MGMT - Congratulations

Battleflag

From their newsletter...

Hey everybody, the album leaked, and we wanted you to be able to hear it from us. We wanted to offer it as a free download but that didn't make sense to anyone but us

Listen to it at: http://www.whoismgmt.com/

on the first track at the moment

techno-allah

Just listened to it there.

Think the album cover was a warning sign. It's a bit of a stinker.

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

lily4

Not overly impressed but have only listened to a couple of songs

keithkk16

On my third listen now i think it's a grower

Teferi

They played a good bit of this at Bonaroo last year. Terrible.

Daysha

I think this album will boil down to whether you enjoyed the 2nd half of Oracular Spectacular or not. It was pretty risky of them to admit their won't be any big Time to Pretend / Kids hits on this one, and the fact they're not releasing any singles from it pretty much confirms that.

My favourite so far is Flash Delirium, but I have had the benefit of listening to it far more than the others. I've only had the one play through of the album, and it sounds like I'm going to need at least 2-3 more before I can get my head around it.

Teferi

"There definitely isn't a 'Time to Pretend' or a 'Kids' on the album. We've been talking about ways to make sure people hear the album as an album in order and not just figure out what are the best three tracks, download those and not listen to the rest of it."

There is a reason that people would have done that to be honest....OS definitely had it's weak parts that I just didn't want to listen to at all.

me-skywalker

Ive always thought that fans of Time to Pretend/Kids would have the kind of effect on MGMT like The Killers/Razorlight/Franz Ferdinand suffered. 2 or 3 catchty mainstream crossover pop-rock songs that the festival crowds love but once its to full on tours and gigs off their own like with later albums people loose their interest because they have already given the masses them 2 or 3 songs.

Corholio

To be honest I dont think the "only listening to the singles" thing is that much of a big thing because i dont think their album tracks are that great anyway.

Couple of listens and it's not very good to be honest. Flash Delirium about the best of the bunch i think.

Peyton Manning

Been listening to this for a while now, and it's really growing on me.

Siberian Breaks, I Found A Whistle and It's Working are fantastic songs.

sleepyescapade

I really like it in comparison to the first album. With the first album, I used to get bored halfway through. This album, I quite like.

Daysha

On my 3rd listen through now, it's certainly hit and miss in parts. I'm not too fond of Someones's Missing or Lady Dada's Nightmare, but It's Working is a cracking tune, as is Congratulations and parts of Siberian Breaks.

strobe

Having given it 3 or four listens over the weekend I'd agree with the sentiments expressed by alot of people. It's certainly hit and miss (very few albums aren't) and it's definately a grower.

If "wierd psychedelic indie rock" doesn't sound like your cup of tea then there is no hope of you liking this album. Luckily for me "psychedelic" and "wierd" are my two favourite words in the english language.

It's a good album, that from the sounds of things will go from being good, to "Sweet drug addled Christ that was amazing!" under certain influences. If all you liked from OS were the big singles, then you're probably going to struggle here, as the band quite deliberately, to my mind, seemed to steer well clear of trying to replicate those moments from the last album.

Considering there must have been huge pressure from Sony put out an album full of nothing but "Kids" and "Electric Feel" clones, I have to say I've got a decent level of respect for the direction they chose to go instead.

Well worth a few runs through before you make your mind up one way or the other.

Zak Flaps

strobe wrote: »

Considering there must have been huge pressure from Sony put out an album full of nothing but "Kids" and "Electric Feel" clones, I have to say I've got a decent level of respect for the direction they chose to go instead.

I quite agree. A brave move. I think it'll lose them some fans, but I doubt they'd give a ****. And I couldn't blame them.
They'll also come back with more pop songs in the future I imagine.

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

H8GHOTI

Strange comments from them.
Next album will probably be super poppy and really radio friendly then.

Teferi

It seems like somebody finally sat them down and gave them a talking to.

InTheTrees

Its refreshing to hear someone say that about their own work.

when bands defend crap you just begin to wonder whats wrong with them so its nice to know they realise.

MajorThom

Well I like this album anyways. I kind of like the fact that they didnt make music for the masses. I dont think they take themselves too seriously and all this 'apologising' should be taken with a pinch of salt

rotill

Scien wrote: »

Looks like they're beginning to realise it themselves...

From Heineken Music:

They didn't apologize for the album. The two supposed apologies are quoted in these articles

http://www.spinner.ca/2010/03/12/mgmt-sorry-flash-delirium-new-song

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/11/arts/music/11mgmt.html Read both pages

Read them and you'll see that they aren't really apologizing for the quality of the albums. More that people expected it to be like the most popular songs on OS when is the opposite of what they tried to do.

Also, based on any interview I've ever read and heard from them “We should really be listening to, like, the masses, instead of making an album that no one is going to like." sounds small bit like sarcasm.

Also, they've a good interview on Dave Fannings podcast.

loyatemu

I quite like the album - and its not a million miles away from their debut. OS was basically 3 really catchy singles and the rest was late-60s psychedelia and 70s soft-rock. This time there's no obvious singles but the pyschedelic vibe is much the same.

All this blather about commercial suicide and the record being unlistenable is nonsense - a lot of it is fairly catchy and upbeat. Its not exactly Metal Machine Music or Trans

OctavarIan

They've never said that they aren't fans of the new album, they're actually delighted with it. That's just sloppy journalism and from Heineken Music.

If you read the interview here at the Guardian you can see how Heineken intentionally misquoted the band.

As for the new album, I hated Kids and Time to Pretend but I gave it a shot after reading about it and I was very pleasantly surprised. It's great music to flake out on the grass to in weather like we've had recently, very chill. Might go back and check out the non-single tracks on Oracular Spectacular

H8GHOTI

So what are peoples thoughts now, a couple weeks on after a few listens?
Anyone change their mind?
Thought it was crap => Love it, best album evvvvver!
Thought it was good => Sick of it now

Personally I thought it was ok but after listening to it a lot, I really like it now.

CRenegade

I'm a fan... there are some really good tracks on the album.

I guess you have to be in a certain mood to listen, its not music to be playing before a night out but more to relax to.

Don't know how it will go down at a live concert though - will be a bit strange if people start jumping around to 'Kids' and then the next song is 'Congratulations' - i'm sure they'll work it somehow.

whiteboy

I seriously can't understand why this album has received so little media attention, this album is off the charts!

whiteboy

They were on snl awhile back

Worth a listen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4YsNaIMpNY

Spiritoftheseventies

Quite like the new dylan look there

monkey9

This is my second favourite album of the year so far. It's brilliant!!!

I'm really getting a bit p!ssed off with this whole nonsense that this is a big departure from the first album.

Yeah, the first album had Kids and Time To Pretend. But the rest of the album is not exactly the most commercial. In fact, i'd say that the two hits are the incongerous tracks from both albums.

I actually think this album is far superior to the debut!!!

JerryHandbag

loyatemu wrote: »

All this blather about commercial suicide and the record being unlistenable is nonsense - a lot of it is fairly catchy and upbeat. Its not exactly Metal Machine Music or Trans

Hey Trans is class!! You can keep Metal Machine Music though :pac:

So is this album worth getting? I liked about 5/6 songs from debut, but thought the rest were pretty weak, seems to be either hit or miss with MGMT for me...

Xavi6

I honestly think this is a horrible album, even worse than the first one.

Spiritoftheseventies

Xavi6 wrote: »

I honestly think this is a horrible album, even worse than the first one.

You serious. Their album got album of the year last year with NME. Kids and Time to Pretend are classic songs:eek::eek::eek:

Miguel_Sanchez

Spiritoftheseventies wrote: »

Their album got album of the year last year with NME.

That's enough reason to dislike it right there.

While the few singles off the first album are not bad pop songs I find MGMT tiresome.

Spiritoftheseventies

Jeff_Lebowski wrote: »

That's enough reason to dislike it right there.

While the few singles off the first album are not bad pop songs I find MGMT tiresome.

Ah sure we are all a happy bunch on here. All in the ear of the beholder i guess

Xavi6

Spiritoftheseventies wrote: »

You serious. Their album got album of the year last year with NME. Kids and Time to Pretend are classic songs:eek::eek::eek:

The prosecution rests.

'Time To Pretend' was a great opener and I thought we were set for a classic. Instead we got drivel (imo), and it has just gotten worse with this latest effort.

Spiritoftheseventies

NME normally on the button with these things. Were ahead of their time when giving Public Enemy album of the year two years running.

lordgoat

MehGMT, nothing band instantly forgettable. You also can't comapre the NME from the 1980's to the one thats out now.

Spiritoftheseventies

lordgoat wrote: »

MehGMT, nothing band instantly forgettable. You also can't comapre the NME from the 1980's to the one thats out now.

Would take them anyday over Florence or Mumford or Sons. But we will agree to disagree on this one.

lordgoat

Spiritoftheseventies wrote: »

Would take them anyday over Florence or Mumford or Sons. But we will agree to disagree on this one.

wouldn't take any of the three of them.

Sútalún

Spiritoftheseventies wrote: »

NME normally on the button with these things.

Nah NME are absolutely brutal these days. But then again they review music so one person's great review will be another's muck. I just don't agree with a lot of their reviews..

Yeah if you didn't like the first album you probably won't like this. People saying they are radically different are off the mark imo. I enjoyed all the songs on OS, the "filler" more so than the singles. And I enjoyed this album too. It's not going to change my life or anything radical but it's better than a lot of tripe out there.

Spiritoftheseventies

Have only heard flash delirium off it and I quite like it.

unkymo

Its an OK album. There are worse bands out there than MGMT.

lordgoat

unkymo wrote: »

Its an OK album. There are worse bands out there than MGMT.

And there are certainly a hell of a lot better bands out there too!

Spiritoftheseventies

lordgoat wrote: »

And there are certainly a hell of a lot better bands out there too!

Yes would agree there but they were still probably the band of last year on the singles front.

Sútalún

Spiritoftheseventies wrote: »

Yes would agree there but they were still probably the band of last year on the singles front.

What does that even mean!?? What singles to break the top 10 or just popular singles? I mean most bands release singles.. And good single that don't chart well. Doesn't mean they're bad single. And if you're talking about popular singles I can think of better tbh, thought 2008 was their big year anyway!?

Spiritoftheseventies

Sorry was confusing the year. But with the singles they released off that album they were probably the hippest band around regardless.

Miguel_Sanchez

Spiritoftheseventies wrote: »

Sorry was confusing the year. But with the singles they released off that album they were probably the hippest band around regardless.

Hipness is in the thick-framed glasses of the beholder though.

UnknownSpecies

Even though I loved OS, especially the second half, I listened to this right through about 3 times now and it hasn't made me want to come back again to it, think I'll stick with OS!

whiteboy

quality tune

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX0dX1oTT2k

KnifeWRENCH

monkey9 wrote: »

I actually think this album is far superior to the debut!!!

+1. Oracular Spectacular had some gold but a lot of filler. Conrgratulations is consistently good from start to finish.

I love "It's Working", "Flash Delirium", "I Found a Whistle" and "Song for Dan Treacy".

knight_of_cake

I have to say that i think the album is class, not something i would usaully like but after listening twice to it twice.
i think it was bold move from what was in the first album but i think its was the right one for them.