Matt Pond PA - Last Light Review
The Band's New Indie Album is Superb Alternative Rock
Matt Pond PA, an indie rock band from Philadelphia, has released its best album yet in "Last Light." Matt Pond continues to impress in his seventh full album.
Last Light is the seventh full album from Philadelphia-born indie rock band Matt Pond PA and it is the band’s best effort yet to categorize itself as an alternative rock force to be reckoned with. Of course, the only remaining constant from album to album has been Matt Pond himself, but it’s that longevity for almost ten years that is a refreshing slap in the industry’s face.
Matt Pond - Both Producer and Artist
To further reinvent his style and sound, Matt Pond took the reins as producer for the first time, handling every aspect of the music-making process, and recording most of the CD in Bearsville, NY. The result is a roller coaster ride through the emotions that associate themselves with the longing for love and a hope for something more in life after it is all either thrown away or lost by some other means.
At this point, the obvious overriding emotion throughout the course of the album is love, whether it is disguised in the hopeful attitude portrayed through the description of the seasons in “Locate the Pieces” or as a blunt expression of frustration with “The Crush”. Each song channels its own unique emotion, further proving that Matt Pond PA has churned out its most talented album so far; by experimenting with different forms of music ranging from a blues tune, harder rock with an air-guitar-along-with-it-because-it’s-so-good solo, a piano-driven song, and even a waltz-like number, fans are rewarded with an album as diverse as anything out there.
For an album that is all about hope and possibilities in life, Last Light is that shining beacon that can help direct music listeners through the seemingly-impregnable slop in music today and find solid indie rock. Surrounded by strong supporting talent like Neko Case, Isobel Sollenberger (Bardo Pond), Rob Schnapf (Elliott Smith, Beck), John O’Mahoney (Metric), Taylor Locke (Rooney), Mike Stroud (Ratatat), and Thom Monahan (Pernice Brothers, Lilys) – not to mention new band mates Dan Crowell (drums/keys/guitar) and Steven Jewett (guitar/bass) – Matt Pond has come out with his greatest musical venture yet.
Jubilation, Contempt, Frustration
Those are just 3 feelings that are prevalent in love and at other crucial points in one’s life, and the negative outlook can be said for lots of music today. Luckily, Matt Pond PA is around to turn those feelings upside down and provide us with a fresh approach to a concept that has been beaten to death so many times, listeners would think it was the killer in some teen slasher farce. In other words, turn off the radio and put in Last Light – listeners won’t be disappointed.
