Matt and Kim released their first album, Matt & Kim, on October 26, 2006. The album sold modestly, primarily at live shows. Many indie fans praised their music, and the two gained popularity through their many outgoing tours. Following the release of their first album, Matt and Kim began playing high profile music festivals, such as The Siren Music Festival and Lollapalooza. The duo signed with Fader Label and their second album, Grand, recorded in Matt's childhood bedroom at his parents' home in Vermont, was released on January 20, 2009. A video for one of the album's highlights, "Lessons Learned", in which the duo strips nude in Times Square, was shot during a very cold winter day in February 2009.
On November 2, 2010, the duo released their third album, Sidewalks. Co-produced by Ben Allen, Oliver Strauss and Matt, the album as a whole adopted a more refined, yet dense hip-hop influence in comparison to the previous two, while still maintaining the upbeat and party-esque style they are known for. Matt and Kim headlined two U.S. tours in support, in Fall 2010 and again during May/June 2011. They also played numerous festivals including Australia's Big Day Out, Japan's Fuji and V in the UK. In addition, they played at many American colleges, worked extensively through Europe and South America and, in Fall 2011, they supported Blink-182 and My Chemical Romance on select dates. Although not officially released as a single, the song "Good for Great" received significant airplay in some markets, and was ranked #65 on Boston station WFNX's Top 101 of 2011 list.
On June 22, 2012, Matt and Kim issued a brand new track, "Let's Go" as a digital single, meanwhile, the band put finishing touches on their fourth full length album, Lightning, released on October 2, 2012. The single, "Let's Go", peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. On June 25, 2012, the duo uploaded a video to their YouTube channel featuring ball handler Pat the Roc performing basketball tricks as "Let's Go" plays in full. Then on September 4, 2012, the duo released a lyric video for another new song on the album, "Now". On October 1, 2012, "Overexposed", "Not That Bad", "Much Too Late", "Ten Dollars I Found", "Tonight", "It's Alright", "I Said" and "I Wonder" were released on YouTube as official first listens. Matt and Kim premiered their official music video for "Let's Go" via the Funny or Die website in November.
The full-length album got a digital/CD/vinyl release on October 2, 2012 and the band began their official US Fall Lightning Tour the next day in Burlington, Vermont. On February 5, 2013, Matt and Kim kicked off their US tour with Passion Pit. While on tour, the official music video for "It's Alright" was released on February 25, 2013, featuring Matt and Kim in a choreographed dance routine in bed. In March 2013 Matt and Kim wrapped their US tour and performed at Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Florida before heading to Australia for a three-week tour at the end of April.
In May, Matt and Kim announced their touring schedule for summer 2013, starting with a show at the Great GoogaMooga in Brooklyn, NY on May 18, 2013. In June, Matt and Kim performed at Free Press Summer Fest, Sandy Parts Festival, Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Firefly Music Festival, Summerfest and Party in the Park. In July, they played at the Keloha Music & Arts Fest and the Forecastle Festival. In August, they played at Lollapalooza in Chicago. In October, they played at Corona Capital, in Mexico City.
On January 13, 2015, Matt and Kim released the single "Get It" in promotion of their fifth album. Along with this, they also released Spring tour dates, an album pre-order, and a lyric video to accompany the single. "Get It" received mixed reviews from fans as it ventures away from their past DIY sound. On February 10, 2015 Matt and Kim released the promotional video for the single "Hey Now" through their official VEVO Youtube account. On February 24, 2015, the band released "Hoodie On" through their official VEVO account. On April 7, 2015, Matt and Kim released the full album and held an in store performance at Amoeba Music's Hollywood store to celebrate.
Overexposed
Matt & Kim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
12-hour all-night drive
Pins and needles they break
Actions make more of a mess
Than words can make
Like a picture
I was overexposed
I saw it with my eyes closed
Oh
A waxed ledge
Darkened from dirt and grinds
Break all your bones
Before they’re grown
You’ll never pay off
All of your loans
Like a picture
I was overexposed
Believe me
I saw it with my eyes closed
Oh
Let’s wake the world
And sing them back to sleep
But people don’t listen
So we’ll scream and shout
As if these words are cheap
Like a picture
I was overexposed
Believe me
I still see it with my eyes closed
Oh
The lyrics in Matt & Kim's song Overexposed showcases the vulnerability of one's feelings when they become too exposed. The lyrics paint a picture of someone in the middle seat of a long twelve-hour drive, feeling uncomfortable and on edge. The mention of pins and needles breaking adds to the feeling of discomfort and unease. The line "actions make more of a mess than words can make" suggests that sometimes people's actions can convey more than their words, and this can result in discomfort and confusion.
The second verse deepens the vulnerability shown in the first verse. The lyrics refer to a "waxed ledge" that is dirty and dark. This could be a metaphor for life being a slippery slope to navigate, and that one misstep could result in breaking all one's metaphorical bones. The chorus repeats the idea of being overexposed, and seeing something with their eyes closed. This suggests that the experience is so intense that it stays with them even when the literal sight is gone.
Overall, Overexposed is a song about vulnerability and the discomfort that can arise when one's emotions become too exposed. The lyrics highlight the rawness of life and the difficulties that come with navigating it.
Line by Line Meaning
Middle seat
Being in a tight, uncomfortable space, possibly during a long journey
12-hour all-night drive
A long, tiring drive that spans overnight
Pins and needles they break
Sudden feelings of intense discomfort that can be physically damaging
Actions make more of a mess
Physical actions can have more severe consequences than mere words
Than words can make
Words, while powerful, can't always compare to physical actions in terms of impact
Like a picture
Comparable to being captured and viewed with complete vulnerability
I was overexposed
Feeling of being exposed or vulnerable beyond a comfortable level
Believe me
An assurance that the artist's feelings are truthful
I saw it with my eyes closed
Unable to forget or escape the exposure, even in thoughtless moments
Oh
An expression of frustration or sadness
A waxed ledge
A surface that's been polished and maintained but still has signs of damage or use
Darkened from dirt and grinds
Evidence of wear and tear on that previously polished surface
Break all your bones
Having an accident that is so severe it could leave permanent damage
Before they’re grown
Hoping to experience adventures while young and still physically resilient
You’ll never pay off
Debt that is too high or too permanent to ever fully repay
All of your loans
The accumulation of many debts or obligations
Let’s wake the world
A desire to incite global change or action
And sing them back to sleep
Enticing sleep, in turn lulling people into complacency or ignorance
But people don’t listen
A realization that many are too entrenched in their beliefs to change or even listen
So we’ll scream and shout
Using loud, abrasive tactics to shock people out of their comfort zones
As if these words are cheap
Because people don't listen to softer tactics, more aggressive tactics are necessary
I still see it with my eyes closed
The exposure remains and the feeling of vulnerability doesn't dissipate even if one closes their eyes
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group
Written by: KIMBERLY SCHIFINO, MATTHEW JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LimeDGK
Matt & Kim: This is how you dance to OUR music.
@hippielynn8062
I literally dance like this...to every Matt and Kim song. They make me sing and dance like nothing else does! :)
@EvilEyeGypsy
There are too many musicians out there who don't know how to have fun. Thankfully, Matt & Kim are all about fun.
@kmaz8329
Evil Eye Gypsy no teddy.males.no friendship.all.kill.on little nemo.on HBO..
@Techyyy
You should try Tom Rosenthal :D He makes sure he and everyone else has fun
@micahkairo2534
not sure if anyone cares but if you're stoned like me atm you can stream all of the latest movies and series on InstaFlixxer. Been binge watching with my gf for the last couple of days xD
@Bibimykitty
I love how much fun they have in their video clips, it's an honest feeling not some director saying "Now you laugh, Kim." Nah, they are the owenrs of their art and they have as much fun as they like because they're just that AWESOME.
@veras1228
Matt and Kim make my soul happy
@PoetryIsmyDrug
I'm proud to say Matt and Kim is my favorite band. :)
@kennybacon2423
The confidence this couple has with each other is beautiful. Model relationship here.