Ponytail Picks #46 - Old
46 editions of Ponytail Picks already—does that make us old? Come join us over the hill, it’s a good view.
LISTEN
New music from old(ish) people
The “Top ##” lists that become popular this time of year—at least, the ones published by major, established media outlets—tend to favour the new. And not just new releases, but (relatively) new artists as well. It seems most listmakers attempt to encapsulate “the moment.” That makes sense. I’ve got no qualms with it (good sir knight). But the approach creates a blind spot: the music made by aging artists (established or otherwise) that might define “then” more than “now” but continue to release outstanding records.
Normally, I’d go along with the crowd with this one, but so many of the alternative music pillars and experimental acts of decades past put out career-defining work this year that I couldn’t let December pass without highlighting a few of them.1
Listen along with this playlist of highlights.
Wilco - Cousin
I’ve thought of Wilco as a favourite band for a long time, but I have to be honest: it had been a minute since I was truly excited by a new release from them. That changed with this one. In my view, it’s the first album in nearly 20 years that can stand alongside the band’s Being There-to-A Ghost Is Born foundation.2
Yo La Tengo - This Stupid World
Likewise, there’s no shame to feel while sliding This Stupid World beside Yo La Tengo’s best albums. Like I Can Hear the Heart and other tent-pole releases, it spans the band’s whole sonic landscape while delivering that ineffible, quiet-yet-confident, Yo La Tengo spirit.
John Cale - MERCY
Starting a whole generation prior to most of the musicians here, John Cale—a founding member of The Velvet Underground—is an obvious influence to the entire alternative/independent genre. But instead of letting his bust be lifted to its rightful place in the classic rock pantheon, Cale keeps his art fresh and mainstream-free by collaborating with current (read: indebted) artists. This year’s album has him working alongside everyone from synth-pop-powerhouse Sylvan Esso to indie-staples Animal Collective and IDM-genius Actress.
Animal Collective - Isn’t It Now?
Speaking of Animal Collective, the band’s return to form is surprisingly absent from most of the year-end lists I’ve seen so far. After all the lukewarm responses to their sharp left turn away from pop after Merriweather Post Pavillion, you’d think critics would get all giddy about real, structured songs from Avey, Deakin, Geologist, and Panda. I, for one, am happy to hear them sound immediately likeable again.
The National - The First Two Pages of Frankenstein & Laugh Track
Remember what I said about my relationship with Wilco? I could say the same about The National. Hate me if you want, but my empassioned adoration for the band dipped a little at Trouble Will Find Me and never fully recovered. That said, this year’s two releases did enough to turn my inner National-fan car around.
Summer Eyes - Bending Towards the Sun
Not even close to the level of notoriety the other entries on this list enjoy, Bending Towards the Sun was made by two dads from Abbotsford with only 2,088 monthly listeners on Spotify. They deserve more. Well-versed fans of the city’s music scene might recognize Chris Janzen and Jeremy K David’s names, but most will still be pleasantly surprised by their blend of the just-mentioned National, OK Computer-era Radiohead, and ‘00s Canadian bands like Pilate.
The New Pornographers - Continue as a Guest
Staying in the same geographical vicinity but returning to more established acts, a list of music made by “olds” in 2023 wouldn’t be complete without raising high the roofbeams of Vancouver’s supergroup. Is this their best album since Twin Cinema? Yes. Yes it is.
Meshell Ndegeocello - The Omnichord Real Book
I’ll admit that I discovered Meshell Ndegeocello this year, but that in no way discounts her deep catalogue of work, which spans three decades. The Omnichord Real Book keeps Ndegeocello in her jazz-infused-R&B lane but shows her pushing forward stylistically with the help of an impressive lineup of peers like Fresh Track regular Jeff Parker.
Brian Eno - Secret Life ( with Fred Again..) & The Ship EP
Like John Cale, most of the other artists on this list owe something to Roxy Music cofounder, ambient music godfather, and “fifth Beatle” for more bands than I care to mention here, Mr. Brian Eno. Eno is as good an example as any of that guy-that-don’t-quit. No matter his age (now entering the second half of his 70s), his new music remains in the “must listen” category, his two records from this year included.
-AK
WATCH
A few great golden age performances on the silver screen
Here are some of my favourite feature film performances by folks older than the typical retirement age of 65 but still giving it their all on screen:
Anthony Hopkins in The Father (2020)
Confusion, anger, bittersweet charm, and ignorance—it’s all there in Hopkins’ masterful and heartbreaking titular performance.
Youn Yuh-jung in Minari (2020)
Another well-deserved Oscar-winning performance from 2020:
“Grandma, you’re not a real grandma.”
“What is a real grandma?”
“They bake cookies. They don’t swear. They don’t wear men’s underwear.”
Glenn Close & Jonathan Pryce in The Wife (2017)
These two excellent performances combine to create a compelling dual character study.
Morgan Freeman in Bruce Almighty (2003)
This movie was probably my introduction to the famous Morgan Freeman, and his portrayal of God in this Jim Carrey-led classic has probably given popular culture its most effective counter-image to the idea of God as a white man with long hair and a flowing beard.
Robert Redford in All is Lost (2013)
The whole movie is just one old guy on a boat trying to survive in the ocean so Redford had to come through with a strong, natural performance, and he doesn’t disappoint.
-JB
READ
Old episodes of Ponytail Picks
We’re creeping up to two years as a newsletter. Is that old enough for a retrospective? I don’t know. But what I do know is that we have plenty of new people here. For all of you who joined the Ponytail Press Express in 2023, here are a few highlights from our first 12 months.
Here’s where it all began—a bit of a bare-bones look, but they’re good bones, if I do say so myself. The excerpt about trees as portals has me thinking I should get a little more creative with my theme explorations again. What do you think?
Our fourth time around the block included a sticky-sweet group of songs, a look at the hive-mind on display in the excellent Severence, and our first mention of a shared favourite book from a Can-Lit icon.
I think we capture an impressive number of sides to the Golden State in this one. Any Californians want to weigh in? What did we miss?
Instrumental interludes, Terrence Malick films, and Joel’s original photography paired with some calming poetry excerpts—#18 still feels like a refreshing and necessary virtual pause.
This one shows Ponytail Picks at its best: one word, three definitions explored. Plus, who can resist that adorable little creepy-crawly in the gif?
-AK
Are these pun-filled outros getting old? Either way, we’re taking break from the because…
it’s annual round-up time!
A caveat: a couple artists in the 45+ age group made their way onto these lists anyway (Sufjan Stevens and slowdive, to name a few). This list is not for them, despite my admiration for their new music. The praise is well deserved, even if it isn’t coming from this particular post.
I recognize this will be a controversial statement among Wilco fans. Records like Sky Blue Sky or The Whole Love are beloved, I know. I just could never get behind laurel-restin’ songs like “Walken” or “Dawned On Me.” It just got a little too dad-rocky for me.
I only got into Wilco with Sky Blue Sky, so that's definitely a fav of mine. Excited to check out Cousin as well though!
Yeah 2023 was a great year for the gray hairs and gray beards. To add a few more 80s era bands: Depeche Mode, OMD, Pretenders and The Church all put out excellent albums this year. And from the 90s, PJ Harvey, Blur, Guided By Voices and Gaz Coombes all released strong records.