MGMT – Congratulations

So, the release date for MGMT’s highly anticipated sophomore album, Congratulations is finally here. Not that release dates mean anything these days, considering the album was leaked online weeks ago. Even those patient enough to wait for their pre-ordered copies have most likely heard the adamant opinions of online critics, friends, or both. Congratulations is a step away from their debut, Oracular Spectacular, and the response has been very mixed.
For those expecting a dance album with obvious sing-a-long hits, this album will probably be a disappointment. There is no ‘€˜Kids’ equivalent on Congratulations. However, MGMT’s general vibe has not changed, and open-minded fans might appreciate this new direction. It could be said that this album is more ‘€˜experimental’, but I think it’s just as accessible as their previous album, musically.
With Congratulations, MGMT descends deeper into the realm of psychedelia, continuing where they left off with the beatle-esque ‘€˜4th dimensional transition’ from Oracular Spectacular. Songs like ‘€˜Flash Delirium’ and ‘€˜It’s working’ demonstrate their musical development as a band while still maintaining the pop-sensibility that made Oracular Spectacular a success. ‘€˜Siberian Breaks’ is a 12 minute track that sounds more like a collection of songs melting into each other than one specific track. If done differently it may have seemed pretentious or over the top, but in this case goes perfectly with the flow of the rest of the album.
I’d consider Congratulations to be a pretty solid sophomore album, regardless of what other reviews may say. It shows what they’re capable of musically, and I look forward to seeing what they come out with next.

Recommended Tracks: Flash Delirium, It’s Working

Rating: 4.2/5