Place We Ran From

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