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Polyethylene is a vibrant trio that really embodies the spirit of homemade, authentic New England rock.  That said, they’re not exactly your typical, everyday band either.  Taking on a highly artistic approach to their music, the band incorporates many shades of classical, ambient, folk and punk sounds into their female-fronted rock n’ roll style.  In What Goes On Inside Houses, driving guitars and drums are combined with charming lyrics and reflective instrumental segments to create an impressively diverse album. 

The only unfortunate drawback to the band’s sound seems to be the quality of the vocals.  While she seems to carry well during more simple segments, vocalist Elena Ellis tends to struggle with navigating her full vocal range, making her sound like she needs a bit more practice to really get the job done.  Nevertheless, the band is able to keep us entertained with catchy riffs and lively rhythms, which are occassionally balanced with delicate flute and violin melodies.  The final track, "All in the Nuclear Family" will hit home to fans of the post-rock scene, as it interweaves instrumental landscapes around a chilling political dialogue. 

All in all, If you're not phased by mediocre vocals, What Goes On Inside Houses definately still has plenty to offer for those who like good-spirited rock with an artistic edge.  It seems evident that if they take the time to polish their sound, Polyethylene could very well be a major player in the modern rock scene.

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Reviewer: Sean Butze Added: June 14th 2007