Matt and Kim: Grand

Brooklyn duo/couple Matt and Kim's latest, Grand, sounds a bit gimmicky upon first listen; it seems composed entirely of hand-clapping, electro-twisted, riffy dance/punk tracks that emphasize the dance elements more than the punk ones. Partly because of their immediate accessibility, one may even fear that an early infatuation with the group's gleeful style won't last. But Grand remains as satisfying on the tenth spin as the first, featuring not just stompers like opener "Daylight" and "Good Ol' Fashion Nightmare," but slower, less giddy tunes like "Turn This Boat Around" and "I'll Take Us Home." It becomes clear that there's more to these songs than initially meets the eye – and eventually one gets around to appreciating the complex song structures and considered, often optimistic lyrics. Who knows if indie-music fans will grow old with Matt and Kim, but as long as they keep releasing albums as layered as Grand, they're worthy of our affections. 4 stars.