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It seems that when alternative music veterans get together, they normally get things right. At least Jeff Cloud (Starflyer 59, Joy Electric) and his Pony Express project further this notion. The lineup for the second full-length from the band is composed of Cloud, Jason Martin (Starflyer 59, Bon Voyage), Frank Lenz (Lassie Foundation, The Hot Stuff), Jason Dooley (MAP), and Richard Swift.

Originally, Becoming What You Hate was going to be an EP. However, the band cranked out eleven tracks and decided to make it a full-length release. Cloud made a good decision in giving the majority of the vocal duties to Martin, whose soothing voice gives the album the kind of feel that has made Starflyer 59 such a success.

Musically, it's not surprising to find that much of the album is comparable to Starflyer 59. There are also resemblances to another all-star band of sorts, Cush. However, Jeff Cloud did a good job in his songwriting to make sure that elements exist in the music to set Pony Express apart from the aforementioned bands. The biggest difference is that Cloud is not afraid to give a song a rather quirky feel ("GPA" and "Sister Says" are prime examples of this). Despite the efforts to give the band some originality on songs like this, the best tunes seem to be the melodious ones that make you think Starflyer. "Walking Tall," "Long Island," and "Behind the Walls" showcase the guitar and vocal prowess of Martin to great success. Musically, the album's best song is "Queen of Beirut." The tempo of the song is a bit different than you would normally find with Starflyer and the piano truly sets the song apart. Martin's vocals bring life to the lyrics Darling I love you, but I've got to leave. So just put your heart on my sleeve."

The album's lyrics are top-notch. All of the songs are about relationships in some form, whether friend or lover. Many of the songs Cloud has penned bear a note of sadness, but are all the more believable for it. Long Island" expresses concern for a friend: "You're just too drunk to drive home. You're just drunk enough to drive home. On "Behind the Walls" the lyrics do well at summing up the emotion of the entire album: And it has to be getting better because it can't get any worse... unless you think it can.

The only problem with the album comes with the fact that the eleven tracks last barely over thirty minutes. Pony Express is a good thing, we just need more of it.

Trae Cadenhead  2/03/2003

Becoming What You Hate finds Pony Express' Jeff Cloud making his boldest move yet as a songwriter and musician. It's tempting to see Cloud in light of his affiliation with Starflyer 59 and (until recently) Joy Electric. It's easy to see him as simply the tall, quiet guy on bass or keyboards, or the man behind the underappreciated Velvet Blue Music. I do it all the time, and therein lies the risk of completely missing Cloud's own efforts or writing them off as derivative of his friends and allies.

The album's opening track, "Becoming What You Hate," quickly does away with that notion. Cloud's soft vocals whisper "All your feelings are streaming down your leg/All your feelings are becoming what you hate" over bubbling loops, starkly abstract tones, and loosely distorted guitars. It's a brilliant track, both in its brevity and in the muted sense of alienation that it conveys. If there's one thing that Cloud has in common with Jason and Ronnie Martin (the two he's most closely associated with), it's melancholy, but this track may be one of most haunting songs the Orange County crew has ever produced.

After that, it's back to more familiar territory, producing slightly skewed indie pop with hints of Britpop, Jesus & Mary Chain, plenty o' sad melodies, and surf stylings. But the moments that make me smile are when Pony Express reach past the obvious comparisons and look to the likes of Terry Taylor and Mike Roe for inspiration. The chorus of "Queens Of Beirut" is pure Daniel Amos; with its Beatlesque melody and layered vocals, it could be a reincarnation of DA's Motorcycle. "Headlights Are the Answer" tears out of the gates in true Seventy Sevens style, before turning into Pray Naked as covered by the Reid Brothers.

As it stands, Becoming What You Hate makes a perfect companion piece to the later albums from Starflyer 59. I can say that because of how much more self-assured this recording feels. Previous Pony Express releases ("The Eastwood Dive") showed promise but still came off as Starflyer 59 knockoffs. I'd be lying if I said there isn't still more than a slight similarity between the two bands - due in part to the fact that many of the same people are involved.

But Becoming What You Hate has its own palette of sounds. You won't hear the jagged conclusion of "GPA," with its clashing guitars and collapsing drums, on "Leave Here a Stranger," nor will you find the bizarre choral effects that close the harmonica-laced "Sister Says." It's during moments like these where Cloud steps into avant-pop territory without a shred of pretense. It's also where you really sense Cloud finally coming into his own, crafting music that's able to stand on its own, not in the shadows of others.

Jason Morehead 2/9/2003