MGMT - Oracular Spectacular, 2008

reviewed by JW

www.whoismgmt.com

MGMT’s Oracular Spectacular, released early 2008, begins with an upbeat “college” anthem to get you in the mood to get you out of your crappy little mood.

"Hey, life can f****** suck. So what? Shake your hips a little and Fuggetaboutit."

As soon as I put on this record I imagine myself joining the crowd on the back cover and prancing around on the beach in crazy dresses and feathers in my hair while flinging homemade torches into the ocean. This album reminds me that it is OK to wear yourself out to remember hope. Hey! Be a Kid, run around a little, and quit over ANALyzing everything!

I’m not particularly interested in being trendy or “hip” which is one of the main reasons why I was so reluctant at first to buy this album. It is so damn popular from what the House of Records guy says. I especially felt guilty for buying the entire album for one particularly cool hip song. But this hipster song, “Electric Feel,” refused to leave my brain and I had to buy the album to “exercise” its demon. That Demon Song! The rest only gets better. After the first half of the album gets rid of your bad mood, the second side turns to a little more experimental with “4^th Dimensional Transition” and each track continues to push boundaries in lyrics and imagination. When the album ends, I’m ready to flip it over and do it again!

Remember how cool Modest Mouse was when they came out with their party anthems and singles? It is the same with MGMT. I have to remind myself, Don’t count out the band just because they’re cool! Hell! There’s nothing wrong with being cool. I don’t want to be a judgmental prig and miss out on all the fun. Yes, kids…remember that word? FUN!!! And we can all get there just by letting down the needle.

Oracular Spectacular debuts on the label giant Columbia / Sony. Should I feel guilty? Well, maybe this album is a little bit of a guilty pleasure, but then so is LOST. So Suck it!

[Although, this is an excellent review, JW will no longer be writing for us. Something about the editor and an overly amazing attitude... Regardless, Judasfry, despite his hippie smell and Led Zep sensibilities, is hereby promoted to head writer. However, Judas, it doesn't come with anything but hard work. Money is for editors, not writers. Also, take a shower.]