MFR

Download: Ponytail - "Celebrate the Body Electric (It Came From An Angel

Ponytail's debut album for the We Are Free label, based out of Baltimore, is one of the year's most rambunctiously joyous records. Ice Cream Spiritual sounds as if one day, inspired by Deerhoof, noise-rock, and progressive heavy metal, Yoko Ono decided that after a lifetime of accomplishment, she had the dreadful realization that she simply forgot to bring the muthafuckin' rock (Album opener "Beg Waves" is a great illustration of that). So, in my alternate universe that doubles as an actual universe, she decides to waste no time at all in crafting epic anthems that leap from one musical idea to another, all while ensconced in a blanket of melody, distortion, and polyrhythm. Oh, but the band doesn't want to be that secure, and so they're constantly thrashing about an awesomely energetic manner, and that energy level is maintained at an insanely high level, even when Ponytail are engaging in a brief calm (such as the peaceful moments of soundscaping in first single "Celebrate The Body Electric", or the "Edge of Seventeen"-quoting "Small Wevs") before a righteous storm (pretty much the rest of the album).

In order to create a record such as this, one must have pretty eclectic, though very loud, influences. And Ponytail do. Check out the Guest List the group just did with Pitchfork, in which the vernerable indie website asks their favorite new artists question about their favorite songs, games, and movies. You know, the real in-depth stuff.

Band member Jeremy Hymen's favorite song ever? "Creeping Death" by Metallica. Awesome

Speaking of the 'Fork, they recently just included Ponytail on their Most Overlooked Records of 2008 list. Read it here, then watch the video for "Die Allman Bruder", from sophomore effort Ice Cream Spiritual, at the top of the post.

7.21 New York, NY @ Knitting Factory^
7.22 Brooklyn, NY @ The Yard^
7.23 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church^
7.24 Baltimore, MD @ Floristree^
7.25 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop^
7.26 Pittsburgh, PA @ Howler's Coyote Café w/ Bound Stems
8.19 Arlington, VA @ IOTA Club and Cafe*
8.20 Baltimore, MD @ Sonar*
8.21 Virginia Beach, VA @ Steppin' Out*
8.22 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brendas*
8.23 New York, NY @ Knitting Factory*
8.24 Boston, MA @ Harper's Ferry*
8.25 Montreal, QC @ Club Lambi*
8.26 Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace
8.27 Hamilton, ON @ Casbah
8.28 London, ON @ Call the Office
8.29 Pontiac, MI @ Pike Room
8.30 Chicago, IL @ Subterranean

European dates:

9.5 Nottingham, UK @ Chameleon
9.6 Brighton, UK@ The Albert
9.8 Manchester, UK@ Satans Hollow
9.9 Liverpool, UK @ Korova
9.10 Dublin, IE @ Whelans
9.11 Galway, IE @ Rosin Dubh
9.12 Midlands, UK@ TBC
9.13 Paris, FRANCE @ Fleche D'or
9.14 Lyon, FRANCE @ Grnnnd Zero
9.15 TBC FRANCE @ TBC
9.16 Fribourg, SWITZERLAND @ Frison
9.17 Brussels, BELGIUM @ VK
9.18 Amsterdam, HOLLAND @ Bitterzoet
9.19 Tilburg, THE NETHERLANDS @ ZXZW 2008
9.20 London, UK @ Astoria 2
9.22 London, UK @ The End