Paul Megna with tremendous contributions from the following...
Don Piper, Randi Russo, Joe Bennett, Matt Hawkes, Kat Hayman, Konrad Meissner, David LK Murphy, David Roland, Steve Salett, Ray Sapirstein, Len Small, Nick Stumpf, Ben Trokan, Brandon Wilde, Briana Winter,
Rich Egan and Lauren Weaver
Influences
Red House Painters, Afghan Whigs, Elliott Smith, Lloyd Cole, Arab Strap, Sparklehorse, Talk Talk, Smog, Miracle Legion, Aztec Camera, You Am I, Prince, Idlewild, Big Star, Arnold, The Cure, The Beatles, Prefab Sprout, Matthew Ryan, Pedro the Lion, The Kinks, Swervedriver, House of Love, Kevin Tihista, Spoon, Mark Kozelek, Mark Linkous, Roddy Frame, Greg Dulli, Mark Mulcahy, Bill Callahan, Chris Bell, Malcolm Middleton, Emmit Rhodes, David Baerwald, Richard Thompson, Tim Rogers, Chris Whitley, Joseph Arthur, Damien Jurado, Gerald Collier, Hayden Desser, Leonard Cohen...
The Oxygen Ponies second album sees Brooklyn's Paul Megna introducing some special guests, most notably Ben Trokan (Robbers on High Street), Nick Stumpf (French Kicks) and Joe Bennett (Goldrush), and treading into new territory, giving up the lo-fi autobiographical melancholy of his critically acclaimed debut for a richer, multi-textured soundscape. Strings, horns, and backing vocals abound as Megna pulls out all the stops and sardonically attacts corporate America on this politically charged and ironic follow-up co-produced by Megna and Don Piper.
Harmony Handgrenade is sexy and immediate, lyrically intoxicating, and musically loose yet still maintains the intimate whiskey-soaked vocals of the Oxygen Ponies debut. Songs like the poignant "Fevered Cyclone" and the sensual "Love Yr Way" to other instant hits "The War Is Over" and the gospel-tinged "Grab Yr Gun" showcase a songwriter at the top of his craft.
Simply put, Harmony Handgrenade is all about disenchantment, but somehow it remains uplifting. Megna's songs are a constant tug-of-war, reaching unexpected crescendos and spiralling down on a tightrope of oblivion, yet they never lose their balance. It's post-apocalyptic without being melodramatic or self-indulgent. It's matter of fact, chastened, jaded but hopeful - just like Megna himself. And it's that hopefulness which makes this record so compelling. And so timely.
CITY BEAT Brian Baker
"With a weary voice as dusty as the attic in a condemned house, a unique guitar style and an organically intuitive sense of songcraft, Paul Megna and the Oxygen Ponies have appointed their acidic indictment of contemporary America with sounds that captivate and howl, putting them in a class with some of music’s most creative purveyors."
AMPLIFIER MAGAZINE
"If you're in a neo-political sentimental mood for Jakob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Ray Davies, Cat Power, Elliot Smith, or the softer side of Mike Ness - this is your go-to record for the troubling times that are 2009."
AMERICANA UK 7 out of 10 stars!
"
There is something noteworthy about every track... Full of cynicism and hope... Well worth your time."
Bob Harris live on BBC RADIO 2
"This is a truly remarkable album... really, really, outstanding stuff... I think this music is amazing!"
EARTASTE BLOG
"It's difficult looking ahead to November already, but I feel really secure in picking this CD as one of the most important releases of 2009."
+Playing alongside ASH / SUPERGRASS /DAMO SUZUKI (CAN) / VIEUX FARKA TOURE / THE CANDYSKINS /RED LIGHT COMPANY / WINTERSLEEP / FANFARLO / HJALTALIN / ERRORS / YACHT / DJ FOOD & DK / TOTAL SCIENCE / T.E.E.D./WILD BEASTS / A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS / GRAMMATICS /THE JOY FORMIDABLE / THE XCERTS / PULLED APART BY HORSES/ BROKEN RECORDS / MARK OLSON & GARY LOURIS / PETE MOLINARI
plus...
and so i watch you from afar/ calories/ chew lips/ colour/ danny and the champions of the world/ data select party / detroit social club/ dive dive/ dusty & the dreaming spires/ house of brothers/ skylarkin/ sportsday megaphone / the candyskins/ the elysian quartet/ the ghost of a thousand / the relationships/ the xx/ this town needs guns/ thomas truax/ treetop flyers/ truckers of husk/ we were promised jet packs/white belt yellow tag
Glad to be back in touch after all these years, Paul. I really dig your music, congrats on the new album! Look forward to catching up and shooting you when we're both back in NYC!
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