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With their infectious beats and clear guitars mixed with head-bobbing electronic, New Young Pony Club has what cannot be learned, yet what is one hundred percent necessary for achieving greatness: hubris.
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The contrasts are ecstatic, setting in stone just how remarkable a comeback New Young Pony Club have pulled off. The Optimist is a super-smart pop album at the top of its game.
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In making this (undoubtedly scary) leap away from what’s expected of them they’ve pulled off the second album reinvention of 2010.
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The tricky second album phase has been completed and it’s an excellent product. The future’s bright.
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This whole album holds together in a way that their debut didn't. It's a bold step forward that commands respect and suggests that they may have some longevity.
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While it is still caught a little in-between moods and is clearly front-loaded, ‘The Optimist’ feels more instinctive than ‘Fantastic Playroom’, and is ultimately a step up because of that.
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The Optimist won’t make anyone forget Fantastic Playroom, but it does work as a nice complement and shows that the group may have some staying power.