Celebration Castle

The Ponys | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 3, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: In the Red Records
• ASIN: B0007R8FLC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #185,103 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

At heart, the Ponys are a garage band. The Chicago quartet stretches the limits of the form so far, however, they practically explode it. You could just call it "rock and roll," but the phrase is as inadequate to the Ponys as it is to Television, the Voivoids, and the Only Ones. If a band has a lifetime to prepare for their debut, the follow-up is where they really prove their mettle. Produced by Steve Albini, their second full-length makes it clear the Ponys are here to stay. Granted, Laced With Romance was an impressive opening salvo, but Celebration Castle aims higher. The group takes more risks and, fortunately, they pay off, like the nod to Joy Division in "We Shot the World," the Gimme Shelter boogie-woogie of "Get Black," or when Melissa Elias takes a rare lead vocal on "She's Broken" and gives Sleater-Kinney a run for their money. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Product Description

Celebration Castle by The Ponys

This product is manufactured on demand using CD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Maybe My Favorite Album This Year So Far, August 9, 2005

By 

Jeffums (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Celebration Castle (Audio CD)

I absolutely love the ponys and i love this album. It is much better than 'laced with romance' in my opinion. The songs are more solid and the overall album time has been shortened. The first CD was too long for me, and i always had a hard time listening to the entire thing all the way through. Not with this one, it's a near perfect length, and i don't think i will ever get bored with it. Day after day went by where i would have a different favorite song from this. First it was 'glass conversation', then the amazing 'i'm with you', and it seems like every song has something completely different to offer and there is something new to pick out each time you listen. This album is not very groundbreaking by any means, but it just sounds fantastic, especially at loud volumes, and is a great CD to just shut your mind off to. Hands down one of the best things i've heard in a while. Music doesn't get much better than this.

5.0 out of 5 stars Underlooked garage-classic., September 1, 2011

By 

D-Cos (Evanston, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Celebration Castle (Audio CD)

A quiet little (in terms of attention) rock album from a deftly talented Chicago garage quartet. Celebration Castle is a consistently satisfying album that grows on you with each listen. If you like noisy rockers like Sonic youth and yelping vocals a la Richard Hell, then The Ponys may be right up your alley. Granted, Sonic youth mentions can be ubiquitous in the modern indie-rock setting but I mention them to try and give a little context. The band actually crafts their own blend of guitar heavy jams. Give this album a chance past the first one or two spins. It's a shame that Ian Adams left the band after this record.

4 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A solid follow-up, May 9, 2005

By 

Matthew E. Armstrong "gensu3k1" (San Antonio, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Celebration Castle (Audio CD)

This album doesn't quite reach the heights of their fantastic debut "Laced with Romance," but the album still has some standout tracks. "She's Broken," "Today," and "Get Black" are all fine rock tunes, and the poppy "I'm With You" should be one of the year's standout rock songs.

This album is the last for keyboardist/guitarist/vocalist Ian Adams, and it will be interesting to see where their sound goes from here. Ian was seemingly the one responsible for the groups pop influence, and that resulted in some of the group's strongest work (such as "Fall Inn," from their debut album.

One problem with the disc is the length, at just 10 songs. Since the album was recorded so quickly (and seemingly released before Laced with Romance ever really got a full push), it's disappointing that there are only 10 songs.

This is a fine pop/rock album, but Laced with Romance is a better starting point.