The liner notes to
Tired Pony’s first album read like a “who’s who” of indie rock royalty, listing credits from the band’s core lineup -- including
Snow Patrol's
Gary Lightbody,
R.E.M. guitarist
Peter Buck, producer/musician
Jacknife Lee, and
Belle & Sebastian's Richard Colburn -- and the hip guest list, which features cameos by the likes of
Zooey Deschanel and
M. Ward. Yet despite the full roster,
The Place We Ran From relies most heavily on
Lightbody, who handles much of the songwriting and all of the vocal duties. On tracks like “Point Me At Lost Islands,” where weather metaphors share equal space with acoustic guitars and fiddle solos, the group coalesces to find a genuine, collaborative stride. ~ Andrew Leahey