Matt And Kim "Sidewalks" | Album Review

Story by Mitch McCann 

| Published Nov 9, 2010

Brooklyn-native indie pop duo Matt & Kim spent their entire summer doing what they were born to do: crashing festivals and partying it up - all in anticipation of their 3rd studio album. What it appears they did not spend their summer doing, was fine tuning the tracks that would make up “Sidewalks”. Their hefty beats belong on stacks upon stacks of speakers, Matt’s obnoxious voice sounds at home when belted with a catchy, witty beat sounding under it.

This most current mix of synth-blasts and even more obnoxious effects grows quite tiresome. Do yourself a solid and skip to the last half of the album. “Sidewalks” has a tendency to drag on and combined with lead single ‘Cameras’ lack-luster appeal, the record almost forces you to do something better with your time.

Even more disappointing "Sidewalks" is left afloat without any semblance of “alternative” anthems like previous efforts ‘Good Ol’ Fashioned Nightmare’ or ‘Daylight’, instead best track on the album rights go to slow(er) jam 'Northeast', while runner ups 'Wires' and 'Silver Tiles' fall just a little too short to earn the album anywhere near Billboard

In a way, it all makes sense, their debut LP, simply “Matt & Kim”, plays as the band’s adolescence; a youthful, loud, and raucous effort. Their follow-up, “Grand”, a little slowed down, a little more developed, is the band's twenties. Now, “Sidewalks”, ironically recorded in lead singer Matt Johnson’s childhood bedroom, serves as the band’s thirties. And like anyone in their 30s, Matt and Kim’s sound has just lost touch, treats most days like a Sunday, and just isn’t as much fun at parties anymore.

In the grand scheme of things, the album isn’t all dreadful, it’s sound is pretty successful, somewhat catchy, but still doomed to obscurity. The die-hard Matt & Kim fans might dig it (who the hell is a die-hard Matt & Kim fan?), but everyone else will find it pretty easy to pass over.