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.
Verbs Before Nouns
Matt & Kim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I tend to believe my eyes before this sound.
Pitch fork, switch blade, salt water and this hose.
I tend to believe my eyes before my nose.
Now stand up on the couch over my bed while I'm in sinking sand
and those arms sway left and right the masts of the ship to a water's beat
And I swear in a while I will get this down.
We'll patch the holes and set sail on this town.
And now stand up on the couch over my bed while I'm in sinking sand
and those arms sway left and right the masts of a ship to a water's beat.
Now stand up on the couch over my bed while i'm in sinking sand
and those arms sway left and right the masts of a ship to a water's beat.
This ship it feels like home.
The lyrics of "Verbs Before Nouns" by Matt & Kim seem to convey a sense of determination and belief in one's own abilities. The opening lines, "And I swear in a while I will get this down, I tend to believe my eyes before this sound," suggest a commitment to mastering a certain skill or overcoming a challenge. The singer acknowledges the importance of relying on their own perception and instincts rather than relying solely on what they hear.
The mention of various objects, such as a pitchfork, switchblade, saltwater, and a hose, may symbolize different elements or aspects of life. These objects could represent obstacles, tools, or experiences that the singer encounters while trying to achieve their goal. The repeated line, "I tend to believe my eyes before my nose," further emphasizes the importance of personal observation and trusting one's own judgment.
The second half of the song introduces the image of standing on a couch over a bed, and arms swaying like the masts of a ship to the beat of the water. This imagery creates a sense of being in an unstable or challenging situation, perhaps feeling trapped or sinking. However, despite these hardships, the singer remains resolute and determined.
In the closing line, "This ship it feels like home," there is a sense of finding solace or comfort within the struggle. It suggests that despite the difficulties faced, the journey itself becomes a familiar and reassuring place for the singer.
Overall, "Verbs Before Nouns" portrays a message of perseverance, trusting one's own instincts, and finding a sense of home within the challenges and struggles of life.
Line by Line Meaning
And I swear in a while I will get this down.
I promise that eventually I will master this skill.
I tend to believe my eyes before this sound.
I usually trust what I see rather than what I hear.
Pitch fork, switch blade, salt water and this hose.
Various objects and elements that are associated with certain actions or situations.
I tend to believe my eyes before my nose.
I generally trust my vision more than my sense of smell.
Now stand up on the couch over my bed while I'm in sinking sand
Take a risk and elevate yourself above a precarious situation.
And those arms sway left and right the masts of the ship to a water's beat
The rhythmic movement of the arms resembling the swaying of a ship's masts to the rhythm of the water.
The waves and this beat.
Referring to the sound and rhythm created by the waves and the accompanying music.
We'll patch the holes and set sail on this town.
We will fix the problems and embark on a new adventure or opportunity in this city.
This ship it feels like home.
This ship represents a place or situation where one feels comfortable, secure, and at ease.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MrAnimalMind
This is one of the best Matt and Kim song. I never get tired of listening to it.
k Maz
MrAnimalMind I don't care about this weird game mike mapes this thing kade does not care about this this game you play you no.like mike because I die but don't want to send me back to the film industry I never want to be apart of your time save my own ads..
M. Elizabeth
Over a decade later and this is still a banger. I miss this era.
Louis Joyston
Lol, this is the first song I heard them play. It was right after Katrina in NOLA in this house with a stripped out first floor due to water damage, plastic tarps for walls, electricity was still out, so the jenny powered christmas lights and sound equipment, it was pouring, and freezing, and I remember Kim, soaked from head to toe, dancin and a twirlin, and I remember thinkin, damn that looks like fun
Norman Oh
The venue was called the Coach's Haus on Solomon St. May 2007, I remember it well. King Tuff had opened for Matt and Kim. MK showed up in their beat-up van and everyone was smoking weed on the tiny front lawn. Me and my friend asked them for a picture and fumbled with my shitty digital camera. It was low on batteries and Kim told me to roll the batteries in my palm for a minute and that would give it enough juice to take one picture, it worked!!
The water damaged floorboards creaked and a misstep could've easily ended up in a sprained ankle yet everyone was dancing like there was no tomorrow. There were people crowd-surfing in a crowd of maybe 20 people packed around Matt and Kim in this gutted skeleton of a house. I was wet from the rain and from the giant-ass bottle of champagne Kim popped and sprayed everywhere. Good fucking times, still have the original To/From Album I bought there too.
To date one of the most energetic and wild concerts I've been too, and that's amazing considering how small the audience was.
Quinn Connelly
I have this entire playlist on repeat. Matt and Kim, keep doing what you're doing.
Terry1590
Why isn't this on Spotify, its such a good song
ImEddieful
I could have this song on replay all day long!
Anna_Stesia
Did they record this around the time of their first album? They should've included it. Love it!
EonarOWNS
I remember playing this song from my iTouch in high school... 2010... with the skullcandy earbuds that didn't even last 2 weeks lol. Fasr forward now, I'm living in a mansion. What a long, strange trip it's been. Grand era Matt & Kim will forever remind me of my youthful days.