Icepond

Amazon.com
Slower-paced and less noisy than their previous two releases, Icepond finds Sunset Valley coming into their own as a purveyor of more than just infectious Pixie-ish pop. The hooks are still here, but you might have to dig a little harder to find them. Just when you're about to doze off to the gloomy indie rock of "Matinee Idol," for instance, in floats the pleasantly druggy chorus with its soaring, psychedelic guitar. From the bouncy reverb of "Say Ow" to the hypnotic drone of "Nautilus Sun," this record starts out high as a kite and never quite comes down. The spacey harmonies of "Blackberry Bushes" are what might happen if you gave Tommy James and the Shondells a sip off the same batch of Kool-Aid as Syd Barrett. Country-tinged "Janey O" is sunny and sweet; "Wired Nights" is a frenetic three-chord glam rocker; and "Misery Jet" essays shimmery '70s-style pop. If you're expecting the slick, speedy sound of previous efforts, Icepond may take a few listens to warm up to, but in this case the fishing is well worth the effort. And you know what? None of it sounds a thing like the Pixies. --Mary Park

Tracks:

Say Ow
Ironmen
Fall Fly
Wired Nights
Blackberry Bushes
Help Me Babe
Misery Jet
Nico Ride
Touch You
Joseph Blow
Icepond
Parade On My Rain
Janey O'
Matinee Idol
Nautilus Sun

Amazon.com

Slower-paced and less noisy than their previous two releases, Icepond finds Sunset Valley coming into their own as a purveyor of more than just infectious Pixie-ish pop. The hooks are still here, but you might have to dig a little harder to find them. Just when you're about to doze off to the gloomy indie rock of "Matinee Idol," for instance, in floats the pleasantly druggy chorus with its soaring, psychedelic guitar. From the bouncy reverb of "Say Ow" to the hypnotic drone of "Nautilus Sun," this record starts out high as a kite and never quite comes down. The spacey harmonies of "Blackberry Bushes" are what might happen if you gave Tommy James and the Shondells a sip off the same batch of Kool-Aid as Syd Barrett. Country-tinged "Janey O" is sunny and sweet; "Wired Nights" is a frenetic three-chord glam rocker; and "Misery Jet" essays shimmery '70s-style pop. If you're expecting the slick, speedy sound of previous efforts, Icepond may take a few listens to warm up to, but in this case the fishing is well worth the effort. And you know what? None of it sounds a thing like the Pixies. --Mary Park

Customer Reviews:

Icepond Rocks... Much.........2003-02-28

Sunset Valley is probably the best thing to ever come out of Portland... they've got wonderfully popish hooks, psycadelic in some respects-- lots of reviews will compair them to David Bowie or The Pixies (huge compliments in my opinion, of which the band is deserving) but they are really something that is more of an evolution of what the affor mention acts pioneered.
That said, Icepond, on the date i'm writing this, is their latest release, and also their greatest. There is not a single throw away track on this CD.
Opening with the melodic, yet short 'Say Ow', on to a song that reminds me a bit of Pavement, only with more focus 'Iron Men'...
i could list out every track and why i love it, but no one has time to read it, and i dont have time to write it.
You do have time to buy this album though... your honestly missing out on an amazing CD if you dont.

Sunset Valley's best!.......2001-10-09

"Icepond" is a cut above their first two excellent records. It's consistent and engaging, although a bit slower and more thoughtful than the earlier releases. I liked the gentle melding of psychedelia with carefully inserted synth buzz. Top-notch guitars as always. Great lyrics as well. The record is self produced, which turned out to be a great choice on the band's part. It's organic. If you have never heard Sunset Valley, click a soundclip and have a listen. One little clip says so much more than any review ever could.

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