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Rating: It may seem strange (but perhaps not), after the release of "Oracular Spectacular" in 2008, I hastily labeled MGMT as the typical use-and-throw singles band, "Time To Pretend," "Electric Feel," and especially "Kids" deluded me, and I decided not to delve into the MGMT chapter.
2010, "Congratulations" comes out, I look at the cover and think: "Here we go, another album for so-called sixteen-year-olds", but the first single is different from those of the previous album "Flash Delirium" is a psychedelic and schizophrenic song, truly a delirium; so I go to the record store and prepare to buy both "Congratulations" and "Oracular Spectacular", after some time in the store, the store owner asks me a question: "Did you like Oracular Spectacular?" and I: "Yes, beautiful, but Congratulations is definitely the best," I sense her astonishment, probably used to kids telling her "Time To Pretend is the best song of the century." Don't get me wrong, I like "Time To Pretend," but this "Congratulations" has an extra gear, misunderstood by many.
The album starts with "It's Working" and "Song For Dan Treacy", songs that echo the late 60s, early 70s Psychedelia, and so how not to mention the "Syd's Pink Floyd", after these 2 songs, it begins with its slow heaviness "Someone's Missing" with some oriental flavor, three quarters into the song, the slow fatigue turns into a joyful ride, then the already mentioned "Flash Delirium" returns, you can hear the best “David Bowie” with a return to the rampant Psychedelia (that decidedly dominates the album), the first part of the record closes with "I Found A Whistle" which sleeps quietly in its organ bed, it seems like a song directly from the first "Genesis" album, not too polished but still striking.
The first part of the album is finished, but the best is yet to come, "Siberian Breaks" is an ambitious mini-suite echoing "Metanoia", a single halfway between the release of "Oracular Spectacular" and this "Congratulations", this Suite is a union of 3 songs halfway between psychedelia and 70s progressive, that travels the mind above the clouds and beyond mountains and deep into the darkest ocean depths, (I would like to mention a passage at 8:20 minutes of this song that always excites me, transitioning from an almost boring expected closure to an attack that is not overwhelmingly aggressive but unexpected, which will subsequently reprise the motif from the beginning of the song); "Brian Eno" probably (in my opinion) is the only real flaw of the album, a schizophrenic piece, perhaps too much, that deviates from the psychedelia and acidity of the rest, "Lady Dada's Nightmare" is the only instrumental of the album, perhaps making fun of the Super Pop Star "Lady Gaga", going from a melodic piano song, to an acid sound wall shattered by muted yet meaningful screams, to then return to close like a slow death.
To close the album the "MGMT" chose a beautiful ballad, eponymous of the record, always winking at Pink Floyd.
In short, 44 minutes of music (the old-fashioned way) vinyl and 60s-70s music time like hasn't been heard for a long time; highly recommended to people who hated MGMT, from the first album. And highly recommended to those hordes of kids who fell in love with singles from the first album, perhaps by purchasing this "Congratulations" they might open a gateway to true music.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
06 Siberian Breaks (12:09)
Sleep as the goer
The bridge that watches the light speed thru
And cries while the spirit stumbles
And inside missile for the protection of you
Maybe it's silent
The voice can't bear anymore strain
But speak without even knowing
And streams outside in the direction of truth
There's no reason there's no secret to decode
If you can't save it, leave it dying on the road
Wide open arms can feel so cold
So cold
Feel so cold
Balance the books, the ledges, the loons
The disappointed look on the faces
That squint at the moon
Let's see it with shadows enhance
And then vote to decide who'll advance
Silver jet plane, making a turn
Exciting the brain that expects it to crash and then burn
It's not the life lesson I'd've guessed
If you're conscious you must be depressed
Or at least cynical
But someone might still eat the steaks
Even if they're tough
Spending the day
Chewing the fat
Floating away isn't roguh but it's not enough
Oh marianne, pass me the joint
The sandpaper's tan
Go-getters are surfing the point
And london's a cratch on the lens
It's over before it begins
Silk 'round her neck falls down to her shoulders
The older I get, the more I suspect there's a trick
But really there's no trip at all
That doesn't result in a fall
Or a faltering
But something might spit out the bait
Even if it's real
Rolling away
Missing a spoke
Close to the ground like a wheel but it's not enough
Holding the line
Clutching the phone
Nobly wasting the night, but it isn't right
It's not right
Smelling for blood
Praying for rain
Running away isn't rough, but it's not enough
The low tide is telling me, when it's over,
To breathe in everything exposed
And comes back to cover me in a blanket
Being here's always changing tunes
The empty sky surrounds me but i can't see at all
Wide open arms can feel so cold
And you can sit beside me and tell me what it's worth
But I hope I die before i get sold
I hope I die before I get sold
I'd rather die before I get sold
If you find the soul that you lost
Frozen in a starry void
Take it within and hope the sight of blood
Can will signs of life to return
Back to the way that it was
Long before it made a noise
To keep on quietly reminding you
What's never created or destroyed
Wake as the swell peaks
The close-outs drowning the birds with roars
And howls scare the new unkindness
That picks and laughs at the carrion scene
Forces you see breath can always go into hiding
And wait 'til it passes over
Or stay far gone for all eternity
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By zaireeka
A great album, challenging in its being pop (almost always) and rambling (always).
An album that in my opinion will leave a bit more alone those who can’t stand them.
