Easily one of the most anticipated albums of the year, MGMT’s sophomore effort “Congratulations” has finally arrived, providing a rush of psychedelic wonders in a concise yet ambitious nine track package.
Originally slated for an April 13th release, the album was leaked onto the internet in mid-March, prompting Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser to go ahead and make the album in its entirety available for free streaming on their website, explaining that the album leaked and could be found elsewhere online, “we wanted you to be able to hear it from us.” And ever the anti-industry, anti-rock star demigods, they cheekily added, “We wanted to offer it as a free download but that didn’t make sense to anyone but us.”
Before continuing, one thing must be understood: this is NOT “Oracular Spectacular,” or the “Time to Pretend” EP. Even the band has acknowledged that never again will they crafts songs like “Kids” or “Time to Pretend.” Instead, the album is reminiscent of the darker, later tracks of “Oracular,” more ambitious and melodic than the original, poppier, lighter tracks. In a recent interview VanWyngarden explained that “It’s certainly not easy listening… I think that for us, it’s not a big deal to make a record that you have to listen to four or five times before you ‘get it’.” In other words, gone are the easily hummable or danceable tunes of yesterday.
That being said, while certainly most will miss the already “classic” MGMT songs, “Congratulations” marks a major step in the career of the band. With each release, Andrew and Ben have steadily approached their music with a more serious attitude, and their new album is no exception, featuring more and more intricate layers on each song. What is most striking, however, is that such an approach never comes across as forced — unlike many musicians today, MGMT is clearly above the presumptuous attitude of creating intentionally difficult music that only certain listeners will get. Spin Magazine recently put it best, writing that in their essence, “MGMT are really just earnest, unjaded fanboys.”
To put it simply, “Congratulations” is as great an album as you’ll find today. From start to finish, the listener is kept on his toes, completely uncertain of what’s to come next. The first track “It’s Working” kicks off the album in a frenzied way, blending psychedelic, surf rock and breezy vocals with harpsichords, pulsing drums and driving drums. The album hits a highpoint, however, beginning with the fourth track, “Flash Delirium,” a frenetic tune that continues to build upon itself, adding horn sections, flutes, undulating synthesizers and more until finally the track explodes into what can only be caused brilliantly organized chaos.
The next song, also one of the album’s best, completely jumps track, slowing things down, providing a much-needed breather. Tapping into the vein of songs like “The Youth,” and “Pieces of What,” “I Found a Whistle” is easily one of the most beautiful tracks on “Congratulations,” driven by a simple acoustic guitar riff and smooth keyboards layered over lyrics that present a much more vulnerable VanWyndgarden.
From this point on, MGMT keeps the listener guessing as to what comes next — from the brooding instrumental “Lady Dada’ Nightmare” to the titular “Congratulations” which sounds like David Bowie crossed with Bob Dylan, there is never a set mold when it comes to the music.
For lack of better words, “Congratulations” is a thrill ride from start to stop. Sure, it’s no “Time to Pretend” or “Oracular Spectacular,” but it never tried to be, succeeded entirely on its own merits. MGMT sums it up eloquently in the final few lines of the album: “So I can’t tell what’s really there / And all I need’s a great big congratulations.”