INDIE ROCK
“Celebration Castle”
The Ponys
In The Red
Their 2004 debut is a tough act to follow, but The Ponys come through respectably with “Celebration Castle.”
The band’s catchy, dynamic guitar rock is several furlongs from the garage. The strongest songs here are ready to take on the world, synthesizing 40 years of rock ‘n’ roll into something new yet familiar. The playing and singing are frequently dramatic. And Chicago neighbor Steve Albini’s trademark production makes everything crystal-clear while staying out of the way.
But the sophomore jinx is hard to outrun, even for a band as swift as The Ponys. This is a more “mature” record than last year’s “Laced With Romance,” with some of the rough edges removed, and that’s not entirely cause for celebration.
The Ponys play Tuesday at Benders Tavern. Information: 303-861-7070.
-R.K. Beegle
POWER POP
“Make Believe”
Weezer
Geffen
This is Weezer’s latest foray into hook-laden power pop. The opener, “Beverly Hills,” sees frontman Rivers Cuomo sounding like a less caustic Jon McRea, a Steve Miller-worthy sleaze-
lead bolstering the overall derivative feel of the track. “This Is Such a Pity” is a blatant hat-toss into the ’80s- revival tent, and a jarring stylistic departure from the rest of the album. It’s also the best song on the disc.
The rest of the CD finds the band’s formerly interesting edges and corners smoothed over, and Weezer seems to have lost the urgency and vulnerability that once set it apart from other pop-punk/emo troubadours.
-John Wenzel
INDIE ROCK
“Gimme Fiction”
Spoon
Merge
Following up an album like “Kill the Moonlight” is a nightmare of a task. No wonder the Austin-based indie rockers took more than three years tackle it.
“Gimme Fiction” isn’t the continuation of the band’s previous aesthetic. Tracks like “The Delicate Place” depend on multiple listens to soak up their multilayered nougat. “I Summon You” is a polished pop ditty, but much of the record is rooted slightly more in complex composition than the simple singalong pop of “Kill the Moonlight.” It’s as if singer Britt Daniel mastered simplicity and has now moved on. He challenged himself here. The result is well worth your time.
Spoon plays June 15 at the Gothic Theater. Tickets, $15, are available via TicketWeb.
-Ricardo Baca