Dead Pony - IGNORE THIS - Album Review
The anticipated debut album from Dead Pony is here, and it's one you can't ignore.
The anticipated debut album from Dead Pony is here. Across 16 tracks they dare you to ‘IGNORE THIS.’
The album begins with the playful opener ‘the antagonist is ignorance,’ a short track and tone setter for the album, expect the unexpected. The title track comes crashing in with thrashing guitars and a sense of determination from Anna Shield’s vocals. They are a band demanding to be heard, but they also know how to have fun.
Their sounds take influence from the early 90s and 2000 bands, with Shield’s vocals reminiscent of Wargasm [UK], YONAKA, and Milk Teeth, filled with personality and reliability.
‘AWOL’ demonstrates the fun they are having experimenting with sounds and samples. Blair Criton’s thrashing guitar paired with electronic samples is a pairing the band has nailed down. IGNORE THIS isn’t just filled with off-the-wall hits, but has tender moments, like the stripped-back ‘Myself.’ Shields takes a backseat on the vocals, subverting expectations and succeeding.
Dead Pony takes you on a narrative journey of self-acceptance. This is evident with ‘MANA’ where the album truly comes alive. We see the beginning of a courageous journey of self-acceptance that crescendos with ‘RAINBOWS,’ a personal favorite.
‘Bad Girlfriend’ sees them dip their toes in the op world with an energetic beat before channeling Milk Teeth with the catchy ‘X-Rated.’ They are their heaviest on ‘White Rabbit’ and ‘Faces On The Wall’ would have been a great album closer. A culmination of their sound and style. However, this is Dead Pony, and you have to expect the unexpected, doing things on their own terms.
The album concludes with ‘Motor City Madman’ a satirical ‘mad man’s’ ramblings with a twinge of Country to their sound. Once again, it reinforces their creativity and desire to do things on their own terms.
There isn’t a genre Dead Pony hasn’t dipped a toe in through the album. Normally having fingers in so many pies would spell a sonic disaster, but Dead Pony makes having no cohesive sound work. The music scene is their playground and they’re having fun in it.