claire With the Turban and Street Pigeons. Caleb Murphy 10:15 p.m. 56 S. 12th St., South Side. $7. 412-431-4950 or www.clubcafelive.com - Club Cafe

Overly Polite Tornadoes Kindly Storm By with Summer Release “when you wake up”
If you’re familiar with our local phosphorescent acquaintances, Glow Friends, you may already know the husband and wife project called Overly Polite Tornadoes. The couple Mark Andrew Morris and Holly Klutts-Moris released the group’s first full-length record, “when you wake up,” in late May.
They have a bedroom pop sound. Simply put, it’s music that lures you into bed so you can daydream. And with these psychedelic textures, electric guitar bends, and Yo La Tengoesque vocals, this record is for people who want to listen to exciting, but not fast, music. Their first track, “new leaf turns over,” chugs slowly, with reverberated guitars and spacey percussions. Many tracks are a under a few minutes long, and they pull you through different vignettes. The song “don’t tell me how it ends” feels especially cathartic near the end when a fully electric guitar cuts with overdriven lines reminiscent of post-rock bands like Explosions in the Sky.
A lot of the songs sound similar, at least at first. And this is not a bad thing. They have a refined sound, as they had released an EP last year in the spring called “almost ep” that is similar, but has more apparent shoegaze influences. This record also has less overtly introspective song titles, and many the song titles on this record borrow from nature. The effect is that it brings more color, and more variations of emotions.
The whispery vocals, sleigh bells, and xylophones do add to a nostalgic vibe, and some songs, such as “song bird,” sound bright and happy.
Of course, with a few members down from Glow Friends, Overly Polite Tornadoes sound similar, but it feels less rock. Acoustic strums and electric guitar tones instead take much of the space. They sound is not radically different, but it’s less twee-pop and more bedroom-pop. It’s like they have a lo-fi aesthetic, though the production certainly sounds polished..
The vocals are much more dreamy and whispery than that of Glow Friends. Instead of writing big sounding songs, they build wide soundscapes. It feels like the textures of a daydream.
“when you wake up” is the perfect companion to a late night when you’re anticipating sleeping in the next day, but you don’t care since you spent your evening with friends.

- Colin Smith - Smash Magazine