On Sidewalks, Brooklyn drum-‘n-keys duo Matt & Kim stick to the formula of enthusiastic pop tunes with a twinge of youthful nostalgia that they established on their 2009 breakout album, Grand. By singing about concrete, sidewalks, and sleeping on rooftops, these wistful teenagers find joy adrift in an urban landscape. It’s hapless yet hopeful. But while the couple’s bouncy tunes convey this sentiment well, their energy can’t overcome the fact that Sidewalks is one repetitive album.
With Sidewalks Matt & Kim don’t stray too far from what they know works. Kim Schifino’s heavy-handed crash cymbal and drum stomp stills are the band’s driving force, while Matt Johnson’s über-happy synths and staccato vocals fill out the melody. But Sidewalks sheds some of the duo’s raw feel and post-punk nature. Heavier production creates a fuller sound with greater vocal layering. With a sped-up tempo and the same emphasis on the chorus, Sidewalks is more dance-pop driven than the couple’s previous albums.
Boisterous bass and a tuba over poky keyboarding make up the album’s single, “Cameras.” The song is full of energy but with a finer polish and less punk percussion than the band has used in the past. The opening song, “Block After Block,” eschews the loud drum kick and uses a fast-paced drum machine complimented by sleigh bells and cheerful synths instead.
Matt & Kim split the recording time between Brooklyn and Atlanta, lending a dirty South hip-hop influence to their beats. The opening of “Good For Great” sounds like the midi version of an ATL rapper’s track, until Matt’s nasally voice jumps in. When’s the last time you heard a Southern rap with a chorus this nerdy? “So many books that I didn’t read / but there’s so much air I chose to breath?”
Unfortunately, like past Matt & Kim albums, Sidewalks lacks depth. It is invigorated by some tighter songwriting and a hint of Southern swagger, but their two-instrument punch gets old and the giddy dance beats lose their fun a little too quickly.
Still, there is something endearing about their music. The overly-simple pop tunes are full of vitality and pure joy. It’s far from a complete album, but Sidewalks has a few catchy singles that will have you dancing and smiling, whether you’re a hipster from Brooklyn or a homie from Hotlanta.
Voice’s Choices: “Block After Block,” “Cameras,” “Red Paint”
