Matt Pond PA released music for 20 plus years, but the group called it quits in 2017. Led by singer-songwriter Matt Pond, the band was an indie rock outfit out of New York consistently releasing new records right up until the end. I loved their mellow take on the genre and was saddened to hear they were unplugging the guitars and moving on to solo projects.
However, three years down the line, they are back with 'A Collection Of Bees Part 1'. Not a new album, but a rarities compilation consisting of early demos, re-recordings and archived tracks. The result is a dozen songs that are not only worth spending time with, but songs that will also make you want to revisit the band's back catalog. For me, the standout is "Starlet", an acoustic re-imagining of an old favorite. Their music always felt like a comfortable chair so it's reassuring to know we may not be finished hearing "new" Matt Pond PA music just quite yet.
