Several Arrows Later

Album Review

Several Arrows Later, Matt Pond PA's fifth album in five years, is another strong, emotionally charged, and melodically pleasing outing that just could be their best yet. It is packed with hooks, fine performances by the group, and tender and expressive vocals from Mr. Pond himself. The only thing it is lacking is the one or two songs that cause you to bolt upright in stunned appreciation; instead, the record flows past like a gentle river of melancholy and world-weary beauty. The songs have a subtle blend of styles (the classic chamber pop of '60s bands like the Kinks and the Zombies, the poppy side of emo, the insistent and epic feel of early post-punk/alt-rock groups like the Cure and New Order, and the gentle indie rock of groups like Yo La Tengo and Red House Painters) with plenty of strings, pedal steel, vibes, and piano to cushion the ache of Matt Pond's vocals and lyrics. Songs like the loping "Brooklyn Stars," "Halloween," "Several Arrows Later," and "Devil in the Water" are Matt Pond PA at their finest, intimate yet somehow epic with a heart-on-sleeve approach that is tempered by the restraint of the music. There aren't many bands around that manage to create music as good as this out of such familiar and somewhat obvious sources. That the group is able to come up with an album as musically and emotionally satisfying as Several Arrows Later is like a dream come true.