Provincial Parks – Iron Poines EP

25 January 2009, Alex @ 6:15 pm Provincial Parks Iron Poines EP

“Can you write a negative review?”
“I can write whatever the hell I want. The problem is that these f*cking musicians are too f*cking good”

This was a conversation that I had earlier this morning with one of my friends. One thing I’m definitely good at is negating everything. The funny thing is that as of late I couldn’t find even one album that I would dislike enough to write a negative review, dipping the whole thing into shit.

With that thought in my mind I sat down with my laptop, put my headphones on and pressed play in iTunes. The sun was setting and “Open Grave” hit my eardrums with a pleasant guitar that I instantly put into my mental list of “sounds I bloody like” (along with Taylor Hawkins’ drums and Kurt Cobain’s fancy 5-string). The song left me wondering what exactly did I mean when I left a note to myself that said that the “first track is confusing”, so I crossed that out and wrote “I feel that” instead. Once equilibrium was regained – the second track began with a seamless transition that left me sitting dumbfounded, going “holy shit!!!”.

While “Open Grave”, being a perfect opening track for this album, didn’t impress me that much, it’s “Love/Confidence” that I immediately fell in love with… That track, for whatever reason, made me think of California. California at it’s best. Setting sun, sandy beach, beautiful women and nothing but the sound of the ocean to be heard in the evening.
I don’t know why. Don’t ask me. So all in all, I was tapping along with the song and wishing for summer…

With the third track I was once again impressed with the way the songs end and begin, but then realized that I’m trying to make out what’s being sang. And even though that didn’t bother me one bit because I was enjoying the overall flow of this record, it does get a little tricky on some songs. Vocals are a little low in the mix, but hey, I’m not complaining.

The A Side of this double-sided EP ended with an instrumental track which gave the name to the whole album. “Iron Ponies” must’ve been controlled-substance-inspired because… well I’m not gonna tell you why. What I am gonna tell you is that the whole album feels very thought-through, very chill, very laid-back and very, VERY good.

Provincial Parks Iron Poines EP

There is no way for me to describe what I actually think about this release because right now I’m playing “The Wasp and the Dragonfly”, which I know will be stuck in my head and will keep playing over and over again, making it impossible to think or write.

On that happy note…. well no, screw this. I have absolutely no idea how to segue into this, so I’ll just put it on the table.

If every record will be just as mood-setting, as melodic, as good as “Iron Ponies” than there’s definitely something to look forward to this year.

And goddamn I can’t help but think of California and everything incredible that life can offer… I wish the sun was setting. I wish there was nothing but the sound of the ocean….

Provincial Parks – listen to them.

iTunes: Iron Ponies – EP – buy them.

Facebook – add them.

January 31st 20:00
Whippersnapper Gallery with Boys Who Say No (EP release), Woolly leaves, People Of Canada – go see them live.