My first exposure to MGMT was three years ago when they opened for Of Montreal at a show in St. Louis. Oracular Spectacular had been released about a month earlier, but there were still only murmurings about this band that was bringing a 60s, psychedelic feel back to music. Having seen Of Montreal before, I knew how brilliant of a live show they put on, and knew that whoever opened for them would have to be pretty outstanding to compare.
When MGMT took the stage, I was absolutely blown away. They brought a fresh sound and stellar stage presence, and genuinely seemed like they were having fun while they performed. I was hooked instantly. Needless to say, I was more than a little excited when I heard MGMT was working on a new album.
Well, the new record, Congratulations, was released in April and honestly, it’s a little disappointing.
What shot MGMT to fame with Oracular Spectacular was the style of their music. While reminiscent of music from the 60s, it still felt completely new; it was catchy, it was fun, it was different from most other stuff out there. With Congratulations, something got lost.
The sophomore effort from any band is always the most challenging, especially when the band started out with a strong debut. On Congratulations, it’s fairly evident that MGMT was well aware that they had to make a good follow-up to Oracular Spectacular—maybe too aware of the fact.
Congratulations has a more mature vibe to it than Oracular Spectacular, and one can understand how a band that gained its popularity thanks to catchy, danceable songs would want to make an album that portrays them as more serious musicians. However, in their attempt to do that, Congratulations has an overall feel that the guys of MGMT were taking themselves too seriously while they were making the album.
There are a few standout songs, such as “Flash Delirium” and “Song for Dan Treacy,” but as whole. Congratulations falls short of the expectation listeners would have from Oracular Spectacular. There’s no doubt that MGMT consists of talented musicians, but Congratulations just feels like they were trying too hard to make sure their listeners realize what they already knew.
Congratulations isn’t a terrible album, but it’s not great either. Sit down, have a listen, appreciate the fact that MGMT is trying to move forward as artists—but don’t expect to have your socks knocked off.
Hot Tracks: Flash Delirium, Song for Dan Treacy, Brian Eno
June 1, 2010
