Search - Ass Ponys :: Known Universe

Some folks proclaim baseball to be boring...

W. D. Rupy | Mestrino, PD, Italy | 05/30/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"...and those are the folks who wouldn't like this album. Just like that quintessentially American game, this collection of Ponys songs starts out conveying a sense of anticipation with the nicely-moving (for the Ponys, anyway) opener "Shoe Money" and the following breezy number "Under Cedars And Stars". After that, however, the CD progresses slowly and methodically to the finish, interrupted by the cute seventh-inning-stretch instrumental "French Muscleman". There's some fine lyric writing here to be sure, but musically I believe there's not enough to hold the attention of anyone but a die-hard Ponys fan (kinda like seeing an 'okay' movie because it stars your favorite actor or actress, you know what you're in for, but you're okay with it). I strongly recommend their previous CD "Electric Rock Music" by far over this one, as it has more memorable stories and imagery coupled with toe-tappin' music and a bigger helping of that overall endearing quirkiness that makes us all like these guys so much. This one just doesn't sport the freewheeling attitude that "Electric Rock Music" does. Thankfully, it seems the guys bounced back nicely with their later releases."

Ethereal Pedestrianism...

Steven L. Hurd | Bradford, Pa | 03/24/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Is that a word? I have been an Assponys fan since they got a bit of air play on MTV with their video for "Little Bastard" several years ago. At the time they were promoting their "major label" album Electric Rock Music. The Ponys did get some attention: I remember a one pager in Spin magazine (back before it was Vibe II) and as I listened to Electric...I remember thinking that Chuck and the gang were the masters of the 3 minute miracle...but then, I forgot about the band...

Fast forward about ten years. I was perusing a local pawn shop, and I happenned upon "Known Universe". I listen to it... I listened to it again...and again. There is something about this simplicity that does not leave me, and for six months, this disc gets major use...

I track down the rest of the Pony's catalog, and I would have to say; next to "Some Stupid With A Flare Gun", this was their shining moment. This isn't the type of album you can listen to passively and get in to. You have to listen to it, live it, eat it, get sick of it, and then realize: this is the genuis of art...

The AssPonys have always been, it seems to me, artists making art for the sake of art.

If you grew up in a small town (I did: under 10,000 people) then this is the music that will speak to you in such a profound way, you will say "wow"!

I invite anyone with patience and intelligence to give the AssPonys a try. The lead singer Chuck Cleaver is a cool, down to earth guy, and is currently involved with a band called Wussy. It's been WAY too long since an AssPonys album, but there is always hope... In closing, all I can say is: if you look at music as art, and not something you dismiss (i.e.: something to dance to, or background noise)then give the AssPonys a try. It doesn't matter if this is your thing or not: this disc,as well as others contain such a heartbreaking longing, spoken with simplicity, that if you can't be moved by them; you need help for your head injury..."