MGMT - Metanoia

MGMT - Metanoia [mp3]
you haven't heard MGMT if you haven't heard this song.
the song consists of 14 glorious minutes of dazzling glimmer, and it sounds like Queen on acid.

record review: MGMT - Congratulations

In countless recent interviews, the power duo of MGMT have insisted that their second LP moves far away from their magnificent 2008 debut, Oracular Spectacular. It’s starting to seem as though they did that to fend off suspicions of sophomore slump. Although this is an admirable form of preemptive defense, it is unfortunate to realize that they did it with full knowledge of their musical shortcomings.

When it comes down to it, Congratulations spreads itself too thin over too many genres without enough cohesiveness to bind everything together. The band purposefully created an album without any obvious singles because that is how they want it to be consumed—as a single unit. However, much of their charm came directly from those playful standout tracks found on Oracular Spectacular—which actually accentuated the slower tracks and made them all that more endearing—and, without them, MGMT fail to strike a chord.

The effervescent closer, “Congratulation” could easily have been on their debut album, but it lacks the novelty which the band has been bragging about. Or what about the excruciating “Siberian Breaks”? A 12 minute tribute to 80’s soft pop? Thanks, but no thanks. The single saving grace on the whole album is the mischievous, Misfits inspired track called “Brian Eno”. Everything else fades into uninspired drivel. Look elsewhere for a good fix of psychedelic music, you won’t find it here.

2/5




MGMT - Electric Feel [mp3]
from Oracular Spectacular

new songs: MGMT - Flash Delirium + Congratulations

MGMT - Flash Delirium [mp3]

MGMT - Congratulations [mp3]

there's something about being absolutely exhausted and then listening to trippy music...mmm

I am very much digging these two tracks. way to go, Andrew n Ben.

SPIN interviews MGMT's frontman

Andrew V. spills about drugs, Lady Gaga, and an instrumental track on the new album (which is done!)

colour me all sorts of excited.

MGMT - Closer (NIN cover) [mp3]

new MGMT video: Kids

finally!


"Kids" was my absolute favourite song of last year, and I am really quite enjoying the Bowie-esque get-ups which Andrew and Ben are sporting.

also, I just learned from indieblogheaven that this was the first song the boys ever wrote. that's so great =)

Kasier Chiefs cover MGMT

this rendition of Time to Pretend is really cool! I love that covers of MGMT songs are always vastly different from the original, but still quite tasty.



I need to get my hands on "Off with their heads" (their forthcoming record, to be released on the 20th)

band of the week: MGMT + record review

I've been meaning to blog about my love for their debut record "Oracular Spectacular" all week, so this works quite nicely. This NY based duo (Andrew and Ben) have taken psychedelic rock on a whole new level. I remember, hearing "Time To Pretend" for the first time, thinking that this was just another band with a catchy single who would inevitably be drowned out by the rest of the music industry trying to do the same thing. But I did acquire their record, and upon my first listen, I was pleasantly surprised to the contrary. Easily one of the year's best releases thus far, Oracular Spectacular is indeed a spectacle for your ears to behold. From lyrics that make fun of famous people (so, themselves, really): "Let's make some music, make some money, find some models for wives; I'll move to Paris, shoot some heroin, and fuck with the stars"-to some happy go lucky declarations of childlike wonder (Kids; The Youth), this record is just teeming with ridiculously good melodies and trust me, you will find yourself dancing to it, although somewhat unconsciously. There is even a hint of early RHCP type guitars ("Of Moons, Birds and Monsters"), and the record ends with "Future Reflections", a tune that mixes a very futuristic feel (haha appropriate) with a subtle chord progression emanating a more vintage sound. It's as if MGMT wants to remind us that the whole electronica/psychedelic fad is ultimately grounded in the 60's, which probably produced more acid-influenced records than any other decade. "This is a call of arms to live and love and sleep together" sums up that theme quite nicely.

I did have the lovely opportunity to see them live, and they were superb (although at one point the mic wasn't working, and I was about to go crazy. this was before Andrew started singing and I was just bubbling with happy suspense.) so, if you have the chance, check out their live renditions of their very palatable songs.

enjoy my favourite tracks from the record below, and do go out and buy the record, you will not regret it.

MGMT - The Youth [mp3]

MGMT - Electric Feel [mp3]

MGMT - Kids [mp3]

(oddly enough, they are consecutive)

also, visit them on MYSPACE.

MGMT set plans for sophomore LP

hurrah! Oracular Spectacular was, indeed spectacular. they were fantastic live at BFD, too.

they will begin recording in January and it should be out by next summer.

read the entire story on NME

MGMT - Time to Pretend [mp3]

BFD 2008!

I had a blast at BFD yesterday at Shoreline, here are some photos of the best acts:

Flobots:



MGMT:






Anti-Flag:



andddd THE KOOKS!!







so much fun. I <3 festivals.

The Kooks - Do You Wanna [mp3]

MGMT release video for "Electric Feel"

watch it below:


an excellent song, if I do say so myself. I do prefer the vid for "time to pretend" but that's just me. MGMT have been in the spotlight lately, with good reason. excellent, excellent band, and they will be performing at BFD next Saturday. more tour dates below:

Jun 4 2008 8:00P
Billabong Design for Humanity at Avalon/Spider Club Hollywood, California
Jun 6 2008 6:00P
KWOD Rock the Vote Davis, California
Jun 7 2008 11:30A
Live 105 BFD 08 - Shoreline Amphitheatre Mountain View, California
Jun 8 2008 8:00P
KBZT Independence Jam Chula Vista, California
Jun 9 2008 11:45P
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson Los Angeles, California
Jun 11 2008 9:00P
Hi-Tone Memphis, Tennessee
Jun 12 2008 12:00P
Bonnaroo Manchester, Tennessee
Jun 14 2008 8:00P
KNDD 107.7 The End’s Summer Camp Redmond, Washington
Jun 23 2008 8:00P
Tavastia Helsinki
Jun 24 2008 8:00P
Hove Festival Hove
Jun 25 2008 8:00P
Accelerator Festival Stockholm, Stockholms län
Jun 27 2008 8:00P
Glastonbury Festival Glastonbury
Jun 28 2008 8:00P
Glastonbury Festival Glastonbury
Jun 29 2008 8:00P
Lancashire County Cricket Ground w/ Radiohead, Bat For Lashes Manchester
Jul 3 2008 12:00P
Roskilde Festival Roskilde
Jul 5 2008 8:00P
Werchter Festival Werchter
Jul 6 2008 8:00P
Les Eurockéennes de Belfort Belfort
Jul 7 2008 8:00P
Rolling Stone Milan
Jul 8 2008 8:00P
Zenith w/ Kings of Leon Paris
Jul 10 2008 8:00P
Alive 08 Festival Lisbon, Lisboa
Jul 12 2008 8:00P
T in the Park Balado, Scotland
Jul 13 2008 8:00P
Oxegen Festival Punchestown
Jul 23 2008 8:00P
Paradise Rock Club Boston, Massachusetts
Jul 24 2008 9:00P
Paradise Rock Club Boston, Massachusetts
Jul 25 2008 8:00P
First Unitarian Church Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jul 27 2008 12:00P
McCarren Park Pool Party Brooklyn, New York
Aug 2 2008 12:00P
Lollapalooza Chicago, Illinois
Aug 4 2008 2:00P
Osheaga Festival Musique et Arts Montreal, Quebec
Aug 9 2008 8:00P
Summersonic Festival Osaka
Aug 10 2008 8:00P
Summersonic Festival Tokyo, Tokyo
Aug 22 2008 12:00P
Reading Festival Reading, South
Aug 23 2008 12:00P
Leeds Festival Leeds
Sep 6 2008 8:00P
Virgin Festival Toronto, Ontario
Sep 20 2008 7:00P
Hollywood Bowl w/ Beck and Spoon Los Angeles, California
Sep 27 2008 8:00P
Austin City Limits Austin, Texas

I almost shelled out 60 bucks to see them at a sold out Slim's show a couple of months back. they shall be quite a spectacle to behold, I'm sure.

MGMT- Time to Pretend [album version] [mp3]

it's Friday morning and I don't want to work on Milton

so here's some good music instead:

in honour of my excitement about seeing Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin next week (in the middle of finals week, mind you)
SSLYBY-I Think I Wanna Die [mp3]

and,
Empty Rooms-We've Been Waiting For You [mp3]
they're a cool SF band I've recently discovered. I've had that song on repeat for a while. visit them on MYSPACE

and finally, because I'm super stoked about BFD (it's in a month!)
MGMT - Time to Pretend [mp3]

and,
The Kooks -See The Sun [mp3]
their new record is really great. go buy it immediately.

old stuff, new stuff

drip drip drip, I watch my Brita filter at work.
yes, it takes me a little while in the morning to get my brain functioning at full capacity. my daily dose of music blogs usually does the trick though.
a favourite of Snow Patrol is stuck in my head right now...

Snow Patrol - Open Your Eyes [mp3]

the new we are scientists album is out...Brain Thrust Mastery
pitchfork review
We Are Scientists - Impatience [mp3]
I have yet to listen to the album in its entirety, so I cannot give a fair review of it but I like what I've heard so far

oh, and I like Spin's artist of the day for yesterday:
PlayRadioPlay! - review + mp3 here
in my opinion, his voice is a good fusion of Ben Gibbard and Win Butler. he still has a lot of work to do but he's on the right track.

3 more days until Vampire Weekend! ah! I am so excited.

oh, and just for the hell of it, here is that trippy MGMT video we all love so much:

they will be at Slim's on April 24th
=)
visit MGMT on Myspace

I've had a pretty weird week. but spring break is nearly upon me so I should probably get some work done...

but just remember, in the words of Dwayne from Little Miss Sunshine, "do what you love and fuck the rest". college is NOT supposed to be a time when you earn a degree so that you can have some arbitrary career that you can't stand. DO WHAT YOU LOVE. it doesn't matter if that means being temporarily (or permanently) broke. work shouldn't have to feel like a burden.