Matt Pond PA
The Lives Inside the Lines Inside Your Hands
BMG Rights Management
Street: 02.05
Matt Pond PA = Andrew Bird + Rilo Kiley
While a good chunk of Matt Pond PA’s repertoire can be a bit melancholic, The Lives maintains the more catchy and upbeat side of their work (aside from the song “Human Beings,“ which came across as a drawl). “When the Moon Brings the Silver“ highlights what I think is the peak of the album with enthusiasm and sincerity. While the songs are still slow and mild, they’re composed in a way that comes across as motivational and uplifting. Drawing on a lot of natural imagery, Matt Pond PA deliver their lyrics with poetic clarity and rhythm, which enhances the elaborate folk music in the background. –Brinley Froelich