Pond's self-titled debut failed to capitalize on either the early-'90s Sub Pop-sponsored grunge explosion or college rock credibility. "Young Spender" kicks off like
the School of Fish cribbing notes from
Soundgarden before awkwardly segueing into an aluminum wash of Pacific Northwestern cool, but the band sounded unconvinced they knew where to take it. Stock grunge riffs, mild funk metal, post-punk middle-eights, and
Doors psychedelia were all tried on for size. As
Pond was subtly and stylistically curious, the album didn't hold together as well as its ideas demanded. Tracks blurred into each other, and it became obvious that the band's uniqueness in the grunge genre was, at this stage, their weakness. ~ Dean Carlson