Matt Pond PA – Love To Get Used To

Typically when you tell an artist to “break a leg,” you are wishing them luck in their upcoming performance. Unfortunately, Matt of Matt Pond PA fell victim to the old saying this past Tuesday evening when he suffered a broken leg. The band was on the first day of their 30+ city US tour. They had to cancel their dates in Cleveland and Harrisburg while Matt underwent surgery. Luckily, the surgery went well and Matt played last night in Brooklyn (you know where I was!).

Not familiar with Matt Pond PA? Well…

With most bands, if you are unfamiliar with the sound, I would usually tell you to pick and poke your way through their discography. Maybe I will give you a song or two that I loved as recommendations, but it’s different with Matt Pond PA. First, their discography is quite large–8 full length albums and 8 EPs. It might be a bit hard to pick your way through that! Second, and I don’t know what it is, but I feel this personal connection with this band. I don’t know if it is the lyrics, or where I was in my life when I started listening to them more heavily, or just because they are a really good band that makes easy to listen to tracks. Whatever it is, just suggesting my favorite Matt Pond PA track to you would be like giving away a secret…so I won’t do that! Instead I will tell you to start with my favorite album The Nature of Maps.

Matt Pond PA’s sound isn’t anything new; they are a simple indie-popish band that throws the occasional organ or tambourine into their songs. They are fun, and they are easy, and I’ve found that they are great road tripping music. Their latest release is the EP Spring Fools. It’s the kind of album I would put on while getting ready for a night out – it’s bouncy, and upbeat, and I’d find myself dancing around like Molly Ringwald in The Breakfast Club.

If you want to start your weekend off right, get some Matt Pond PA in your life. (And then maybe you can be like me and start dancing spastically and all jerky-like. Sorry, Molly, my comparison wasn’t really a compliment!)