The ever-creative Matt Pond and his band of merrymakers, known collectively as Matt Pond PA, are taking full advantage of their new label (basically created just for them). Having released their best album to date just a few months earlier in the form of Emblems, Pond hit the recording studio in the summer of ‘04 to record a few songs that reminded him of winter – like his own personal mixtape of winter listening material. Appropriately dubbed the Winter Songs EP, the collection features just three MPPA original songs, two of which are short instrumental tracks. The remainder of the EP is packed with covers, including retakes of Neil Young’s “Winterlong”, Richard & Linda Thompson’s “I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight”, Lindsey Buckingham’s “Holiday Road” and Neutral Milk Hotel’s “In An Aeroplane Over The Sea.” Each of these is given the MPPA makeover, turning them into soothing chill out tunes perfect for cozying up by the fire with a big cup of hot coco. While these cover songs get the job done, it is the first track (and only original song with lyrics), “Snow Day”, that makes this EP worth picking up. An homage to perhaps the happiest day of a kid’s year (second only to birthdays and Christmas), the song poetically describes that dreamy and sleepy, yet exciting thing known as the snow day. Currently in the midst of one of the most brutal winters of the past few years, I can certainly identify.

Matt Pond PA
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1. Emblems
2. Low Bundle Up For Winter Tour
3. Matt Pond PA Tour Dates
4. The Presets Descend On Winter Music Conference
5. Go See Matt Pond PA For Free