Altitude

Matt Pond has always flown just below the radar, releasing seven albums since 1998 (and more EPs than you can count) that have never really skyrocketed the New York-based musician into the acclaim he deserves. Although the band itself has featured a quickly rotating succession of musicians, Pond has allowed his music to breathe and cohesively evolve into the introspective, thoughtful indie rock songs that appear on The Dark Leaves, his eighth full-length. “Ruins” is quirky and instantly likeable with its surprising sing-along chorus while “Remains” is a layered, atmospheric sonic exploration that’s equally emotive for Pond and listeners. There is, in fact, so much genuine human emotion visible in the disc’s songs that it often feels like Pond is singing directly to you – or with you, depending on quickly you learn the words.