Ass Ponys

Ass Ponys are often unfairly regarded as a joke band, a characterization that is never less appropriate than on the group's 1993 sophomore album, Grim, which lives up to its title and then some. Sounding at times like Fables of the Reconstruction-era R.E.M. but with less distinct country-rock backing, the real centerpiece of the effort is Chuck Cleaver's bizarre but poetic lyrics. Cleaver takes twisted backwoods tales and freak-show tragedies and infuses them with just enough wistful reflection to turn Deliverance-style black humor into sometimes crushingly affecting narratives. "Julia Pastrana" is a perfect example: Cleaver sings about the famous hairy woman who was exhibited throughout the U.S. in the 19th century, but instead of playing for the story laughs, he crafts historical fact into a subtle but effective piece that drives home the lifetime of exploitation this woman experienced. Depressing, uneven, unsettling, and -- occasionally -- funny, Grim, when it hits its mark, is strong stuff. ~ Greg Adams, All Music Guide