No Cracks in these Sidewalks

Matt & Kim have never been shy about where they come from. The title and cover art of their new album Sidewalks as well as 2009’s Grand reference Brooklyn, their current place of residence. This is probably a smart move on their part. Brooklyn currently has an immense amount of indie music cred, home to cool kids like The National, Grizzly Bear, and MGMT (as well as insufferable wannabe hipsters). With Sidewalks, Matt & Kim seek to cement their place among these trendsetters, and succeed. They stick to their familiar Mates of State-meets-Passion Pit sound, but this isn’t a retread. Rather, it’s a fresh batch of hugely energetic, danceable songs about where we live and where we’ve been.

The opening track, “Block After Block,” provides as good a mission statement as any for the album, with an infectious beat underneath lyrics about living as you move through your neighborhood. Like “Don’t Slow Down” from Grand, it’s an optimistic anthem urging you to “Go too far, live too long.” In a similar vein, “Cameras” comments on the way obsessive documentation gets in the way of having actual experiences. The message is made very clear in the chorus: “No time for cameras / We’ll use our eyes instead / No time for cameras / We’ll be gone when we’re dead.” A fat, brassy bass line adds some intrigue to the beat. The next track, “Red Paint” proceeds at Matt & Kim’s familiar urgent pace, suggesting “Let’s make a mark.”

“Where You’re Coming From” shows up at the midpoint of the album and changes things up a bit. While the drum beat continues hard and fast, echoing chords on piano as well as backing horns help reinforce the vocals. During the chorus, this is (almost) the closest the album comes to a ballad. “Good For Great” uses strings to similar effect, in yet another song about living life without worrying so much. Perhaps the first major misstep on the album is “Northeast,” an incredibly spare track that feels unfinished. Matt’s voice sounds strained singing so loudly over simple chords on piano and some sleigh bells. Not until the last forty (purely instrumental) seconds does the song feel filled out.

Luckily, “Wires” picks things back up, with more signature cheerleading: “It’s burning down / Let’s keep it up / Flames they grow strong / The louder the song.” All this optimism could get tiresome, but it’s not blind optimism. “Silver Tiles” acknowledges that life’s not all days full of fun and frolic; it’s long and tough. The delightfully danceable closing track, “Ice Melts,” will at least ensures that you have a good time. This overarching sort of carpe diem message is refreshing in its sincerity as well as the uncomplicated fun it delivers. There are no real love songs to make your mind wander, just the overwhelming urge to get up and dance.

Overall, Matt & Kim does a pretty good job delivering a solid third album. If you’re a fan of their catchy electro-pop, you’ll enjoy this. If not, don’t expect anything radically different.

On a Connecticut College Camel Rating Scale, out of a possible four, I’m giving Matt & Kim’s new album 3 Camels.