Without implying any sort of negative connotations (in fact, meaning quite the opposite), there’s something very adolescent about Matt And Kim and their latest release, Grand. It could be the simplistic duo of keyboard and drums, or it could be the giddy enthusiastic tone heard in every syllable of Matt Johnson’s voice. It might also be the fact that every time I see drummer Kim Schifino’s face in mid song I am instantly reminded of my best friend in 2nd grade, with eyes pinched and teeth gritted trying to stifle laughter in the back of class. Regardless, Grand succeeds in assaulting the listener with nothing but a good time.

This feeling of adolescence isn’t helped (or hurt for that matter) by the story of the album’s origins, recorded in Matt’s parents’ house in Vermont, in his childhood room. What better way to tap into exuberance and joy than to record in your childhood room? The result, again, is an album full of smiles and jumping. The jumping comes on tracks like the instrumental, “Cinders”, on “Don’t Slow Down” and “I Wanna”. The smiling comes in the form of “Spare Change”, a track that’s percussion consists of what sounds like about ten people clapping and about four Matt’s singing at once.

There are only moments when the joy of the album takes a few beats to pause, like on “Lessons Learned” where Matt sings, “Thinking about tomorrow won’t change how I feel today” amidst a flurry of metaphoric phrases like “Two steps to the finish line/Three steps till I finish mine”… or something like that. It’s a bit hard to nail down the lyrics definitively on that one. Other moments of pause for introspection come during the ballad “Turn This Boat Around” and personal favorite “I’ll Take Us Home” in which Matt’s voice hits its emotive best.

It’s hard to pick the best tracks on an album that has a steady high of enjoyment, but one obvious track would be the single “Daylight”. It’s a melodic anthem full of thumping percussion and memorable lines like “In the daylight anything feels like home.” Another memorable track would be “Good Ol’ Fashion Nightmare” if only for its almost classical sound, thanks in large part to the violin setting that I’m sure Matt’s keyboard is on. It almost sounds like a Cure song during its chorus. The track also proves what I find to be the main point on the album: no matter what your views on the talent of the band or the technical prowess on display, amidst the events of the week following your listen, if you’re not humming one track from Grand, you’re inevitably humming another.

Fader Label

Last week Matt And Kim celebrated the release of their sophomore LP (and Fader Label debut) Grand with their hometown of Brooklyn. As if the venerable duo needed another reason to make their fans happy, they brought Spank Rock, Ninja Sonik and the Rude Mechanical Orchestra to the celebration before turning the camera back on the crowd, assuring them that they were as important to the party as anyone.

The anticipation in the room was palpable as each artist took the stage. Nothing against any of the opening acts, but everyone was there for one reason. Not even the spectacle of a Spank Rock and Ninja Sonik duet or a full squatter-punk orchestra could compare to the party that Matt And Kim brought to their hometown fans. To quote a friend of mine, it’s impossible to be critical of a band that brings this much joy to their fans. And while there are so many instances we remember — crowd riders (both good and bad), the balloons and confetti showering down from the ceiling, their first ever live performance of “Daylight”, the impromptu dace party that broke out at the end — all we can remember is the graciousness with what Matt And Kim delivered their set and the permanent grins that was brandished on their faces.

[Ninja Sonik]

[Ninja Sonik & Spank Rock]

[Rude Mechanical Orchestra]

[Spank Rock]

[Matt And Kim by Rebecca Winters]

[by Rebecca Winters]

[by Rebecca Winters]

[by Rebecca Winters]

[by Rebecca Winters]

[by Rebecca Winters]

[by Rebecca Winters]

[by Rebecca Winters]

Last night we made our way over to the Music Hall of Willamsburg to celebrate the release of Matt And Kim’s newest LP Grand. And while we can’t say enough about the duo’s performance and the joy and excitement they brought to their hometown fans (seriously, are there any nicer people in this industry?), we will leave that for a forthcoming photo post. In the meantime, we’d like to give you this video footage — sneakily shot from our flip video camera — of their first ever live performance of the song “Daylight”. Originally released as a single on Green Label Sound, the performance of “Daylight” (which is also on the LP) marked the celebratory portion of the night as balloons and confetti rained down from the ceiling.

Matt And Kim – “Daylight” Live From The Grand Record Release Show, First Ever Performance

Matt And Kim are two of the nicest people you could ever meet, and in one week, their second full-length — and first on FADER Label — will drop. Now, thanks to yours truly, not only do you have the chance to get a copy of Grand on vinyl mailed directly to you before the street date, the copy we’re holding for one lucky winner is personally signed by the dynamic duo.

Set to be released next Tuesday, January 20, all you have to do to enter to win a personalized signed copy of Grand is e-mail us here with the subject line of “Matt And Kim contest” along with your contact info* and you will be entered to win. The contest runs until Friday, January 16, with the record being mailed out that evening. Good luck!

*Contest will officially end at 6pm EST on Friday, January 16th. E-mail addresses not already on our mailing list will be added.