MATT AND KIM: LIGHTNING

GENRE | ELECTRO INDIE-POP
VERDICT | HEART ATTACK-INDUCING CHIPPER-NESS
LABEL | FADER LABEL
RELEASE | 10.2.12
MATTANDKIMMUSIC.COM

By their fourth album, you’d think that Brooklyn-based Matt and Kim would have mellowed out a bit. Thankfully, this is not the case. With Lightning, the twosome returns to their original DIY sensibility with punchy, half-yelped vocals and hefty drums set to an electro background.

This album is what it might sound like if schoolchildren made club music: repetitive sing-song qualities that verge on taunting.

The album kicks-off in the typical Matt and Kim fashion with the bright, adventurous opener “Let’s Go.” It’s a straightforward jam destined for house-party playlists everywhere. As the album progresses, things only get more hyperactive, like a high schooler discovering the joys of synthesizers while on Adderall. Not to say that there aren’t a few mellow moments (“I Said”) but even these rare chilled-out out tracks quickly turn into backbeat-heavy marches. Lightning is a great listen, though a bit overwhelming if you’ve had too much coffee beforehand.