Quarterlifeparty

Been reading a lot about the new MGMT album, hearing a lot of people talk about Flash Delirium (mostly negative) and thought I would weigh in on it after listening to the album about 5 or 6 times now.

At first wanted to hate it, I heard “Flash Delirium” and it just sounded like they were rehashing some 60′s psychedelia, sounded like an ELO song to me (and don’t get me started on the cover). But wait?! That’s what MGMT had done with their last album, this isn’t all that different. The only thing here is there aren’t any singles, per say. Oracular Spectacular was made up of single after single, but it stilled carried a psychedelic weight to it, this is a lot heavier and darker of an album.

Let me put a little perspective on this album, since I feel like people are having a hard time defining it because it is “different” than the last. Remember “Time To Pretend” ? Sure you do. The lyrics are all about pretending to be rockstars, it’s very self referential, and it is an amazing song (and if you haven’t heard Jonsi’s cover of it, then go listen now:)

Jónsi – Time To Pretend (MGMT Cover)

So Oracular might be about pretending to be “Rockstars”, but now they have reached fame, in one album, and are writing a self-referential about that fame. Read the lyrics to “Flash Delirium”, it’s all about not being able to make it, going against all odds, having to make a sophomore album that tops Oracular, “Climbing a tree with a missing limb”, “Flash Delirium” is the flash of fame that they now have to deal with. It’s all done with them somewhat laughing at themselves, but also laughing at themselves insecurely.

MGMT were smart enough to know that they can’t follow up Oracular with just another..well Oracular so they decided to destroy what they had a little bit, experiment, because they have people listening, and just see what comes of it. And what comes out of it is something that is something pretty well thought out, but also flawed. But since Oracular was so perfectly produced and really didn’t have too many flaws (I know, arguable), this brings them back down to earth, but they come back down to earth by making a pretty outrageous album. It’s an interesting follow-up because not many bands in recent memory have had this much pressure to follow up a hit album. Even if you look at Arcade Fire, their first album wasn’t as popular as Oracular in the mainstream and indie crowd at the same time.

This is definitely a grower, but most will just put this album off on first listen, they are going to lose a lot of fans on this album, but the fans they keep will be dedicated, and I think MGMT are alright with that. They are laughing at themselves, possibly laughing at you. But one thing this album does is prove that they are pretty damn talented and we can probably expect some interesting things from them in the future.

Don’t get me wrong, this won’t be an album of the year for me, but I’m enjoying listening to this for now.

Now, if only they would spruce up their live show.

Tags: , mgmt