Ponys - Celebration Castle
by Mark Rowland
published: 25 / 6 / 2005
Label:
In Thered
Format: CD
intro
Innovative Steve Albini-produced rock on second album from the Ponys, who have decidely their own take on post-punk
The Ponys got plenty of acclaim for their first record, ‘Laced With Romance’, a driving, noisy post-punk/garage rock record with a distinctive sound and great tunes. On their new album, the Steve Albini-produced ‘Celebration Castle’, their sound has become tighter and more restrained. This has caused disappointment among some critics and fans who loved their first album, but although ‘Celebration Castle’ is less immediate, it is a very good album in its own right. The Ponys’ sound takes its cues from bands like Television, the Velvet Underground, the Stooges, Echo and the Bunnymen and the Cure, but unlike other recent bands that have blatantly stolen these bands’ riffs, the Ponys have their own take on post-punk. ‘Celebration Castle’ is a varied album, shifting between simmering indie pop numbers like ‘I’m With You’ and driving rockers like ‘Ferocious’. The Ponys’ strength is in their melodies, and all tracks on the album have great hooks; ‘Another Wound’ has an early REM feel to it, while ‘Today’ is slightly reminiscent of the best Britpop. Of the band’s three vocalists, it is Jered Gummere who sings on most of the songs, but the songs with Ian Adams or Melissa Elias singing on them are real stand-out tracks. Adams’ two – ‘Shadow Box’ and the aforementioned ‘I’m With you’, are probably the most immediate and poppy tracks on the record, while Elias’ ‘She’s Broken’ sounds like a great lost Sleater-Kinney track. The Ponys are one of a handful of underground acts that are keeping post-punk and garage rock fresh and modern rather than just recreating old sounds. Let’s hope they keep it up.
Track Listing:-
1 Glass Conversation2 Another Wound
3 Today
4 I'm With You
5 We Shot The World
6 Shadow Box
7 Discoteca
8 Get Black
9 She's Broken
10 Ferocious
reviews |
Turn the Lights Out (2007) |
Not-for-the faint-hearted, but fantastic-sounding sonic guitar rock, which will be enjoyed of fans of Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine and the Pixies |
most viewed articles
current edition
The Church - Interview with Steve KilbeySimon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.
Secret Shine - Interview
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
Flaming Stars - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for BreadIan Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Inutili - A Love Supreme
Kula Shaker - Natural Magick
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Ty Segall - Three Bells
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart