I Thought You Were Sleeping

This five-song follow-up to the full-length Measure positions Matt Pond PA in a far more positive space than the band's previous outings — there's a newfound optimism pervasive throughout the material, which spills out not only in its more direct lyrical themes but also in the performances, culminating in the furious "St. Andrews," far and away the most propulsive, straightforward rock song in the band's oeuvre. Although at times it's still difficult to reconcile the rough edges of Pond's grittily mournful vocals with the smooth, polished beauty of the songs' arrangements, I Thought You Were Sleeping is undeniably moving. The other lingering concern is the disc's brevity — even for an EP, it feels like little more than a stopgap, albeit hopefully foreshadowing bigger and better things to come.