Listen: Making Marks - "Barcodes"

Several months ago "Ticket Machine", the first single from the regrouped Norwegian indie pop quartet Marking Marks (former My Little Pony) made its way into the world. It was not unlike the tunes you'd expect from My Little Pony and if you were into them, that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

However, "Barcodes" their newly released second single is a proper introduction to a brand new band. The melodies are still as rich as My Little Pony's but there's a change here. Maybe it's the subtle build towards its first burst of vocals, the decrease in cuteness, or the track's more rock leanings? Who's to say really. One things for sure. If Making Marks have more songs like "Barcodes" on their upcoming debut album, their days of pseudo-patronizing accolades as cutesy pop purveyors will be a thing of the past. "Barcodes" keeps just the right amount of pop to make the track go down smooth but there's an obvious growth in sound for the better.

Making Marks - "Ticket Machine"

Perhaps you remember My Little Pony? The Norwegian indie-pop quintet was responsible for one of 2011's most catchiest gems "Hard to Be Good" off their criminally panned album Making Marks. Well, they're back having trimmed the fat a little, returning as a four piece going by Making Marks, the name of My Little Pony's last album.

"Ticket Machine" is the first offering under their new moniker and it's got all the sunny, cheery stylings of its predecessors while continuing My Little Pony's brilliant but subdued tendency of referencing other awesome songs and bands. In this case, the chorus lifting the name of The Smiths' "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out".  In fact, "Ticket Machine" shows the band's yet to abandon their breezy, brazenly upbeat indie-pop and that's certainly a relief. Making Marks provide shelter in a dizzying storm of changing trends and emerging sounds by remaining true to themselves and what they like and the results are something everyone is sure to love. I sure do.

My Little Pony release "Hard to Be Good"

Norwegian folk pop quintet My Little Pony (whom I first discovered on an Eardrums Music blog compilation) recently released their first single from their upcoming album, Making Marks, earlier this week. The single, "Hard to Be Good", comes with covers of Nomber 5's "Harry Hamlin" and The Jackson Five's "I Want You Back", its bright and sunny and is sure to remind listeners of warm sunny days when things get colder (and the album is released in the winter). The video for the single, is bright, colorful, and even a little nonsensical with marching bands, rollerblading costumed girls , a sea of balloon, and an old man scientist that brings it all together. Enjoy the video for "Hard to Be Good":

My Little Pony - Hard To Be Good from simen&synne on Vimeo.