Ponys--"So Sentimental" +2
Contaminated 2003
So, you're dissapointed with the state of pop music and don't think there's anything left to be excited about in that realm? Hold your horses. Or, to be more specific, get ahold of this 7" by the Ponys. Melodic as all get out, with just enough slant to keep you on your toes, this is the porridge that's just right.
The sound of the Ponys is obviously rooted in the Velvet Underground/Richard Hell school of thought. That said, there is something very "British" to the way this band sounds. Part of this can be attributed to the fact the Ponys vocalist sounds a bit like a less whiny Robert Smith. However, there's also something about the Ponys and their subtly angular melodic style which recalls the highly underrated Wedding Present. Any way you look at it, influences aside, the Ponys are a great band.
How's the songwriting? Stunning. With the entire first side of this 7", "So Sentimental" and "I Wanna Fuck You," the recurring thought is "hit song." These two tracks are so "right" it's mind boggling. They both possess all the longing, passion, and immediacy that makes great pop music great. The flipside, "Scorceress Of The South Side," is a bit less immediate than the previous two tracks but is no less rewarding. This closer is aided by some nice blasts of wah and distortion, making the 7" three-for-three and an all-around winner.
As with all stuff this good, the only real gripe is that there isn't more of it. As good as the Ponys are, that's sure to be rectified, sooner than later. Yep, you need this one--so, go get it..
Score this 7" directly from CONTAMINATED |
