Turn the Lights Out

The Ponys

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 26, 2007)
• Original Release Date: March 20, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Matador Records
• ASIN: B000MR9E3K
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #113,114 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Chicago's PONYS follow their two critically acclaimed albums on In The Red with their Matador debut, recorded at Electric Studios with John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr., Son Volt, Screaming Trees). A classic twin-guitar rock band fronted by the impassioned vocals of Jered Gummere, THE PONYS' songwriting range from psych jams to pounding rockers to twisted singer-songwriter material, evoking influences from Television and Dream Syndicate to The Only Ones and The Jesus and Marychain. Turn The Lights Out is denser, noisier and more fucked-up than its two predecessors, and sounds bigger to boot. The complex interplay between the guitars and the reverb-drenched vox and keys emerges more effectively than ever before in Agnello's massive production.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great new LP from one of the best bands in the midwest, April 24, 2007

By	Joseph Broze (chicago) - See all my reviews

It is safe to say that if you liked the Ponys before, you will still like them. If you have never heard them, NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO GET INTO THEM. There are some incredibly catchy songs on here that just stick in your head like glue: Double Vision, Small Talk, Harikiri, etc. I forsee these songs being all over mixtapes this summer!

This is a great LP, influenced by all the great classics like TELEVISION (particularly the vocals), FELT (not as British, but its those vocals), THE PIXIES, JESUS & MARY CHAIN, DINOSAUR JR, etc. The guitars are not as loud & abrasive as they should be (at least I think) but let's hope they fix that for the next LP.

They have been selling out gigs here in Chicago for a couple years now but hopefully their appearence at the Pitchfork Music Festival this summer will introduce and endear them to alot more folks! Good luck to this band, I think they would be a great opening band for an upcoming SPOON or TV ON THE RADIO tour or something.

5.0 out of 5 stars My top album for 2007, January 3, 2008

By	Willaim E. Tynor III "anti-snob.com" (Phx, AZ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A switch from In The Red Records to Matador didn't slow these neo-psychedelic garage rockers one bit. Nor did their decision to choose a less notorious, yet equally experienced, John Agnello to produce their 3rd record (as oppose to previous producers Steve Albini and Jim Diamond). The production is still abrasive and honest with an extra amount of spaciness not found on their previous two albums. "Double Vision" may have been the best choice as lead off track and debut single, but try programming all the even tracks on one listen and all the odd tracks on a separate listen and I swear you have two different EPs here. Good thing they both work well together to bring us the same indie rock masterpiece. The odd tracks remind me of a car wreck between the Los Angeles Paisley Underground of the 80s and the primitive post-punk eras of The Cure and Echo & The Bunnymen. Even number tracks like "Everyday Weapon" and "Poser Psychotic" will keep long time fans of the Ponys believing the band still has the chops to put on one of the best live shows around.

5.0 out of 5 stars Giddy up Ponys!, October 22, 2007

By	T. Karnessis "Terri" (Long Island, New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This band has it all: talent, style, looks, KILLER guitar-driven rock & roll songs. I recently saw the Ponys open for Spoon. I WISH their set was longer, because they have so many great tunes on their albums. 'Turn the Lights Out' is their best album yet. Jered, their singer & guitarist, has a deep, spooky, evocative way of singing lyrics that are anything from straightforward. The Ponys use pedal effects, reverb, feedback, all woven seamlessly to create a guitar-heavy thrill ride in each song. They also have a rhythm section- bass player & drummer- who seem to be psychicly linked with the 2 guitarists. At times the Ponys sound like The Cure, at times like Inspiral Carpets, so they definitely show their influences, which is a good thing. And I wouldn't put their music into the 'psychedelic' style of guitar rock so much or the too-general garage rock category. I'm not sure the Ponys fit into any category. But they do use guitar effects to achieve some really pleasing sort of post-punk-style
results. And the low-key, eerie, sometimes British-sounding vocal style of Jered Gummere is a total delight. I would recommend starting out with this album if you are just getting into the Ponys, then going for their other 2, Celebration Castle & Laced With Romance. Those 2 albums are a bit different in sound.