4.0/5.0

When Matt Johnson and Kim Schifino met in 2002, they hit it off and began dating. Two years later, the skinny art-school couple from New York decided to start making beautiful music together — literally. Forget that they didn’t know how to play their instruments at the time, or that they don’t really know why they decided to do it. It was a fantastic choice, and Matt & Kim’s sophomore effort, Grand, is the proof.

The album, recorded in Johnson’s parents’ home in an isolated stretch of Vermont countryside, is testament to the duo’s dedication. The fact that the whole album was recorded by the duo over a nine-month span — from laying the tracks to mixing and producing — speaks to their dedication and the absolute realization of their vision.

Lyrically, Matt & Kim’s songwriting process is as insane as it is brilliant: Kim writes random lines of text, and Matt sifts through them until he can assemble something meaningful. The compilations always feel perfect, despite often bordering on the nonsensical.

But that’s not to say they’re not trying to say anything; The metaphor-rich Grand contains more than a couple gems, like, “Pull out all the stops/We’re coming home tonight/A pair of old boxing gloves in a new fight/Where every single scar/Well it means something to me.”

Between Johnson’s poppy treble notes and metered bass notes and Schifino’s catchy drums, Grand’s first track, “Daylight,” is also its catchiest. Throughout the album, Johnson handles keys and vocals, alternately substituting a heavy left hand for an active right hand, while Schifino drums and chips in with background vocals and harmonies.

While Johnson creates some addicting candy-coated indie melodies, it’s just as easy to be struck by Schifino’s drum work. The rhythms are often simple but always expertly placed, and the organic clap-and-snap recordings underscored with hi-hat clang sound far more expert than amateur.

Grand’s third track, “Good Ol’ Fashioned Nightmare,” is another genius work of pop music, with keyboard melodies that flow over a thumping bass drum. “I Wanna” appears just two songs later, a hard and fast powerpop tune contrasting with some of the less aggressive tracks on the album.

And though Grand clocks in at less than 30 minutes, its short length doesn’t reflect a lack of substance; rather, the album’s 11 tracks just get played twice as often.

To hear those 11, plus a whole slew of others from Matt & Kim’s 2006 debut album, drop by Chop Suey Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. for one of the best shows $10 can buy.

Reach reporter Nick Feldman at arts@dailyuw.com.