PONY’S NEW ALBUM MIGHT BE CALLED ‘CLEARLY CURSED,’ BUT THEIR MUSIC CLEARLY ISN’T

Grunge-pop band PONY has lived a life or two. After a psychic prediction, vocalist and founder Sam Bielanski decided they—and the band—was Clearly Cursed. However, despite an eerily accurate tarot reading, the group’s future looks brilliantly optimistic. Their take on grunge-pop breathes new life into the genre, assuming innovation as they continually evolve. This release, while shrouded in whimsy and charm, offers emotional depth alongside catchy melodies. Airy vocals deepen significantly as lyrical themes do, insinuating Bielanski is as self-aware as they proclaim themself to be.

There’s an exuberance throughout Clearly Cursed that’s been missing in pop since the aughts. “Brilliant Blue” showcases a catharsis found within Natasha Bedingfield and Hilary Duff’s greatest hits. PONY adds an edge to it, though, with songs like “Every Little Crumb” highlighting a gritty bass line and distorted guitars. Bielanski’s vocal range is likened to Mars Argo’s, but her delivery is significantly different. These differences create an intriguing listen; first-time playthroughs are met with tons of pleasant surprises. There is never a dull moment on the LP!

The “grunge” half of “grunge-pop” is clearly earned by PONY. Each instrumentalist understands the assignment; they ebb and flow between raw grit and airy fantasy effortlessly. PONY is going on tour with Heart Attack Man and Phoneboy this spring, which seems like an eclectic mix until you spin the full record. They fit in perfectly with their touring bill—from their tendency to favor snark to their love of a solid pop-punk arrangement. New fans “discovering” PONY through the tour won’t be disappointed, especially with songs like “Swallowing Stars” driving high-energy performances that will certainly translate in a live setting.

Clearly Cursed is anything but. The band’s debut LP shines as brightly as the scene described in “Superglue.” Their masterful use of guitar tones mirrors indie-punk band Ultra Q’s early work, where emphasized chorus and maybe some flange pedals do a lot of heavy lifting to curate an addictive soundscape. These techniques aren’t reserved for the opening and closing tracks, though. PONY’s first full-length release is flawless from start to finish. While Bielanski’s psychic accurately predicted a relationship ending, either the “dark spirit” she “sensed” left Bielanski alone to write a no-skip album, or she just wanted some cash—but that’s debatable