MGMT - Congratulations

Title: Congratulations
Artist: MGMT
Genre: Pop / Rock
Release Date: 9th April 2010
Label: Columbia Records



Album Review

MGMT began their career as THE MANAGEMENT in 2002. The band is composed of Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden who met while studying experimental music in Connecticut. The debut 'Oracular Spectacular' also became a spectacular success and spawned hit singles such as 'Kids' or 'Electric Feel'. Now the second album release 'Congratulations' is drawing close and it's definitely different. Read how different in the following lines.

If there was something like an award for quirkiness in the music industry, I'm sure Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden would get one for their newest disc 'Congratulations'. Once the album starts rolling with 'It's Working' and its little reverb-drenched, and vividly played, drum section teetering away under subdued falsetto it's becoming more than obvious the two have turned their back on superficial catchiness in their music and emphasize the experimental parts of their personalities instead. 'Song For Dan Treacy', apart from having those Halloween organ sounds that make it an appropriate tune for any party you might want to throw to such an occasion, it's got heavy psychedelic flashes and 60s ambience. On drifting 'Someone's Missing', the mentioned falsetto shows to full advantage while warm splutters of melody push you into other spheres and before you know it the trip's already over and you're back on earth again.

Genius and madman shake hands on the magnificent 'Flash Delirium' which begins with the calm of minimalist electronics and subdued chant, then delves into wistful washes to develop odd dynamics in the aftermath. The madman all the time hides in the background until he's called out for the manic crescendo the song ends with. 'I Found A Whistle'. Well, I'm not quite sure as of yet what to make of it. On one hand it's strikingly beautiful in its composure and choice of orchestration; and on the other hand there are lines like "I found a whistle that works every time." 'Siberian Breaks' actually is composed of 3 single songs, or should I say movements, seamlessly attached to each other and thus at times creating abrupt shifts in both mood and rhythm. Mostly it's keeping a melancholic mystic aura though. Especially I dig the section with the strings behind the ethereal, spine-tingling flute. 'Lady Dada's Nightmare', while not being peculiar in itself, still leaves me disturbed with the heart-piercing screams surfacing into the epic build. Still trying to figure what the hell that's supposed to mean, or if it's just disturbing for the sake of disturbing.

The album is definitely not easy listening. It takes time and you'll have to let the songs grow on you. Thus, it won't become such a success as the debut 'Oracular Spectacular'. Music with such inherent ether-worldliness simply attracts a different audience. But I also don't think the guys had commercial success in mind when going about working on that record anyway. They just let their creativity run wild and that's what came out: A freaky album with edges and pop appeal that ambitious listeners should be sure to check out.


Tracklist

01. It's Working - 4:11
02. Song For Dan Treacy - 4:14
03. Someone's Missing - 2:34
04. Flash Delirium - 4:20
05. I Found A Whistle - 3:45
06. Siberian Breaks - 12:14
07. Brian Eno - 4:36
08. Lady Dada's Nightmare - 4:36
09. Congratulations - 4:01


Line-Up

Andrew VanWyngarden - Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Drums
Ben Goldwasser - Vocals, Keyboards, Synthesizers, Drums


Website

http://whoismgmt.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/mgmt


Cover Picture




Rating

Music: 9
Sound: 9
Extras: -
Total: 9 / 10


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