Rome 56 Channels Costello and Knopfler on Narrative-Rich New LP ‘Pony Tales’

Arthur Lamonica has never been one to stay in a single lane. From the art-punk kineticism of CBGB legends The Shirts to the refined Americana of his modern output, Lamonica’s career is a study in evolution. On November 28, Rome 56 returns with Pony Tales, an album that trades the pandemic-era introspection of 2022’s Days of Carefree Living for a sprawling, character-driven collection of stories that bridge the gap between New York grit and Amsterdam cool.

Arriving via Think Like A Key Music, Pony Tales is billed as a set of "twelve vivid stories," stretching from the future-gazing momentum of opener "One Way Ticket" to the noir-inflected sci-fi of "The Last Man Standing".Recorded between Lamonica's native New York and his adopted creative home of Amsterdam, the album features a trans-Atlantic lineup including keyboardist Kathy Lamonica and a Dutch rhythm section that locks into a "ska beat" groove on the standout track "Shut Down Town"—a song described as a slice of "Elvis Costello-ish pop" evoking the classic 2 Tone era.  

Musically, the album promises a lush palette. Early press describes a soundscape built on "Knopfler-inspired guitars" and "lush keyboards," all anchored by Lamonica’s signature vocal bite.While the album kicks into high gear with urban narratives, it also makes room for the "sad folk" of "May Song," a sleepwalking ballad about the refusal to let go. 

Pony Tales is out this Friday, November 28, on CD and digital platforms.

Tracklist:

1. One Way Ticket
2. Ladder of Love
3. In The City
4. 90 Degrees Impossible
5. Hot August Night
6. Shut Down Town
7. Almost Gone
8. Sam The Delivery Man
9. The Last Man Standing
10. May Song
11. Diamond
12. Five Mistakes