Pony

• TV Baby [Take This to Heart, 2021] A-

Consumer Guide Reviews:

TV Baby [Take This to Heart, 2021]
Even in the world-weary, socially impaired pandemic era, pop songs biz or alt do have a way of gravitating to romantic themes when they're not busy advocating full-bore dancefloor escape. So the fact that lyrics like the 10 on this Toronto trio's debut album aren't more plentiful has long mystified and annoyed me. How variously, sanely, and insecurely singer-guitarist Sam Bielanski articulates the frustrations and anxieties but also pleasures and satisfactions of a love life that's sometimes on the right track and other times not is actively refreshing, not least because her telltale heart remains in the right place whether she's sad or exhilarated. Exhilarated comes in second, of course. Happy love songs--so hard to do with an edge. At least as hard as happy love itself. A-