Congratulations By MGMT

If you’re going through a phase of your life where you want your music to be one long compilation of weird sound effects - some worth tapping your foot to, some worth skipping right over and some worth crinkling up your face in confusion at - then MGMT is the band for you. In 2008, the Brooklyn duo released their debut, Oracular Spectacular and it was received with open arms - they made it to movie soundtracks, festivals and acquired troupes of adoring fans. Since then, it’s been said that Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden think they’ve gone too mainstream and they’re trying to alienate fans with their new album, Congratulations (It’s a similar situation to that of Kings Of Leon - although they chose selling out over maintaining independence).

So yes, “alienation” is the best word to sum up Congratulations. It’s weird, but it’s good. It’s a nine-track dose of craziness that holds a nightmare number (literally “Lady Dada’s Nightmare”) that you might think comes from a bad movie soundtrack from your childhood, a twelve-minute album-in-one-song (“Siberian Breaks”) and some radio-worthy tunes that are actually quite fun (“It’s Working” and “Brian Eno”).

The record seems to have a darker feel than their debut album did. Gone are the sweeping sounds of the hit single “Time To Pretend,” and the happy disco beat of “Electric Feel.” They’ve been replaced by the soft vocals of “Someone’s Missing,” and the melancholic sound of “It’s Working.” But the pastiche of vintage styles and unique sounds is still there, luckily, like the ‘60s soundtrack sound on “Song For Dan Treacy,” and the manic countdown at the end of “Flash Delirium.”

Congratulations runs the risk of getting a very lukewarm reception when it comes out on April 13th - it seems to be only for fervent fans of the band, or for very open-minded listeners. It’s a bit hard to stomach if all you’re looking for is a pretty melody to please your ear.

Comments

There are no comments.

To comment on this article login or register.

More Reviews

Muse Takes 'The 2nd Law' Of Entropy Too Literally

10/09/2012
'Cruel Summer' Is A Hip-Hop Revelation

09/20/2012
The Sparrow by Lawrence Arabia

08/09/2012
Oceania by The Smashing Pumpkins

06/25/2012
What We Saw From the Cheap Seats by Regina Spektor

06/14/2012
Born and Raised by John Mayer

06/10/2012

CelebSelect

Danielle Panabaker's Top Pop Picks
- Favorite Band: The Avett Brothers
  
  "I'm really into the Avett Brothers as of late."
- Favorite Book: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
  
  "My girlfriends are I - we are very nerdy. We started a book club and the first book we read was Gone Girl."
- Favorite New Movie: Silver Linings Playbook
  
  "I thought it was a great film and I thought Jennifer Lawrence was incredible, you know those angry tears, I've certainly experienced that."
Paul Van Dyk: Current Favorites
- School of the Seven Bells
  
  The New York-based band unites Benjamin Curtis of "Secret Machines" and Alejandra Deheza. Formed in 2007, the duo is named after a mythical South American pickpocket training academy of the same name.
- Linkin Park
  
  The Californian rock veterans have come a long way since 'Hybrid Theory.' Back now with their fifth studio album in over a decade, 'Living Things' is one of Paul Van Dyck's favorite albums this year.
- Jupiter Jones
  
  The German punk rock band formed in 2002, but has already released several LPs, including an eponymously-named album in 2011.
- Depeche Mode
  
  The legendary Essex electronic band from the 80s remains a classic for Van Dyk. It was also recently among 'Q' magazine's "50 Bands That Changed The World!".
Cody Simpson
- Favorite Movie
  I'm still really into the Ocean's series. I got into them recently. I was always too young to watch them.
- Favorite Book
  This book called Contest by Matthew Reilly, he's an Australian author.
- Favorite Album
  Drake's Take Care — big fan of that
- Favorite TV Show
  The Mentalist
Styx's Lawrence Gowan
- Bossypants by Tina Fey
  
  "That’s got me laughing hysterically on airplanes."
- Making Mirrors by Goyte
  
  "I thought that was a tremendous record."
- The Artist
  
  "It really impressed me."
- Keane
  
  "They’re really strong."
90210's Michael Steger: My Favorite Stuff
- Favorite TV Show: Rome
  
  HBO's series starring Cirian Hinds
- Favorite Album: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
  
  "Either that or The Gypsy Kings."
- Favorite Book: The Fountainhead
  
  "Probably my favorite book of all time."
- Favorite New Movie: Attack The Block
  
  “It reminded me of The Goonies.”