You Need Pony Pony Run Run

Album Review

Highlighted by the hit single "Hey You," You Need Pony Pony Run Run, the debut album by Pony Pony Run Run, includes ten other songs with a similarly fresh electro-rock style but nothing quite as catchy. The French trio Gaëtan Réchin Lê Ky-Huong (aka G; guitar, vocals), Amaël Réchin Lê Ky-Huong (aka A; bass), and Antonin Pierre (aka T; keyboards) have a fashionable sound contemporary in style, yet at the same time reminiscent of '80s electro-pop acts like Devo and Kraftwerk as well as '80s pop/rock bands like the Cars and Hall & Oates. In the same company as cutting-edge contemporary pop acts like Phoenix, Calvin Harris, and MGMT, Pony Pony Run Run make creative music that's nonetheless easily accessible. They sing in English rather than French, after all, which makes them all the more inclined to mass appeal. "Hey You" is surely appealing with an infectious hook, a nice bouncy rhythm, and keyboards straight from the early '80s. If only the lyrics were more clever, and not just "Hey You," but throughout the CD. The music is fantastic. The lyrics are not. Fortunately, they're often simple enough not to matter. Though nothing else on You Need Pony Pony Run Run is quite as catchy as "Hey You," several other songs stand out musically, if not lyrically, most notably "Walking on a Line," "Future of a Nation," "What I Feel," and "1997 (She Says It's Alright)." Others, like "First Date Mullet" are held back by dumb lyrics ("I feel like a homeless kid when you're away"). If you can overlook some of the lyrics on You Need Pony Pony Run Run, there's a lot to like about this album. The trio is really impressive from a musical standpoint. Some clever lyrics would make them something special.