Pony (Orville Peck album)

Pony is the debut studio album by South African country musician Orville Peck, released on March 22, 2019 by Sub Pop. A country, alternative country, and cowboy pop album, Pony features elements of goth, dream pop, shoegazing, indie rock, surf rock, post-punk,[1] gospel folk.[2][3][4][5]

Pony
Studio album by
Orville Peck
ReleasedMarch 22, 2019 (2019-03-22)
StudioThe Noise Floor
Genre
Length41:52
Label
Orville Peck chronology
Pony
(2019)		 Show Pony
(2020)
Singles from Pony
  1. "Big Sky"
    Released: December 3, 2018
  2. "Dead of Night"
    Released: January 16, 2019
  3. "Turn to Hate"
    Released: February 20, 2019

Pony was named to the initial longlist for the 2019 Polaris Music Prize in June 2019. The album also received a Juno Award nomination for Alternative Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2020.[6]

Promotion

The album was promoted by the singles "Dead of Night", "Big Sky", "Turn to Hate", "Hope to Die", "Nothing Fades Like the Light", and "Queen of the Rodeo". "Dead of Night" and "Take You Back" were performed live on CBC Radio One's Q in June 2019.[7] "Dead of Night" was performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live on January 29, 2020.[8] A tour of selected cities in the United States was also announced for Spring 2020, including performances at the Coachella and Stagecoach festivals. however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tour was postponed.[8]

Themes and influences

Pony mainly focuses on themes of love and heartbreak through lyrical storytelling, with many characters based on people from the artist's own life.[9] Peck describes the inspiration behind the album as his "love letter to a classic country album … a collection of stories."[10] Tracks from the album such as "Big Sky" and "Dead of Night" portray different characters falling in and out of love and the escapades of their lives, whereas "Roses Are Falling" describes a fictional love interest that the narrator loves so much, they want to kill them. "Turn To Hate" discusses personal heartbreak and "the anxiety that comes with being on the outside of things,"[11] while trying to keep one's sorrow from developing into hatred. Peck's self-described 'visual approach' to music combines his adoration for classic cowboy imagery such as Nudie suits with modern fashion elements, especially the musician's famous fringe mask that conceals his identity.

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic77/100[12]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[13]
Clash8/10[14]
Exclaim!7/10[5]
The Line of Best Fit8.5/10[4]

Pony received generally positive reviews from critics. Many critics praised Peck's reverence for traditional country styles, as well as the album's exploration of queer themes. "Tracks like 'Roses Are Falling' and 'Take You Back (The Iron Hoof Cattle Call)' are solid entries to the classic country canon of Glen Campbell and Loretta Lynn, while his impressive vocal range helps keep the album varied." said Matt Bobkin of Exclaim!.

Year-end lists
Accolades for Pony
Publication[3] List Rank
Clash Clash Albums Of The Year 2019 10
The Fader Best Albums of the Year N/A
NME 50 Best Albums of the 2019 39
PopMatters The 70 Best Albums of 2019 69
Thrillist Best Albums of 2019 26

Track listing

All tracks are written by Orville Peck, except where noted

Pony track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Dead of Night"3:59
2."Winds Change" (Duncan Hay Jennings, Peck)2:59
3."Turn to Hate"4:56
4."Buffalo Run"3:39
5."Queen of the Rodeo"3:18
6."Kansas (Remembers Me Now)" (Peck, Jennings)3:36
7."Old River"1:02
8."Big Sky"3:32
9."Roses Are Falling"3:06
10."Take You Back (The Iron Hoof Cattle Call)"3:28
11."Hope to Die"4:30
12."Nothing Fades Like the Light"3:47
Total length:41:52

Personnel
  • Orville Peck – vocals, guitar, banjo, keyboards
  • Duncan Hay Jennings – guitar, keyboards
  • Lucas Savatti – bass
  • Kris Bowering – drums
  • Tina Jones – banjo
  • Jordan Koop – additional guitar; recording, mixing
  • Terry Ondang – backup vocals on "Dead of Night"
  • Evan Desjardins – additional vocal recordings
  • Sean Pearson – additional recordings
  • Harris Newman – mastering
  • Gordon Nicholas – cover photo
  • Matt McCormick – insert illustration

Charts
Chart performance for Pony
Chart (2019–2020) Peak
position
UK Americana Albums (OCC)[15] 8
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[16] 5
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[17] 27
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[18] 94

References
  1. Matthias (April 8, 2022). "Orville Peck: Bronco Album Review". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  2. "Orville Peck on Apple Music - Bio". Apple Music. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  3. "Critic Lists That Contain "Pony"". albumoftheyear.com. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  4. Gatward, Tristan (March 19, 2019). "Orville Peck - Pony Album Review". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  5. Bobkin, Matt (March 19, 2019). "Orville Peck Pony". Exclaim. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  6. Lau, Melody (January 28, 2019). "Alessia Cara and Tory Lanez lead the 2020 Juno nominations". CBC Music. Radio Canada. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  7. "Meet Orville Peck, the masked country music star". CBC Music. Radio Canada. June 14, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  8. Freeman, Jon (January 30, 2020). "Orville Peck Performs 'Dead of Night' on 'Kimmel'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  9. "Orville Peck Is a Lone Stranger Singing Country Songs From Behind a Mask". www.vice.com. 20 March 2019. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  10. Orville Peck Talks Influences, 'Pony' & Approaching Music From A "Visual" Place | On The Road, retrieved 2021-09-29
  11. "Indie cowboy Orville Peck wrestles with resentment on new country classic "Turn To Hate"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  12. "Pony by Orville Peck". Metacritic. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  13. Deming, Mark. "Pony - Orville Peck Review". Allmusic. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  14. Watkins, Michael (April 1, 2019). "Orville Peck - Pony Album Review". Clash. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  15. "Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  16. "Orville Peck Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  17. "Orville Peck Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  18. "Orville Peck Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
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