Customer Reviews

The Nature Of Maps

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm not really sure how I came upon this CD. I'd heard a few songs from his album "measure", and liked them, but it's not as though I was waiting for this release for months or anything. Anyway, somehow I found this CD in October, just a couple of weeks after it came out, and it is a lot more impressive than I remember his other stuff being, although I'm starting to get into Green Fury now, and I'd recommend that as well.
Anyway, the first track, "fairlee", is good but not great, and it doesn't sound a lot like the rest of the album. However, at like 2:36 into the song, it really picks up and that's when I think the album really begins. No More is good, but not one of the best, although I like the line "in a while or pretty soon/pretty soon or in a while" although I'm not sure what he's talking about. The Party is one of my two favorite tracks on the CD. The whole song is just one repeatedly strummed guitar chord with a minimal amount of stuff going on over it, but for some reason it is really, really good. And, the last half of the song, starting at like 2:22, is one of the best sections of any song I've ever heard. It goes on for awhile, great, and then song 8, Summer is Coming comes on. I've had this for like 4 months now, I guess, all in the fall and winter, but this song actually sounds like a summer song. I mean, when summer is actually here, it will be sweet to listen to this song. What a great song. A Million Middle Fingers is different and short, but good, and Athabasca is also one of the finest songs I've heard. I went to some ridiculously catchy pop-punk show at the Green Door in OKC one time with Athabasca in my head and after 4 bands of catchy crap, Athabasca was still in my head. It's good. You should go to his website, MattPondPa.com, and look around, maybe buy something from him. I bought the green leaf shirt the other day and you send the money right to his apartment and he sends it back to you. He even wrote the return address, so I'm sure he'd enjoy your business. Thanks for reading.

I find allmusic.com to be a very useful resource, but I respectfully disagree with their opinion that "Green Fury" is the best album by matt pond PA. This is the best album I have heard in months (since Oceanographer's "20 String EP," probably), let alone the best matt pond PA.

The first song, Fairlee, is not the best song on the CD, but its galloping rhythm is a great start to the album. The CD, as a whole, is well-paced with nice transitions between songs (people who think there is an art to making mix CDs would appreciate this). There are no tracks you will want to skip on listening - something I think to be a rarity for me in particular (Phoenix's "United," anyone?). And after hearing the likes of this and Cursive, you will start thinking every band should have a cellist. Some of my personal favorite songs are No More (you will find yourself humming the bassline), Closer, Summer Is Coming, A Million Middle Fingers, Promise the Party...okay, you get the idea. It's good.

In short, it's the latest CD I am pushing on my friends, and I would anticipate you wanting to do the same.

I like all types of music. I Really enjoyed this album: it's original, thoughtfully created, just darn good music. Keep it up!

The Nature of Maps is the best MPPA album to date. Its got a great varied sound, no two songs sound alike (well, except for "no more" and "no more (again)", but that's a different story). The integration of strings with indie-rock is amazing in this. Some of the best around. If you like music like this I would also recommend "Into Your Lungs" by Hey Rosetta!. But I would recommend this album as the first MPPA album anyone listens to. The album just has too many great songs. My personal favorites are "Summer Is Coming", "Promise The Party" and "Fairlee". My only complaint is that the album didn't come with lyrics.

I'm not at all immpressed with it, but it it's quite good. The songs geared more toward rock are nice, but the mellower, more folky songs are what they do best.

This album is perfect. Not a weak spot in it, which is rare in my opinion. Every note belongs in its place, nothing extra, nothing missing. I would rate it with the likes of Elvis Costello's Imperial Bedroom or the Counting Crows Debut. Just buy it and enjoy!

This is an excellent cd, i'd say mpPA'S best. I really enjoyed the party, close map, a million middle fingers, closer..basically the whole album. Pond comes up with such amazing hooks, and good lyrics too, though i mostly listen for the instrument aspect. He incorporates guitar, cello, french horn, and lots of other instruments into one album, and its amazing. mpPA is one of my all time favorite artists, and i highly recommend them!