Customer Reviews

Ponyoak

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The most prolific artist you've never heard of. Love the personal lyrics, the pop/indie rock sound and the 25 tracks (not a bad song in the bunch). Gotta like that he does it all for himself, although he was huge in Japan.

Smith has a real penchant for the hopelessly catchy, maddeningly poppy, criminally infectious rock song. One of the best albums of 1999.

While it doesn't show the variation of 1998's essential "Graham Smith is the Coolest Person Alive," [MOC records] "Ponyoak" is certainly another batch of irresistible pop songs put together by one-man band Kleenex Girl Wonder. While GSITCPA was all over the place when it comes to style, varying from synthesizer driven [Prince of the Major Leagues], to electronica-ish [CaveWoman] to straight beautiful pop [Julie and Barbara], and topic, Ponyoak is a tightly focused work about the love life of one Graham Smith. [see marchrecords.com/ponyoak.]

Ponyoak's first half gets monotonous, hitting you with upbeat pop song after upbeat pop song. These pop songs aren't bad, mind you; they're tremendous, but they tend to blend together.

However, starting with the wispy flute-driven "Anne Marie," Ponyoak hits it's stride with a series of thoughtful pop and beautiful ballads.

Particular tracks to check out include "Power Bird," "Ain't Going Anywhere Soon." "The Sound of Paul," "Five Guitars," and especially "Tendency Right Foot Forward." Heck, try all of them. It's an amazing effort from the prodigious Graham Smith.

20+ songs of great pop. Do yourself a favor and find this CD. Once you do, buy it. It's OK you wont have to thank me even though you'll want to...you're welcome.

How can you go wrong with a CD full of great songs? I listen to it straight through because there aren't any bad tunes. Go out and get it!!

Graham Smith is back with his newest cd on March Records entitled "Pony Oak." While this cd isn't as throat grabbing as "Graham Smith is the Coolest Person Alive" on M.O.C. records, the hooks still abound just the same. The record has 25 tracks which makes it drag a bit at times. Smith does mix it up however, going from rollicking full band tunes, to quieter, and sparse acoustic ones. Though this disc is definitely in the "lo-fi" category, there has been a small notch forward in the recording quality. I happen to like hearing the hiss of the tape when a song is about to start however, so don't look for any studio production here. All in all, I think that this is a top notch record. The pop shines through and you will be humming these songs all day. I highly recommend this album.

Graham Smith is simply brilliant, a 19 year old musician from the midwest somewhere with a severe case of heartbreak and a witty infectious writing style. Think GBV but better and catchier and smarter and much younger. Ben Lee eat your heart out.

I was impressed by the song "Tendency Right Foot Forward," which appeared on a March Records compilation in 1999. The song was absolutely fantastic...witty lyrics, catchy tune, thumping bass, and churning guitars. I thought if that song was that good, the whole album might be. I was wrong. Some of the songs on that album were such garbage, I couldn't even listen to them all the way through. I haven't bothered with any of his other albums because the kid's ego frankly bothers me. He asked "Why do I write such great songs?" My answer: You don't.