New MGMT album - read on for suspense

experiMental

I just stumbled across a preview of new MGMT album on "The Guardian". I can't find the link to it, but once I heard all of the previews, I was shocked. I thought, "They can't be serious".

It's nothing compared to their first effort, except for 3 songs. The rest sounds so much like other indie pop that I had to procure a seatbelt for my chair, to stop myself from cringing to death.

Maybe I'm a bit critical, but here is a preview for you to judge: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2010/mar/22/mgmt-congratulations

pinksoir

I listened through it a few days ago and thought it was terrible. Listened again today and have to say it's pretty good. A grower as it were. There's a lot going on. The first time it sounded like an unintuitive mess, this time it sounded more cohesive and the individual songs came through a lot better. Some really good ideas, loads of influences coming through. I much preferred the album tracks on the first record anyway, hated Electric Feel and Kids. I liked Time To Pretend though. But as I say, much preferred the album tracks. More interesting ideas, good chord progressions, more disparate influences. The new album is like an expansion on the album tracks from OS.

Music-and-booze

i for one enjoyed the album tracks just as much as the singles on the first album, and thought overall OS was a really accomplished album. This new one i hafta say im liking too, its less consistent than the first one and might take a bit longer to get into, but i commend them for not becoming just another electro indie pop group, which probably would have suited their bank managers very well, instead they made an album's equivalent of a "fcuk you" to everyone who just liked time to pretend and kids.
but its just one of those albums that people are either gonna like, or absolutley loath. i like it:D

thebigcheese22

I thought the first album was absolute much tbh. Doesn't help after Kids was overplayed so much though In fact I'm trading it in for a euro, thats how much I won't miss it! It's just indie by numbers music imho

Jip

Wasn't the first album just done as a mess which turned out to be quite successful when they realised they had some good tracks ?

Having said that I never understood the love for them, I bought the first album as soon as I heard "Time to Pretend" and was disappointed with it, I can't bloody stand "Kids" or any of the other singles at this stage

The general consensus seems to be that the new album is pretty poor, I've heard DJs saying they're not going to play the new singe as they don't think much of it and go on to play something from Oracular Spectacular.

Maybe this reflects what I initially said, i.e. they first album wasn't initially intended as a serious project and their lack of talent is now showing through ?

smackbunnybaby

Jip wrote: »

Maybe this reflects what I initially said, i.e. they first album wasn't initially intended as a serious project and their lack of talent is now showing through ?

I agree with this. I think they created a few tasty numbers like Kids and Time to Pretend. Remember, they had been knocking about for a while as the Management, and Kids was an old enough song?
I reckon a record company got hold of them and said - "lads you have the singles, but we need an album". So they created an album quite quickly and it shows.
I was never convinced with the latter songs on the album. The new album is very psychedelic style and I don't think they will keep the more singles orientated fans from the first album as there is not much for them to grasp to.
It's typical 2nd album syndrome only they didn't even have an album of full ideas either prior.
I am a bit disappointed how this band has gone as if you were to look up my posts from a few years ago you would have seen me defend them. Their performance in that tent that time really was the turning point for me and it seemed to prove the quote above.

thebigcheese22

Off wikipedia:

'Their first album as MGMT, Oracular Spectacular, debuted at number 12 on the UK album chart and number six on the Australian ARIA Charts, and hit number one on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart. It has also been named the 18th best album of the decade by Rolling Stone magazine'

Wtf were they smoking when they picked that?!?!?! :eek:

Sútalún

Gonna go against the general consensus here and say that I thought their first album was top notch. I actually enjoyed the second half..or so-called filler on the album as much if not more than the first half. I think it's become very popular on this forum to dismiss the second half of the album. Or maybe I'm just the wrong one and everyone else is right. Wouldn't be surprised.

experiMental

I listened to it again. It sounded a bit better this time around. MGMT are good at writing songs where lyrics, vocals and music work together well, but they just sound similar to a lot of other indie stuff. It's just a bit disappointing that they have not realised this.

A lot of people will be listening to indie music or stumble upon it in a bus, a bar or shop, so too much of it is bad. I thought MGMT would know this and would want to elevate themselves a bit, but they didn't think very hard.

Daysha

I'm on my 7th/8th listen now and I'm really starting to enjoy it. I actually applaud them for going down this route, many other bands would've been more than happy to just make sure they get their one big single out and build an album around that, but not these guys. Sure it means their lives show will continue to be plagued by teenagers just going for the Kids or Time to Pretends, but they're not exactly a great live band in the first place anyway.

It's better than the 2nd half of Oracular Spectacular which, as much as I enjoyed it, got a bit samesy. But for a genre as narrow and focussed as psychedelic rock there's a surprising amount of variety on this one. It's Working is definitely my favourite, followed closely by Siberian Breaks and Flash Delirium.

4/5 for me.

H8GHOTI

I just had one quick listen the other day and I thought it sounded alright. I says fair fucks to them as well so making an album like this and for saying if they had their way they wouldn't even release any singles from it, so people would listen to the full album.

Anyone see them on Gonzo? Zane Lowe says something like MGMT's second album 'Congratulations' is out in April. Their 3rd album, due out in 2012, will be called 'A Return To Form'

kwestfan08

Kinda going against the grain here as well but I really liked OS. Not just the singles either, "the handshake" and "of moons, birds & monsters" were quality tunes.

Haven't had a chance to listen to the new one yet but flash delirium does sound like a grower on first listen. Whole album is now available to stream for free on their website so I might give it a listen soon.

Link: http://www.whoismgmt.com/

LETS BE AVN IT

I was excited to hear the new album , buy I must say I was quiet disapointed when I heard it ! There is no tunes that really stand out at all it was like they were trying to make an awfull album so they could leave the industry.

ShoulderChip

LETS BE AVN IT wrote: »

I was excited to hear the new album , buy I must say I was quiet disapointed when I heard it ! There is no tunes that really stand out at all it was like they were trying to make an awfull album so they could leave the industry.

ha thats a bit strong surely

I bet you will end up liking it, its a grower

Sútalún

LETS BE AVN IT wrote: »

I was excited to hear the new album , buy I must say I was quiet disapointed when I heard it ! There is no tunes that really stand out at all it was like they were trying to make an awfull album so they could leave the industry.

I think you cracked it! That's exactly what they were attempting.

Honestly I think the album isn't half bad and will continue growing on me. Like most people have said, it's a grower; probably only those who have given it a chance and listened to more than 2 songs..or god forbid, even listened to it in it's entirety more than once.

sherry1

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