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Organ Grinder Press - interviews and reviews
Pontiak: Tiny Mix Tapes webzine review of 'White Buffalo'.
Jun 24, 2005 |
| White Buffalo EP Organ Grinder, 2005 rating: 4/5 reviewer: tamec
When we last heard from Pontiak, the Baltimore band of brothers Lain, Jennings, and Van Carney had just completed their debut recording, a self-titled EP that managed to do the Radiohead-Walkmen croony-lounge thing competently and was even arresting in places, despite being bogged down by a certain degree of sameness and a few lyrical faux pas. The band has returned with a batch of six new tunes released this time on the tiny UK/US label Organ Grinder, but most readily available from the band itself. So what's different this time, and why should you care?
First off, White Buffalo packs a lot of musical variety into its small package. Pontiak put their softest feet forward by leading off with "Aztec Blood" and "It Takes One," the two songs that sound most similar to the coffeehouse stylings on their debut EP. "Aztec Blood" doesn't really start working until Lain and Jennings come into back up Van's lead vocal, but when they do, the song turns into a real beauty, sounding (for lack of a more informed comparison) something like an inspired Radiohead b-side. But, interestingly enough, it's the middle chunk of songs here that make the best case for Pontiak's future. "Strings Dancing" is a nervy nighttime piece of lounge-rock that rides its thick bassline and Lain's much-improved drumming, and "Night's Daughter" is similar but faster, louder, and more menacing. "Doors to Haiti," meanwhile, introduces Tom Waits to Thom Yorke and sets it all in a New Orleans piano bar.
Pontiak are currently setting up their first national tour and are quickly improving as both songwriters and musicians. Do yourself a favor and check ‘em out. |
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