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Product Description
Review
The side projects of internationally famous rock stars are very often worth a listen just for their sheer folly, but the name of this one promises nothing so entertaining–and rightly so.
Tired Pony are Gary Lightbody's brainchild, something he dreamt of doing while on the long haul around the States with his main band. It's a hastily convened combo, which includes REM's Peter Buck on mandolin, and, well, Belle & Sebastian's drummer, with the aim of pursuing the 'stadium-indie' singer's interest in alt-country. His favourites include, he says, "Wilco, Calexico, Lambchop, Palace, Smog–these bands that look at the darkness in America".
The opening "Northwestern Skies" sets the scene for method rustic desolation, with clumping percussion, acoustic strumming, and the wheezing of something accordion-like. Meanwhile, "Lightbody" moans of faint smiles, slamming doors and other harbingers of crumbling marriage, in the kind of circular song pattern instantly familiar from such Snow Patrol biggies as "Chasing Cars".
"Held in the Arms of Your Words", for one, recalls Wilco bleak-fests such as "Via Chicago" (i.e. Wilco before Jeff Tweedy got blissed-out on antidepressants), but by and large The Place We Ran From falls well short of the left-of-centre power and eerie intimacy of Lightbody's heroes' music. Instead, particularly on "Point Me at Lost Islands" and "That Silver Necklace", our protagonist's innate talent for grand-scale, stadium-level songcraft takes over, hinting more towards a poor man's Springsteen, circa Nebraska.
Even if the hapless listener can circumnavigate the sense of cultural piracy in a Northern Irishman, however well travelled, attempting to replicate the middle-American social observation in Springsteen, or indeed Smog's Bill Callahan, the fact remains that this is a wet weekend of a record.
Lightbody lacks any of his idols' vocal charisma, which might bring these funereal songs alive–in fact, its best moments are Get on the Road, a duet with She & Him's Zooey Deschanel, and I Am a Landslide, which is sung by someone else entirely: Iain Archer. Lightbody's considerable talents, as a conduit for the mass musical experience, will be far better deployed, no doubt, on the next Snow Patrol album.
--Andrew PerryFind more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
CD Description
Tired Pony began life as a doodle in Gary Lightbody’s jotter. During idle moments on Snow Patrol’s year-long tour for A Hundred Million Suns, Gary began writing songs for this imaginary band having earlier in the year hinted at his ambition to form a country band. Forward to January 4th 2010, a cast of characters assembled at Portland’s Type Foundry; from the extended Snow Patrol family there was Troy Stewart, the band’s guitar technician, Iain Archer, long-time Snow Patrol associate and collaborator, Richard Colburn, the renowned drummer with Belle & Sebastian, and producer Garret 'Jacknife' Lee, who brought in Tired Pony’s final two members, Peter Buck from R.E.M. and Scott McCaughey, the Seattle musical polymath who’s been R.E.M.’s full-time auxiliary member since 1994. Tired Pony were joined by a number of guest contributors including M. Ward, his She & Him partner Zooey Deschanel (who sings harmony on "Get On The Road") and Tom Smith of Editors, who sings lead vocal on "The Good Book".
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Pamela
Format:Audio CD
I love Snow Patrol and despite the dire review from the BBC critic I really enjoyed it. Just as well I don't base my purchases on someone else's review : if you like Snow Patrol you will enjoy this. The Place We Ran From
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Londongal76
Format:Audio CD
I bought this album after being a long time fan of Snow Patrol and The Reindeer Section, the whole album tells a story end to end, it's beautiful. Haunting lyrics, some lovely vocals from Zooey Deschanel (i'm off to find her album next - and some really amazing songs. If you're a fan of Snow patrol, and of folk music, then buy it. It is rapidly kicking other albums out of my top ten.
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By Big Jim
TOP 50 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD
There are obvious problems caused by the choice of band name here and you can see the headlines already, "Tired album", or "Load of pony" for example. Would there be any justification in this? To a certain extent yes but overall no.
Firstly I don't consider this to be a "country" album. It is too like Snow Patrol for that. You know the nagging chord sequences, the straightforward and repetitive vocal style, the gradual crescendo by the end of the song as extra instruments join in, you know the score if you know Snow Patrol. So why bother listening?
Well simply put it is rather good. For all the well worn criticism's of Lightbody's style, and he sticks to this template pretty much all the way through as I say above, it has to be said that he has a way with a melody, catchy singalong choruses and the aforementioned crescendos. They may all be a bit formulaic but they work so why change a winning formula? Of course this is all grist to a critic's mill so is there anything here that breaks the mould?
And the answer is yes. A couple of "proper" country (more alt-country really) tracks are included, and very welcome they are as well. "Point me at lost islands" is a chugalong effort with a hint of mandolin, whilst "Dead American Writers" introduces a slice of slide guitar. "I am the landslide" is a bit Neil Youngy and "The good book"s subject matter is definitely "country" Otherwise this is an album that will appeal more to Snow Patrol fans than REM's but isn't as bad as some media critics have made out.
Firstly I don't consider this to be a "country" album. It is too like Snow Patrol for that. You know the nagging chord sequences, the straightforward and repetitive vocal style, the gradual crescendo by the end of the song as extra instruments join in, you know the score if you know Snow Patrol. So why bother listening?
Well simply put it is rather good. For all the well worn criticism's of Lightbody's style, and he sticks to this template pretty much all the way through as I say above, it has to be said that he has a way with a melody, catchy singalong choruses and the aforementioned crescendos. They may all be a bit formulaic but they work so why change a winning formula? Of course this is all grist to a critic's mill so is there anything here that breaks the mould?
And the answer is yes. A couple of "proper" country (more alt-country really) tracks are included, and very welcome they are as well. "Point me at lost islands" is a chugalong effort with a hint of mandolin, whilst "Dead American Writers" introduces a slice of slide guitar. "I am the landslide" is a bit Neil Youngy and "The good book"s subject matter is definitely "country" Otherwise this is an album that will appeal more to Snow Patrol fans than REM's but isn't as bad as some media critics have made out.
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This album does sound quite like one by Snow Patrol. I particularly like the duet featuring Zooey Deschanel on it.
By Ellen
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Really enjoying listening to this CD. It gets better the more I listen to it. Some great songs and excellent lyrics. Love the pace of the CD.
By Nooney
Format:Audio CD
There are a host of well known writers/artists on this album and they do not disappoint. Fantastic songs with brilliant lyrics. A nice chilled out album. If you are a Snow Patrol or Editors fan you wiill enjoy this.
By Bern
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This album appears to be Gary Lightbody's hobby and he invited friends to add their own touch. This is more country than Snow Patrol. Nice album that includes some famous names. Worth the money.
By Melt
Format:Audio CD
I'm a big fan of Gary Lightbody's music writing. What can I say the man moves me. That he and his mates started the band Tired Pony with budding relationships, a couple takes per song and not a lot of massaging seemed brave to me.
To each his own.
But WOW! What a great CD..."The Place We Ran From". Soulful and full of visions one conjures looking at a cloud laced sky or starry night. I love it and frequently just keep it on a loop.
I have my ticket to the LA show Oct 4th and can't freekin' wait.
To each his own.
But WOW! What a great CD..."The Place We Ran From". Soulful and full of visions one conjures looking at a cloud laced sky or starry night. I love it and frequently just keep it on a loop.
I have my ticket to the LA show Oct 4th and can't freekin' wait.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tired Pony
some of the music is very folky but the voice of Gary from Snowpatrol comes through on a couple of tracks.Worth listening to
Published on 30 Aug 2010 by biko
3.0 out of 5 stars
In need of an Editor
Despite the other names on board, this is all too obviously a Gary Lightbody record. Songs that start off at an intriguing slow-burn, but then either take the same two-line melody... Read more
Published on 30 Aug 2010 by Young Offender
3.0 out of 5 stars
Same old same old!
This is all very competent and polished but at the same time it's just so average!.Apparently Tired Pony are a super group of sorts made up of members of Snow Patrol,Belle &... Read more
Published on 29 Aug 2010 by Arthur Dooley
5.0 out of 5 stars
sensational first album
This first album "The place we ran from" from Tired Pony is just brilliant ! fantastic group of musicians including the guy that plays the saw ! .. Read more
Published on 23 Aug 2010 by CHELSEA
4.0 out of 5 stars
snow patrol fan
If you like gary lightbody you will like this diffrent take. It has taken a few listens but it is a grower.
Published on 22 Aug 2010 by barbs
5.0 out of 5 stars
New and old
The unmistakeable sound of Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol in combination with the other great names pulled together to form the new band Tired Pony produces a familiar but... Read more
Published on 20 Aug 2010 by Neet
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great deal
It was really great to have Tired Pony "The Place We Ran From" in my hands quicker than I was expecting it to come. Thanks!
Published on 17 Aug 2010 by Woody
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great New Sound
Only heard one song on radio before buying but if you like Snow patrol and REM then you will like this
Published on 16 Aug 2010 by J. M. Netherton
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