This post was written by Opinions Editor Justin Guiffre.
“Congratulations”
MGMT
MGMT is a band that revels in abbreviated synthesizer licks to entice the listener, legitimately earning the preposterously overused adjective “catchy.” Few bands are as recognizable within the first few seconds as this electro-pop duo, which debuted in 2007 with the renowned “Oracular Spectacular.” In its latest album, “Congratulations,” the group’s blasé synthpop melodramas have gone less synth and more mellow, a move that brings mixed results.
The opening track, “It’s Working,” kicks the album off with a light, Beach Boys-inspired progression that foreshadows the band’s increased emphasis on vocals. In fact, retro seems to be a theme through “Congratulations”; it’s full of sounds and rhythms that could fit comfortably in any 50s nostalgia setting. That is, until the 12-minute epic “Siberian Breaks.” This song spans a wide range of sounds: Passive acoustic guitar musings wrestle for control with punctuated pop choruses, with a resolution found in the last minutes of the song that effectively creates a spiraling, synthesized dream world.
But inevitably, the listener is brought back down to mediocrity with the following track, “Brian Eno.” Named after the acclaimed music producer, the song takes something beautiful and turns it into an awkward pop culture reference, unfaithful to both its origin and the mood of the audience. This is where MGMT fails to achieve true success. The album has moments of brilliance, only to remain overly committed to that retro inspiration, crushing any hope for momentum. No MGMT listener will regard this as better than the group’s debut, and those who enjoyed hits like “Kids” will be completely nonplussed. Still, those who like MGMT’s slower moments will at least appreciate the album.