Album Name:
Congratulations
By:
MGMT
Expected Release Date:
April 13 2010
Label:
Sony Music
Genre:
Psychedelic Rock
Track Listing:
1. "It's Working"
2. "Song for Dan Treacy"
3. "Someone's Missing"
4. "Flash Delirium"
5. "I Found a Whistle"
6. "Siberian Breaks"
7. "Brian Eno"
8. "Lady Dada's Nightmare"
9. "Congratulations"
Congratulations
By:
MGMT
Expected Release Date:
April 13 2010
Label:
Sony Music
Genre:
Psychedelic Rock
Track Listing:
1. "It's Working"
2. "Song for Dan Treacy"
3. "Someone's Missing"
4. "Flash Delirium"
5. "I Found a Whistle"
6. "Siberian Breaks"
7. "Brian Eno"
8. "Lady Dada's Nightmare"
9. "Congratulations"
MGMT - 'Congratulations'
Album Review - April 1st 2010
Album Review By Kristi Genovese
When MGMT first hit the radar they soon became
summer favourites, with their catchy psychedelic-pop
hits, but it wasn’t long before they became cash cows
and there debut single 'Time To Pretend' could be heard
everywhere.
A handle of huge singles later their success propelled
into chaos, winning awards and featuring on
programmes like Skins and Gossip Girl.
But three years has passed now, and April 13th sees the
release of their sophomore album 'Congratulations' and
there’s not a single in sight. The band have took on a
completely different format and despite them quickly
becoming favourites of NME and Rolling Stone
magazine it seems they never really wanted any of that
after all. In fact they’ve made an album that could very
easily fail commercially and could potentially alienate
previous fans.
But on the other hand it’s a very clever way for MGMT to
be taken seriously as talented musicians and it could
put them in a completely different calibre.
The opening track 'It’s Working' sets the general feel of
what’s to come with its Flaming Lips meets The Beach
Boys feel-good sound and it’s obvious they’re not trying
to impress here.
'Song For Dan Treacey' is an ode to Television
Personalities singer with lyrics suggesting nothing else:
“In the middle of the park / when the underground is
dark / he's a poet he's a lark / he starts thinking about a
place that no one knows.” It’s probably the strongest on
the album with an electric organ and spacey sounds
complimenting each other well.
'Someone’s Missing' is quiet and heartfelt with Andrew
VanWyngarden delicately singing over the gentle guitar
and lyrically it probably refers to what they missed out
on when every journalist wanted a piece of them.
'Flash Delirium' was recently given away as a free
download on their website and has glimmers of David
Bowie and Prince paying homage to their love of the
glamorous 70s. The lyrics “You'll never be as good as
the Rolling Stones.” suggest exactly what they think of
the state of current music.
'I Found A Whistle' is when the album begins to lose its
charm and urgency with recycled ideas that really fail to
get you excited. The 12-minute epic 'Siberian Breaks'
follows and actually sounds like 4 or 5 songs merged
together. It goes off on different tangents, which doesn’
t really work, but the last couple of minutes are a sonic
liberation.
'Brian Eno' sounds is another homage to a musical hero
of theirs talking about being taught “the wisdom of
bleak stratagems, the prophet of a sapphire soul
presented through creative freedoms.” and basically
explaining they’re always a step behind him.
'Lady Dada Nightmare' is a sombre and poignant
instrumental that leads to the finishing track
'Congratulations', which lyrically sums up their recent
unplanned fame and satirically mocks how that’s all
some people need: “But I've got someone to make
reports that tell me how my money's spent, to book my
stays and draw my blinds so I can't see what's really
there, and all I need's a great big congratulations.”
It’s definitely an album that needs a few listens to grasp
the concept and the highlights remain hidden until this
is done. Basically everything you thought you knew
about MGMT needs to be forgotten about to appreciate
their new musical route. But the fact that being true to
themselves rather than planning how to win more
awards deserves a congratulations in itself.
Album Review - April 1st 2010
Album Review By Kristi Genovese
When MGMT first hit the radar they soon became
summer favourites, with their catchy psychedelic-pop
hits, but it wasn’t long before they became cash cows
and there debut single 'Time To Pretend' could be heard
everywhere.
A handle of huge singles later their success propelled
into chaos, winning awards and featuring on
programmes like Skins and Gossip Girl.
But three years has passed now, and April 13th sees the
release of their sophomore album 'Congratulations' and
there’s not a single in sight. The band have took on a
completely different format and despite them quickly
becoming favourites of NME and Rolling Stone
magazine it seems they never really wanted any of that
after all. In fact they’ve made an album that could very
easily fail commercially and could potentially alienate
previous fans.
But on the other hand it’s a very clever way for MGMT to
be taken seriously as talented musicians and it could
put them in a completely different calibre.
The opening track 'It’s Working' sets the general feel of
what’s to come with its Flaming Lips meets The Beach
Boys feel-good sound and it’s obvious they’re not trying
to impress here.
'Song For Dan Treacey' is an ode to Television
Personalities singer with lyrics suggesting nothing else:
“In the middle of the park / when the underground is
dark / he's a poet he's a lark / he starts thinking about a
place that no one knows.” It’s probably the strongest on
the album with an electric organ and spacey sounds
complimenting each other well.
'Someone’s Missing' is quiet and heartfelt with Andrew
VanWyngarden delicately singing over the gentle guitar
and lyrically it probably refers to what they missed out
on when every journalist wanted a piece of them.
'Flash Delirium' was recently given away as a free
download on their website and has glimmers of David
Bowie and Prince paying homage to their love of the
glamorous 70s. The lyrics “You'll never be as good as
the Rolling Stones.” suggest exactly what they think of
the state of current music.
'I Found A Whistle' is when the album begins to lose its
charm and urgency with recycled ideas that really fail to
get you excited. The 12-minute epic 'Siberian Breaks'
follows and actually sounds like 4 or 5 songs merged
together. It goes off on different tangents, which doesn’
t really work, but the last couple of minutes are a sonic
liberation.
'Brian Eno' sounds is another homage to a musical hero
of theirs talking about being taught “the wisdom of
bleak stratagems, the prophet of a sapphire soul
presented through creative freedoms.” and basically
explaining they’re always a step behind him.
'Lady Dada Nightmare' is a sombre and poignant
instrumental that leads to the finishing track
'Congratulations', which lyrically sums up their recent
unplanned fame and satirically mocks how that’s all
some people need: “But I've got someone to make
reports that tell me how my money's spent, to book my
stays and draw my blinds so I can't see what's really
there, and all I need's a great big congratulations.”
It’s definitely an album that needs a few listens to grasp
the concept and the highlights remain hidden until this
is done. Basically everything you thought you knew
about MGMT needs to be forgotten about to appreciate
their new musical route. But the fact that being true to
themselves rather than planning how to win more
awards deserves a congratulations in itself.
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The Dillinger Escape Plan have been confirmed to play
the Metal Hammer Stage at Download this year.
the Metal Hammer Stage at Download this year.
