Good things come in twos from Brooklyn.
This is what we first learned from MGMT, and are having confirmed with the emergence of Matt and Kim — a boy-girl duo (Matt Johnson and Kim Schifino) that originally met at the Pratt Institute. They’ve been extremely enthusiastic about their music since forming in 2004, but after listening to the pair’s sophomore album, Grand, released Jan. 20, one can only hope their future is, well, grand.
Think of what might happen if Animal Collective started writing music for Mates of State. Sound awesome to you? Grand starts off with the inevitably catchy “Daylight.” At the risk of inflating M&K’s ego, I endeavor to say it very well might be the next “Electric Feel” of MGMT fame. It’s a simple, unforgettable melody (really unforgettable — the tune recurs in two other songs throughout the album) combined with a freedom-seeking theme. The lyrics, as delivered by Johnson, are as irresistible as ice cream in the summertime: “We cut the legs off of our pants / threw our shoes into the ocean / sit back and wave through the daylight.” The backbeat, meanwhile, is almost reminiscent of a hip-hop beat created by Schifino’s fierce, femme-rock drumming skills.
“Lessons Learned” has list-like verses that almost invoke Billy Joel-esque “We Didn’t Start the Fire” vibes, but once combined with a melodic chorus and backup vocals, it becomes so much more. Nothing seems forced — the flow between “Da-da-da” backings and hurried lyrics are exemplary of the free, complementary spirits of Matt and Kim.
Minimalist keyboard backings (they sound almost like Morse code) performed by Johnson are the trademark of the driving number “Don’t Slow Down.” The beat reflects the title and the lyrics are abstract: “God is in trash cans / hoodies and junk tees / arms, fingers and hands.” Rhythmic clapping exacerbates the track’s catchiness and stuck-in-head-quality.
“Cinders” is a flashy instrumental interlude that sounds as if it could have been taken from an early ’90s video game. It does not take away from the momentum of the album — if anything, it pumps it up.
Just before the album ends with a “Daylight” reprise, “I’ll Take Us Home” scratches the surface of more serious indie acts, sounding comparable to Arcade Fire. The vocals seem more earnest than usual and add importance to this particular track, wailing: “Red lights can mean go / I’ll take us home / I’ll take us home / cut down the blinds from my window.” As a whole, the song brings closure to an exploration of the intersection of freedom and fun.
My only grievance is that despite its title, Grand is a bit short. The longest song only clocks in at 3:38, and the entire album is only half an hour long. But maybe that’s why there’s a repeat button.
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