It’s worldly pop.

 

Interesting phrase, isn’t it? What does worldly pop really mean? It is probably full of beats from different cultures with peppy and happy hooks throughout. Yet still “indie” rock if that’s possible. And if it was new. That’s what makes it such a great album – it has lived through 13 years and could still be passed off as ‘current.’ And that’s one of the reasons why “Pomegranate” is a truly unique album.

 

Poi Dog Pondering was formed in 1986 so they aren’t young and hip like the marketing departments want, nor are they sexy or photogenic. Instead, they are talented musicians. Frank Orrall formed the band in his native Hawaii and has had varying members in and out of the band throughout the years. Relocations to Austin and Chicago, and 7 full-length albums to date have produced a wide output, including 7 released this March. Critical acclaim has come and gone, such as how Thomas Schulte of AllMusic.com says “any pop music creator would be proud to have one of these as a ‘one-hit’” when referring to their songs, but chart success has always eluded them.

 

 

In 1998 they secured the high-profile gig as opening act for the Dave Matthews Band. Considering the bands’ instrumentation, this setting was very logical as both PDP and DMB expand beyond typical guitars, bass, and percussion. Typically over the past 10 years their gigs have remained sporadic and, mostly local to Chicago. With the release of 7 they have put together a national tour, which provides the occasion to discuss one of the most underrated albums of the 1990s.

 

“Pomegranate” is such an amazing composition that it deserves its own recognition. When removed from the history and catalogue of the band, it stands on its own as a beautifully constructed world-beat electro pop rock album. Which is a way of saying that it is diverse, but it is diverse in a way that is definitively appropriate. It is up and down, in and out, over and under, weaving all over the place creating a consistent sound without ever being repetitive.

 

The album is crafted in a way that screams to the listener about how much time and thought went into the perfect track order. The title tracks starts off the album with slow and gentle strings entering into the picture. Orrall croons gently, using similes comparing the fruit and a godly body. A slow arc is realized over the first three tracks, as “Catacombs” is more upbeat using an acoustic guitar and one of the albums’ hidden gems: the perfect backup vocals. But it is on “Complicated” where the band really goes into full speed, blasting down the highway while singing about the urgency of living life right this time around. It’s as rock as they get, but with the soul back-up vocals it’s nothing like today’s rock and roll radio of heavy distortion, harsh guitars, and almost painful screams that somehow pass as lyrics. “Pomegranate” is clean, harmonious, and candy to one’s ear.

 

 

The middle parts of the disc are energetic and emotional. Although much of Orrall’s lyrics could be dabbling in religion, they are more about love and happiness than about any organized religious theories. On “The Chain” he simply declares “I want what lovers own” because it’s a great and precious emotion. On “Sandra at the Beach” he sings that “no kind of love is better than another” after observing two women in each others arms. It’s a gorgeous declaration and compliments many of the other themes with a slight surprise but no doubts about how it fits into the album as a whole.

 

“Diamonds and Buttermilk” could be the best track on the album, but with so many perfect pop ballads it becomes too difficult to make such a statement. It is a fabulous piece with rhythmic sax parts, grinding lyrics, angelic chorus parts, and a wonderfully upbeat pace. The band ends the albums’ second loud burst with “Shu Zulu Za” which is notable for its energy.

 

The final 3 tracks, “God’s Gallipoli,” “The Shake of Big Hands,” and “Al Le Luia” are almost the mirror image of the opening 3 tracks. They all sound like the perfect ending track to an album, and combined they slowly decrease in speed and energy to the point where it feels like Poi Dog Pondering has captured a quiet moment in time that it wants to share with you. Every time one of these tracks ends, it feels like the album should be over, so a touch of sadness sets in similar to watching a beautifully radiant sunset finally go over the horizon. But then the next track starts up, and a bit of happiness is found because there’s still another piece of cake to be had. They all have tremendous jam sessions and constant beats where Orrall stops singing and lets the instrumentation take over. Simply marvelous.

 

 

Pomegranate is a great piece of music and seems to have disappeared to the annals of time. If you aren’t familiar with Poi Dog Pondering and are a fan of Blues Traveler, Indigo Girls, Prince, or other adult contemporary pop masters, check out this album. For anyone that is aware of this masterpiece, isn’t it about time to celebrate it once again?

 

 

 

 

 

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