Electric Rock Music is the third album, and major-label debut, by Cincinnati-based rock band Ass Ponys. It was released in 1994 on A&M Records. It was produced by John Curley of the Afghan Whigs, at whose Ultrasuede Studio the album was recorded. The band was planning to self-release the album after they recorded it, but then they landed an unexpected deal with A&M when Jeff Suhy, one of the label's representatives, called the band's frontman, Chuck Cleaver on the phone. Suhy told Cleaver that he had pitched a recording of the album to A&M executives, and that they had approved it for release.[1][2]

Electric Rock Music
Studio album by
Released1994
RecordedJune 1993–June 1994
StudioUltrasuede Studio, Cincinnati, OH
GenreIndie rock, country rock
Length44:19
LabelA&M
ProducerAss Ponys, John Curley
Ass Ponys chronology
Grim
(1993)
Electric Rock Music
(1994)
The Known Universe
(1996)
Singles from Electric Rock Music
  1. "Little Bastard"
    Released: 1994

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [3]
Christgau's Consumer GuideA–[6]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[4]
Los Angeles Times    [7]
Spin [5]

Ted Simons of the Phoenix New Times described Electric Rock Music as "an engaging collection of episodes and observations put to song."[8] The Chicago Tribune's Rick Reger described the album as "excellent", and as far better as a whole than its well-known single, "Little Bastard."[9] In contrast, the Washington Post's Mark Jenkins wrote that "Most of the album's songs are crisp and shapely, though there's no other track that's so exuberantly tuneful [as "Little Bastard"]."[10] Jason Cohen of Spin wrote that "with Electric Rock Music, the band has made the album of its life."[5] Also in Spin, Jay Stowe called the album a "bright, shining light."[11]

Track listing

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  1. Grim – 4:31
  2. Little Bastard – 2:42
  3. Ape Hanger – 3:22
  4. Place Out There – 2:58
  5. Lake Brenda – 3:40
  6. Wall Eyed Girl – 2:48
  7. Peanut 93 – 2:40
  8. Live Until I Die – 3:11
  9. Banlon Shirt – 5:20
  10. Gypped – 2:18
  11. Blushing Bride – 2:11
  12. Earth To Grandma – 2:52
  13. Otter Slide – 3:46

Personnel

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  • Ass Ponys – primary artist, producer
  • Randy Cheek – bass, background vocals
  • Chuck Cleaver – guitar, vocals
  • John Curley – engineer, producer
  • John Erhardt – guitar, pedal steel, slide guitar
  • Steve Girton – engineer
  • David Morrison – drums, organ
  • Sunja Park – art direction
  • Alan Yoshida – mastering

References

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  1. ^ McKeough, Kevin (21 September 2001). "This band seems to have legs". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  2. ^ Crigler, Pete (October 2011). "Ass Ponys Interview". Perfect Sound Forever. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  3. ^ Raggett, Ned. "Electric Rock Music Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  4. ^ Jackson, Devon (25 November 1994). "Electric Rock Music". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  5. ^ a b Cohen, Jason (January 1995). "Records". Spin. 10 (10): 74–5.
  6. ^ Christgau, Robert (2000). Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s. Macmillan Publishing. p. 10. ISBN 9780312245603.
  7. ^ Masuo, Sandy (12 February 1995). "In Brief". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  8. ^ Simons, Ted (23 March 1995). "Ain't That a Kick in the Pony". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  9. ^ Reger, Rick (8 December 1995). "Hazardous Duo Specula Toys With Odd, Homemade Sounds". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  10. ^ Jenkins, Mark (1995-02-01). "RECORDINGS". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2017-12-25.
  11. ^ Stowe, Jay (March 1995). "The Misfits". Spin. 10 (12): 22.