Subscribe to RSSSoundcheck: Matt and Kim: Lightning
By Alexis Burnett
(Star rating: 1.5/5)
Artist: Matt and Kim
Album: Lightning
Genre: Indie Pop
Indie duo, Matt and Kim, released Lightning after nearly two years of nothing new. While previous albums are known for their perpetually energetic, do-it-yourself style, this album is decidedly lyrically focused and different from previous albums in tone and style.
Most of the album reflects a youthful restlessness and discomfort with the social world, and the opening song, “Let’s Go,” represents this idea. It’s an upbeat indie song that finds a nice balance of mellow while always seeming to be on the verge of explosion. Like most of the album, it repeats itself but fits nicely as an opening with lyrics such as: “I was up in my head / For everything I’ve said / Caught a million words / They’re all made with lead.”
The song’s lead-up, “Now,” is the inevitable explosion, inspiring energy in the hearts of listeners with its synthesizer pulsating and riotous chorus, which is a repetition of the word “Now.” This track presents nothing new with gradually accelerating tempos, which could leave weak-stomached listeners queasy. Sadly, singer Matt Johnson’s voice isn’t heard much over noise and hackneyed lyrics like “And I know that things aren’t perfect / Sick and a little nervous.”
In addition to “Let’s Go,” “Overexposed” is a stronger track with its poetic lyrics, “Like a picture I was overexposed / Believe me I saw you with your eyes closed.” Yet, even this track maintains staying on the safe side with lyrics and music, the latter of which gradually becomes just noise as the ADHD-inspired sirens and techno whirring overstay their welcome very quickly.
Lightning is overall directionless, with some emotionally inspiring moments and in others repetition, imbalance between depth and flow and lyrics trapped in background noise. It satisfies as just another indie album, but that’s the extent Lightning reaches.
Best tracks: “Let’s Go,” “Overexposed”
