The Dark Leaves

Matt Pond PA | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: April 13, 2010
• Label: MRI
• Copyright: (P) 2010 Altitude Records
• Total Length: 39:28
• Genres:
• ASIN: B003F441KS
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,733 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice Infectious folk-pop melodies, May 8, 2010

By 

Erik C. (Clifton Park, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dark Leaves (Audio CD)

My first impression of the new Matt Pond PA release was a not so good review from Pitchfork Magazine. The reviewer labeled this album as just bland uninspiring pop melodies that seem to never go anywhere, paraphrasing of course. Now I have been a huge fan since Emblems, an amazing album, and of course, Several Arrows later, which I think is their best so far. I was a bit taken back with "Last Light" but grew to really appreciate it and now it is one of my favorites. The same can be said for this new release. The melodies from the new release did not immediately sink in for me, but it took a few listens. By about the fourth listen, the melodies became infectious, the lyrics inspiring, and now I just consider it just incredible beautiful music. The first six songs are just amazing, and its hard to find a favorite among these. The album does slip in quality at the end, hence the four star review. But all in all, this band is stunningly underrated and this is one of my fav releases so far this year along with Shearwater, The National, and Midlake. So before you jump to conclusions on the first listen to this, give it a chance, and the melodies will sink in and you will hear it. Thanks Matt Pond PA for another great album!

And just an update on Pitchfork, they are not the end all "authority" of music quality. I like a lot of music that they rate high, but not all of it. And I like many albums, like this, that are just deplored by Pitchfork. But I have noticed trends over the years and this magazine appears to consistently hate every release from certain artists, such as Matt Pond PA and yes, even Pearl Jam receives poor ratings. Midlake's new album is also rated very low. So don't take these ratings as the gospel...and Pitchfork seems to think they rate artists albums based on ingenuity and creativity. Well, sometimes basic melodies with nice lyrics are better than the creative crap they rate as high. So that is my rant and rave on Pitchfork...since they will not let readers comment on their reviews...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Back to Basics, April 18, 2010

By 

BJ Fraser (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Dark Leaves (Audio CD)

With The Dark Leaves, Matt Pond gets back to the gentler sound of albums like Emblems and A Few Arrows Later, as opposed to the harder-edged sound of Last Light. For me this was an improvement as Emblems is my favorite Pond album. It's too early to say which tracks are my favorites, but I've listened to the album a couple of times already and enjoyed it from start to finish. If you're a Matt Pond fan then this is a return to from and a must have. If you aren't a fan yet, then this isn't a bad place to start. The Dark Leaves is another of Pond's excellent efforts with soothing folk melodies and smart lyrics.

That is all.

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Amazing Album, March 25, 2011

By 

B.R. Gibson "Ben" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dark Leaves (Audio CD)

This is just a great album. I was a little skeptical at first, and it took me about a year to buy it. But once it got it to my mp3 player. I must have listened to it for at least two-three week straight [and I have a 9-5 where I listen to music all day, so that is a lot of listening to this album].

My Top tracks: (in no particular order)

Starting
Running Wild
Specks (I love this song!)
Sparrows (Great chorus)
Brooklyn Fawn
Ruins
The Dark Leaves Theme
First Song

Also, if you like mpPA, you should check out all of the b-sides for this album. There are some really good ones!
-Starting 7" (two non-album songs: The Color Of Space (instrumental) - Stopping (one of my favorites))
-Remains (I don't know if this is a 7", but I found them on Napster and I think there are 3 non-album songs)
-Two songs from joining mailing list on their website [Spring Fawn - Sugarbush (another great song!)]