Whether it’s dealing with the current political climate or wrestling with their own mortality, Matt and Kim have found a sense of urgency and focus on their latest album, Almost Everyday.
The Brooklyn duo started their career with a bang and lost some of their lustre with their later releases. Coasting may be too harsh a critique, but Matt and Kim didn’t expand much on their sound. It’s great to hear them pack a punch in the album’s 28 minutes that has some new sounds, and more important, some new friends.
About those friends: you’ll find Mark Hoppus of Blink-182, Travis Hawley of Night Riots, Kevin Ray of Walk the Moon, plus Kevin Morby, Santigold, and King Tuff. And that’s not even the full list. Their presence isn’t distracting in any sense; each artist adds a distinct flavour that serves to augment Matt and Kim’s sound, rather than dominate. The flourishes are throughout and add to the fun.
Lyrics revolve around death and unrest, and the duo decided to throw a huge party to deal with such weighty matters. Again, the urgency that pervades each song gives them a lasting impression. They’re loud, they’re fast, and they don’t overstay their welcome. It’s a perfect balance. With 10 tracks clocking in at under a half hour, it’s difficult to highlight any single because the album sounds like one song in 10 different movements.
It was a pleasant surprise to listen to this album, to hear Matt and Kim rediscover their spark. Not to dismiss the past few releases, but this one stands out. The roster of guests is impressive, the songs are catchy, and the LP ends a bit too quickly. Better that than linger without purpose or direction.
Matthew Heiner
Other reviews you might enjoy:
- Indigo (Wild Nothing) – music review
- Problems (The Get Up Kids) – music review
- Sweep It Into Space (Dinosaur Jr) – music review
The Fire Note started to create a simple place that could showcase records that we liked. Nothing more, nothing less. The focus has always been about the album and the experience that a great record creates. The Fire Note Webzine builds on this idea by offering an array of content that is all about the enjoyment of music, its pulse and energizing attitude.
