Driftless Pony Club

Janel

[Sector Five; 2004]

Styles: indie rock
Others: Modest Mouse, Built to Spill, Dismemberment Plan

Just to get it straight right off: Driftless Pony Club’s newest album, Janel, gives you your basic indie rock without really jumping any boundaries. Though the band certainly have something of their own in each song, they wear their influences on their sleeves. Nonetheless, the band must be great to see live. Their songs have so much energy that even the hipsters might dance (or at least snap their necks bopping their heads), and their sing-a-long quality is top-notch.

There are a few brief interludes that show how this band could grow into something even more exciting. Take the brief dirge freakout towards the end of the opening track, "Manifest Destiny," which implodes to an acoustic sort of conclusion; or the unique drumbeat on "Sexy Terrorist" that begs you to nod your head and force a grin. Their musicianship really shines throughout and the distinctive vocal style is a sure hit with fans of their influences.

Highlights like "Sexy Terrorist" and "I Pinch Myself" prove that these young gentlemen have a sense of humor, with metaphors that anyone can relate to. In fact, their bipolar lyrics are intriguing; particularly in "Jackson Pollack is Dead," which is a pretty damn depressing story about how and when he’s going to die. But with an anthemic chorus like "Don’t dump the whiskey/ it won’t save me /don’t hide my car keys/ it won’t save me/ don’t stop the presses/ it won’t save me/ don’t say you’re leavin’ please" and subsequent do-wops and handclaps, is it really possible to make a seemingly sad song so damn catchy? Driftless Pony Club have done just that.

1. Manifest Destiny
2. Sexy Terrorist
3. Jackson Pollack is Dead
4. Shallow Inland Sea
5. I Pinch Myself
6. Good Morning Little Bird
7. Broken Limbs
8. Stick and Carrot
9. Cranes That Build Themselves

by Katiedid

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