Rating: 
Jen Weidl and her posse in Seapony definitely have something wonderful going on in their debut for Hardly Art, Go With Me. After lots of critical acclaim on the net, it would be easy to throw this band aside as just another band making bedroom pop, which they do for the most part. But, if you can discard similarities to various other bands, you’ll find that lay in wait, waiting to carry you off.
“Dreaming” begins the entire affair with what is probably the most energetic you’ll find the band, and at times, the guitars emulate Mike Sniper and Blank Dogs. Those pounding drums, twanging guitars, well, they’re all nice and clean, but what will really get you is the pop sensation. You can forget about comparisons, as Weidl’s voice definitely gives a new spin on things here.
There are easily a lot of tracks on this record that one might identify as ripping off various other acts, or at least being easily influenced, but a special song is a special song, regardless of whether it was made by Seapony or various other bands out there. “Into the Sea” is one such track, with guitars maneuvering along the sunny coastal region, and the hazy Jen warmly singing atop it all. In all honesty, Weidl is the savior of Go With Me. She does it again on “Go Away,” which sort of sounds like a cross between Best Coast and Girls Names, but her girl-group approach to vocal delivery, not to mention the nod to such things with her lyrics, makes tracks standout beyond the masses.
There’s tons of comparisons that can be made all over the place when listening to Go With Me. You might find a Best Coast reference here, or even a Wild Nothing allusion, but what probably sticks out the most is how similar Seapony comes to sounding like a happier version of Blank Dogs. The recording of the angular guitars in songs like “Always” or “Where We Go” almost plays like a Sniper remix, but perhaps that’s why it’s so easy to dig this record. Everything sounds familiar, and yet it doesn’t sound familiar at all. Lyrics aren’t typically this adorably put together, and girls usually don’t work well, at least not as of yet/late, in this genre.
Even with all these noticeable nods to the indie landscape of today laced across this album, I’ve found myself spinning it again and again. Part of me has a soft spot for any music of the ilk, part of me finds some odd connection between Camera Obscura and bedroom pop of the now. It’s precisely the kind of record you can listen to while swinging your significant other around the living room instead of hitting up the bars. For that alone, Seapony and Go With Me deserve a nice little spot in your collection, not to mention the fact that you can include any number of tracks all across your summer mixes.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/SP_BlueStar.mp3]
Download: Seapony – Blue Star [MP3]
Personally, I couldn’t be more excited about new music from Girls Names. For one, the band’s drummer Neil has won me over with his Sea Pinks project, but I like the darkened underbelly hinted at with Girls Names. Apparently after releasing Dead to Me, the band began to rework their sound, which is completely acceptable, but none the less important to the group’s developing sound. This tune is a good four minutes shorter than their previous leaked single, but I think you’re going to like the feel of the tune. It’s got a wayward jangle, but there’s a wafting quality created by the guitars and the vocals that carries the mood of the ]track. If you dig what you’re hearing (and you should!) then you can pick up their new effort, The New Life, on February 26th from Slumberland Records.
