Brooklyn two-piece ready for the floor, but not much else
Despite
lyrics that ache to suggest otherwise, Brooklyn-based noisemakers Matt
Johnson and Kim Schifino haven’t done much growing up since their
buzzworthy 2006 debut. The trademark drums, synths and
handclaps, coupled with youthful exuberance and angst, resurface here.
Luckily, the duo hasn’t forgotten why people flocked to them in the
first place: for impeccably crafted indie dance tunes buoyed by
disarmingly catchy, bustling beats. Grand’s euphonious opening tracks
don’t disappoint, particularly the jubilant single “Daylight,” which is
so good it warrants a closing remixed version. But Matt and Kim have
supplemented their charming recklessness and spontaneity with heavier
production values, often disrupting any feeling of cohesiveness. The
album’s latter half oscillates between forgettable (“Turn This Boat
Around”) and exasperating (“Don’t Slow Down”). Even so, the fleeting
euphoria generated from the outset makes the talented twosome difficult
to ignore. “The checkered flag means we’ve just begun,” Johnson
proclaims on “Cutdown.” Let’s hope so.
Listen to Matt and Kim's "Daylight" off Grand on MySpace.