Album Review: MGMT Congratulations
6.5
I think MGMT has a case of Flash Delirium.
I understand that one shouldn’t expect a band to top [label] debut albums like Oracular Spectacular, and that sometimes the best way to approach a follow-up after a record like that is to drastically change your formula. But on Congratulations, MGMT stray so far from the sounds we know that they force us to learn about them all over again. This time around, it’s a bit more complicated.
The stylistic shift on Congratulations is anything but subtle. Best not to look for keyboard hooks and sing-a-long choruses a la “Kids” or “Time to Pretend.” In fact, you won’t even find a single on this record. They’re not releasing any. Instead, MGMT trade in their polished, indie-pop for vintage psych-rock, recalling early Bowie or the weirdest parts of the Rocky Horror soundtrack. Truth be told, it’s kind of brilliant in spots. In others, it sounds like they did a lot of acid and hit the ‘record’ button. Have you heard the flute solo?
For all intents and purposes, Congratulations is a grower. There are a lot of great melodies here (“It’s Working,” “Someone’s Missing,” “Congratulations”), but they are buried among the Sonic neon wave of instrumental experimentation, unexpected song structures, and distant, echoed vocals. Still, they are there, standing out more and more among the chaotic psychedelia with each listen. The clearer they become, the better the album gets. MGMT encouraged radio stations to play “whatever song jumps out at them.” The only problem there is that nothing really jumps out at you. Not instantly, anyway.
Congratulations plays like a record from a band that doesn’t care what’s expected of them, and maybe that’s more commendable than I’ve been willing to acknowledge. Unfortunately, it also plays like a record from a band that doesn’t care about delivering a good album. They even admitted to “Flash Delirium” starting out as a joke. Only no one LOL’d. The album cover alone feels like a slap in the face (just me?). It’s all a bit confusing, and makes Congratulations almost impossible to evaluate.
Is this a serious attempt at a follow-up to one of the best pop albums of the last decade, or are we just supposed to get stoned and ride the wave? Either way, this is an extremely involved record that requires repeated, attentive listens, and that alone will make or break Congratulations for most. I’m still sorting through the symptoms.
Posted: March 26th, 2010 under Reviews.
Tags: Congratulations, Flash Delirium, It's Working, MGMT
Comment from indiequick
Time March 26, 2010 at 11:30 am
I couldn’t agree more. If MGMT doesn’t want to be a pop band, they are going about it the right way, completely. Oracular Spectacular follow up or not, or even if these guys weren’t named MGMT – this is one of the most pathetic albums I’ve heard in a LONG time.
I hope this is their attempt to raise their middle finger at SONY and get out of their contract. I mean, they tried releasing the album for free after it leaked (wait, what album DOESN’T leak? that’s part of the strategy for releasing new albums).
If it isn’t a ‘F off’ to SONY, then MGMT has taken a double barrel sawed-off shotgun and pulled the trigger on their careers with “Congratulations.” So, Congratulations MGMT – you just loss 80% of your fan base. The other 20% are hipsters that are to broke to support your musical endeavors. It was fun while it lasted.