New Young Pony Club Still Needs to Grow Up

It's not an impossible venture to create moving, booty shakin' indie power pop, but it is certainly no easy task. What The Rapture did with Pieces of the People We Love was an extraordinary accomplishment in some ways, in that they were able to put out a record that was both accessible to a large audience but was still edgy, interesting, and fun.

So how the hell does this relate to the New Young Pony Club? Well, in short, their debut release Fantastic Playroom (US release Aug. 28, UK release July 2) doesn't quite succeed in being accessible or edgy. Save for a few songs, much of the album is just humdrum new wave that lacks a punch, that lacks a real attitude. And isn't that what they're supposed to be all about? To be fair, there are one or two fantastic tracks that show great promise for this young quintet. "Grey" is a classic party anthem that will surely please its listeners with its simple but quirky lyrics. But perhaps the best single is "The Get Go", which features a great vocal set and also the best bassline on the album.

If you're interested in NYPC, go buy Fantastic Playroom.
Listen to "The Get Go" (4.75/5)
Listen to "Grey" (4.6/5)