MGMT struck gold with their 2007 debut album, Oracular Spectacular. With the singles ‘Kids’ and ‘Time to Pretend’, they stumbled across the perfect formula for a band to break through to the mainstream. Uncompromising with album two, it is a sprawling, sometimes muddled psychedelic trip back to the 60s and borrows heavily from Pink Floyd headcase Syd Barrett and the freak out Nuggets collections.

In a stark contrast to their debut, there are no standout singles or tracks that grab you; instead it’s a record to be fully consumed to enjoy. It’s easy to ignore on first listen but with familiarity the organ stabs, twisting rhythms and twisted lyrics eventually become homely and the ride less wild. Before long, Congratulations reveals its true colours; a somewhat derivative but far-reaching album which is the most non-mainstream mainstream release since last year’s Embryonic from The Flaming Lips. This is a band doing things their way and getting results in the strangest of places.

-TC

Tags: Congratulations, MGMT
Posted in Reviews