To support their critically acclaimed album, The Dark Leaves, Matt Pond PA has announced they are going on tour and starting in Anaheim. Tour dates are as follows:
March 01 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s BBQ [indoors]
March 02 – Oklahoma City, OK – Conservatory
March 03 – Springfield, MO – Outland Ballroom
March 04 – Memphis, TN – Hi Tone Café
March 05 – Nashville, TN – Exit/In
March 07 – Atlanta, GA – Drunken Unicorn
March 08 – Gainesville, FL – Common Grounds
March 09 – Ybor City, FL – New World Brewery
March 10 – Orlando, FL – Back Booth
March 11 – West Columbia, SC – New Brookland Tavern
March 12 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
March 13 – Charlottesville, VA – The Southern
March 15 – Washington, DC – Black Cat
March 16 – Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church
March 17 – Hamden, CT – The Space
March 18 – Poughkeepsie, NY – The Loft
March 19 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
March 20 – Boston, MA – Middle East [downstairs]
March 22 – Montreal, QC – La Sala Rossa
March 23 – Toronto, ON – Drake Hotel
March 24 – Lansing, MI – Mac’s Bar
March 25 – Chicago, IL – Subterranean
The band has also released a video for the song, “Ruins,” which can be seen here:
The time is finally here where we announce our favorite albums of the year. Yes, it took a whole lot of thinking and a whole lot of relistening, but in the end we figured it out. Trust us, it was no easy task this year. Take a peek at what kept our interest in 2010.
1. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – “Let It Sway”
This will forever be known as the album where SSLYBY fully matured. Working with Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla, the band produced a stunning record full of pop hooks and catchy lyrics. The result, Let It Sway (Polyvinyl), one of the greatest pieces of work our ears have heard by any indie band in a long time. We loved it so much we made a tribute video celebrating the record which you can watch below. Congrats SSLYBY!
2. Vampire Weekend – “Contra”
A nearly flawless album, the VW boys started off 2010 with a burst of energy that continued througout the year. Neck in neck with the Yeltsins, Contra (XL) also shared the tale of a too-good-to-be-true indie band growing up in the public eye.
3. The Morning Benders – “Big Echo”
Another record that was running with the big boys on this list, The Morning Benders released Big Echo (Kanine) early in the year and exploded like no one could ever have imagined. It’s ab out time. They deserve it. This is one of the catchiest albums we heard this year and it never gets old.
4. Of Montreal – “False Priest”
Of Montreal are always evolving. That is what we love most about the band. False Priest (Polyvinyl) takes them to a whole new level, dabbling in R&B and dueting with Solange Knowles. We may have been skeptical at first but it quickly won over our hearts and the dance floor.
5. Surfer Blood – “Astrocoast”
Everyone’s favorite “IT” band of the year produced a promising debut album called Astrocoast (Kanine). We followed the boys around CMJ 2009 and knew they were about to blew up huge. We were right, and now Surfer Blood has taken over the world.
6. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – “Before Today”
A chilling record filled with reverb and haunting vocals proved to be just the thing for Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti. Before Today (4AD) stunned the indie music world and makes us wonder what the next Ariel Pink chapter has to hold.
7. Jukebox the Ghost – “Everything Under the Sun”
A thriving piano backed by a guitar and drums made an unexpected assault in the indie world this year. Everything Under the Sun (Yep Roc) dropped jaws quickly this year and had Jukebox the Ghost playing with big name bands and appearing on the Late Show with David Letterman.
8. The Love Language – “Libraries”
Much different from their first record, The Love Language stunned us with a near perfect record, Libraries (Merge) this year. There was a lot of buzz about this album and as the tracks leaked, we could feel the greatness building up. We were right.
9. We Are Scientists – “Barbara”
Without a record label in the U.S., We Are Scientists broke through this year with Barbara. They haven’t changed too much since the last time we heard from them, which is a good thing. They still have their driving 80’s vibe, W.A.S. charm and brilliant tunes.
10. Magic Kids – “Memphis”
This was an unexpected treat this year that had us putting Magic Kids on repeat. Memphis (Goner/True Panther) often has a lo-fi and retro vibe, and that is what really makes it special.
The rest of the list….
11. Miniature Tigers – “Fortress”
12. Matt Pond PA – “The Dark Leaves”
13. Wavves – “King of the Beach”
14. Sufjan Stevens -“Age of the Adz”
15. Arcade Fire – “The Suburbs”
16. Free Energy – “Stuck on Nothing”
17. Javelin – “No Mas”
18. Best Coast – “Crazy for You”
19. The Drums – “The Drums”
20. Tokyo Police Club – “Champ”
21. The New Pornographers – “Together”
22. Spoon – “Transference”
23. Hot Hot Heat – “Future Breeds”
24. Kids of 88 – “Sugar Pills”
25. MGMT – “Congratulations”
26. Harlem – “Hippies”
27. Broken Social Scene – “Forgiveness Rock Record”
Tonight I am going to see one of my favorite bands, Matt Pond PA. Here’s my little secret. For some reason I have NEVER seen MPPA live. This is beyond wierd isn’t it? I’m not exactly sure how this has happened, being I live in New York, as does the band, but we have unfortunate incidents, that every time for the past 5 years, when MPPA took the stage I either already had tickets to another show or I was on vacation. It seemed to be working against me. Good grief Charlie Brown.
I still remember the first time I discovered Matt Pond PA. It was 2005 and I was interning at big record label in Manhattan. Someone got fired, and as the intern I was, I got to clean out their cd collection, and keep what I wanted to, and put the rest in the trash. Nothing caught my eye but this mix someone had made the person oddly titled “Sunsetting.” Looking at the tracklist, I saw the good Matt Pond PA name on there, noticed it being familar, and took it. The song that was on there was “The Butcher,” and in my ever mess of a room, I didn’t listen to the mix for almost two weeks. It wasn’t until Sunday night two weeks later when I was watching Subteranean on MTV2, that they showed the MPPA video for “Closest (Look Out).” I’ve been hooked ever since.
Well tonight is the night that I get to experience first hand, MPPA at the Bowery Ballroom. With the recent release of The Dark Leaves (Polyvinyl), and some of the strongest songs Pond has ever written, it is sure to be an amazing night. Plus I am going to experience it with someone who I love dearly. I think it was all meant to happen at once.
Recently MPPA released the first video for the record, “Starting,” which features the new-ish lineup featuring the lovely Miss Leslie Sisson of the Wooden Birds (which she plays with Pond and Andrew Kenny formerly of American Analog Set), running away from a slow swerving car with glowing orbs. It MPPA fashion, it’s beautiful.
Matt Pond PA has been an indie staple for the past 11 years, and in 2010 this will be no different. Set to move ahead with Pond and Co.’s new venture, the band will release The Dark Leaves (Altitude) in March of 2010. Yes, that seems like a long time away, but they have just what you need to hold you over until then. Their label Altitude Records is offering for sale on their site, your chance to get the first in the MPPA Threeep Series (Part 1) titled Starting. The three song vinyl only EP can also be ordered in a limited edition 250-colored version which is a nice last minute holiday gift.
Continuing in Matt Pond fashion, the title track on the EP, “Starting,” brings back into play the classic strings sound that the band left out of the loop for a while. Pond’s voice and lyrics send a chill down your spine amongst the layers of instruments and incredible harmonies that fill the song throughout. This track will be on The Dark Leaves and I can only imagine what the rest has to offer. I’m at the edge of my seat waiting…
Give a listen to “The Starting” on Matt Pond PA’s Myspace
Modern Mystery 