Paperjam

The NME Gets Something Right Shock - The Ponys

Music // Jim // 1st April 2007

My relationship with the NME is a bit like the one you have with a scab, you know you should leave it alone to heal and fall away naturally, but you end up picking at it out of some kind of morbid curiosity. It gets ripped off too early; you are left with a bleeding knee and end up with another scab.

We’ve pointed out on several occasions previously just what an unpleasant sixth form fanzine the NME has become and mocked the level of journalism/musical eclecticism on display, but I have to take at least a bit of the vitriol back as they did a fine job of recommending the album Turn The Lights Out by The Ponys.

Admittedly the sub editor had slapped the pun-tatstic “Hot To Trot” across the top of the review in a final attempt to put me off, but I was quickly able to discern the words “lethargic”, “Sonic Youth”, “Malkmus” and “Pixies-esque” in what seemed to be an overtly favourable write up.

I decided to give it a go and I’m glad that I did. Turn The Lights Out has got some fucking great songs on it that distill art/drone/slacker/alt rock into a compact and tuneful form.

Special mention should go to the twangy 1209 Seminary, belting opener Double Vision and the pounding Harakiri. Best thing on it though is Kingdom Of Hearts which effectively summarises the shoe-gazing movement inside two minutes and three seconds of plodding magnificence. Reminds me of Six By Seven and that’s a good thing.

Check some tracks at The Ponys Myspace page.