Tired Pony – The Ghost Of The Mountain

Artist: Tired Pony
Album Title: The Ghost Of The Mountain
Released: October 1, 2013
Label: Polydor (UK) / Heaneyville (US)

Tired Pony’s seven core members, Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol, Iain Archer, Peter Buck of R.E.M, Richard Colburn of Belle and Sebastian, Scott McCaughey, Troy Stewart and Garret Lee, were brought together by Lightbody in May 2009 after his long term ambition to make a country album developed into a full-fledged musical project. The members of the group come from various musical backgrounds ranging from punk all the way to folk but settling as a whole on a country-tinged, folk/rock sound. Tired Pony’s sophomore album that is The Ghost of The Mountain sets out to continue telling the tale of two lovers, who were introduced in Tired Pony’s first album,, and their perspective on life.

The album begins with “I Don’t Want You As A Ghost”, a raw, honest plea for a life-long love performed in the style of a prom song from the 80s. The track begins with both elongated and short keyboard tones accompanied by soft drumming. The track continues in the same charming fashion as vocals express an undying love for another. Following “I Don’t Want You As A Ghost”, is “I’m Begging You Not To Go”, a whimsical break-up song, which despite the nature of break-up songs, is quite calming in its soft background chanting and gentle yet bright string arrangement. Track number four on the album continues the sentimental atmosphere set up by the first two tracks, yet brings the album to life with positive energetic choruses and instrumental arrangements. The track, “The Creak in the Floorboards” tells a story of two people presenting themselves to each other with confidence that the other, will always accept, the other.

The album begins to draw to a close when it reaches the title track “Ghost of the Mountain”. The track is full of dark windy tones along with honest lyrics and simple guitar chords. The track is sure to encourage melancholic afterthoughts on an ended relationship, that will always linger. Following “Ghost of the Mountain”, as the last track of the album is “Your Way Is The Way Home”.The track has a simple energy created with bright vocals and keyboard sounds. The result is a peaceful reflection on a relationship past, and the perfect place to end the album.

Reviewed by Ariana Hernandez