MGMT

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V8mate

Original Poster:

45,899 posts

195 months

Monday 12th April 2010
quotequote all
New album out today.

Oracular Spectacular was such an awesome album, listened to it almost constantly through 2008; today's release of Congratulations has much to live up to.

Will have a listen this evening and report back tomorrow smile

North West Tom

11,560 posts

183 months

Monday 12th April 2010
quotequote all
New album is utter crud. Not a patch on their first.

Still think Empire of the Sun are better, though.

Baby Huey

4,881 posts

205 months

Monday 12th April 2010
quotequote all
The new album will be interesting. It's been co-produced by Sonic Boom, former Spaceman 3 and Spectrum main man, it's not going to be a hit fest, but I personally love a lot of Sonic's work.

It also has contributions from the former Royal Trux singer, Jennifer Herrema.

So MGMT have made an album with the help of 2 of my favourite people in music. I, for one should love it.

Edited by Baby Huey on Monday 12th April 18:24

Gun

13,432 posts

224 months

Monday 12th April 2010
quotequote all
Heard Zane Lowe slating it on the Radio 1 a week or so back which is a shame as the last one was great.

V8mate

Original Poster:

45,899 posts

195 months

Monday 12th April 2010
quotequote all
Gun said:
Heard Zane Lowe slating it on the Radio 1 a week or so back which is a shame as the last one was great.
Don't worry. In this thread you're allowed your own opinion wink

Baby Huey

4,881 posts

205 months

Monday 12th April 2010
quotequote all
Any news?

V8mate

Original Poster:

45,899 posts

195 months

Tuesday 13th April 2010
quotequote all
Well.

I've only listened to it once on the train this morning and, in fairness, I'd like to listen to it a couple more times.

But.

Whilst it's definitely a commercial offering, it doesn't have a clearly identifiable list of 'hits' like Oracular. There's less use of the really haunting melodies and vocals which I liked so much in the first album. It's going more in the direction of The Byrds and folky-rock rather than more 'proggy rock'; I think the latter suits the very modern use of electronica they mix with the retro sound. It IS the kind of album people will just chuck on to have in the background though, so in that way it'll probably have a longer shelf-life than Oracular, for which each track was rapidly associated with something or other - ads, TV, chart hit etc.

But a couple of tracks did jump straight out.

Initial thoughts:

1. It's Working - Could be a track from Oracular. Will appeal to fans who don't want MGMT to develop.
2. Song for Dan Treacy - Rubbish. Sounds like something by The Housemartins.
3. Someone's missing - OK - but a bit too poppy for me. MGMT does Brotherhood of Man
4. Flash Delerium - Could be any 90s indie band
5. I found a whistle - Tried way too hard with the pretentious lyrics on this one. Very Moody Blues; a pleasant enough ballad, but it'll never be Nights in White Satin hehe
6. Siberian Breaks - My favourite. Just over 12 minutes long. Prog rock for the Teenies (what's this decade called?) Folky intro, develops well and climaxes with a signature MGMT electronica set-piece. Very good.
7. Brian Eno - If Madness did a record called 'Brian Eno'; this would be it. A little unfair maybe, but this track is definitely more Muse than MGMT.
8. Lady Dada's Nightmare - My other favourite track. An instrumental. A dreamy exploration of sleep. Just over four minutes long; would have been better as an element of a much larger piece of work, IMO.
9. Congratulations - A bit Cliff Richard, to be frank.

Baby Huey

4,881 posts

205 months

Tuesday 13th April 2010
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Hmm, not great then.

Penny-lope

13,645 posts

199 months

Wednesday 14th April 2010
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They were on about it on Radio One a few weeks back, and seems rather disappointed with it.

Shame because the first album was ace. I'll probably still download it though.

useyourdellusion

5,648 posts

196 months

Wednesday 14th April 2010
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Not heard it yet but I believe it's creating some controversy in the music press.

That can only be a good thing I reckon (for sales at least).

I'm suitably intrigued anyway!

Edited by useyourdellusion on Wednesday 14th April 13:46