The Practice of Joy Before Death
Studio album by
Pond
Released1995
GenreAlternative rock
LabelSub Pop[1]
ProducerPond, Adam Kaspar
Pond chronology
Pond
(1993)		 The Practice of Joy Before Death
(1995)		 Rock Collection
(1997)

The Practice of Joy Before Death is an album by the American alternative rock band Pond, released in 1995.[2][3] Its first single was "Glass Sparkles in Their Hair".[4]

Production

The album was produced by Pond and Adam Kaspar.[5] Pond started the album in a basement studio, using an 8-track and recording at different times and with different instruments; Kaspar then remixed some of the songs.[6]

The band filtered its vocals through a megaphone on "Carpenter Ant"; they used a sitar on "Sundial".[7][8] "Van" is an ode to Pond's mode of transportation during tours.[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
Calgary HeraldB+[11]
Robert Christgau(2-star Honorable Mention)(2-star Honorable Mention)[12]
Daily Breeze[7]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[13]
Vancouver Sun[14]

Trouser Press stated: "Largely repudiating pop, the trio ... head toward the emo-core of bands like Polvo and Sunny Day Real Estate."[5] The Calgary Herald concluded that "few musicians can actually balance raw instinct and fashionable music so beautifully."[11] The Vancouver Sun determined that Pond "churn out a kind of guitar pop that comes from growing up with Pere Ubu, the Pixies and Sonic Youth as songwriting models."[14] Robert Christgau praised "Van" and "Sideroad".[12]

The Washington Post wrote that Pond's "sound is neither pop nor ('Carpenter Ant' aside) metal but swoony low-tech psychedelia; such trippy songs as 'Magnifier' and 'Glass Sparkles in Their Hair' employ droning, circular riffs and the heavily mutated sounds of toy pianos and (apparently) whatever else was lying around."[15] Guitar Player called the album "utterly unpredictable indie-rock chock-full of melodic songs, deep textures, and moods that spirit you away with your balance shaken."[16] The Philadelphia Inquirer opined that Pond "returns to the best elements of its previous effort, while managing to sound more accomplished."[17] The Dallas Observer thought that "the sound is alternately beautiful and harrowing, songs that jangle along their way until they erupt into bizarre bursts of feedback or minor-chord riffs."[18]

AllMusic wrote that "the less-is-more production and incisive songwriting make The Practice of Joy Before Death the best of Pond's three albums."[10] The A.V. Club labeled The Practice of Joy Before Death the band's "masterpiece."[9]

Track listing

  1. Sideroad
  2. Mubby's Theme
  3. Union
  4. Magnifier
  5. Patience
  6. Ol' Blue Hair
  7. Sundial
  8. Glass Sparkles in Their Hair
  9. Van
  10. Happy Cow Farm Family
  11. Carpenter Ant
  12. Artificial Turf
  13. Rock Collection
  14. Gagged & Bound

References

  1. ↑ McNamara, Bryan (Feb 1995). "Reviews". CMJ New Music Monthly (18): 40.
  2. ↑ "Pond Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. ↑ Gittins, Ian (Mar 11, 1995). "Albums -- The Practice of Joy Before Death by Pond". Melody Maker. 72 (10): 39.
  4. ↑ Borzillo, Carrie (Jan 28, 1995). "Joyous". Billboard. 107 (4): 26.
  5. 1 2 "Pond". Trouser Press. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  6. ↑ Hughley, Marty (January 29, 1995). "POND EXPLORES NEW SHORES". The Oregonian. p. F1.
  7. 1 2 "Imaginative Pond is worth jumping into". Daily Breeze. February 17, 1995. p. K31.
  8. ↑ Wright, Tom (April 16, 1995). "Small splash, big waves". Staten Island Advance. p. E2.
  9. 1 2 "The tour van received its ideal tribute from a singular '90s group". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  10. 1 2 "The Practice of Joy Before Death - Pond | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  11. 1 2 Petrick, Jeff (5 Mar 1995). "RECENT RELEASES". Calgary Herald. p. C2.
  12. 1 2 "Robert Christgau: CG: Pond". www.robertchristgau.com.
  13. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 587.
  14. 1 2 Armstrong, John (6 Apr 1995). "Recordings". Vancouver Sun. p. C8.
  15. ↑ "POND'S APPEALING DISTORTION". The Washington Post. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  16. ↑ Rotondi, James (May 1995). "Listen to the color of your dreams -- The Practice Of Joy Before Death by Pond". Guitar Player. 29 (5): 127.
  17. ↑ Sherr, Sara (24 Feb 1995). "POND". The Philadelphia Inquirer. FEATURES WEEKEND. p. 16.
  18. ↑ Wilonsky, Robert (February 2, 1995). "Reviews". Dallas Observer. Music.


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