Congratulations

by 
AlbumApr 07 / 20109 songs, 43m 49s99%
Psychedelic Pop Neo-Psychedelia
Popular

Three years after their 2007 debut, MGMT subtly reinvent themselves. *Congratulations* still bursts with color, but the antic edges have been sanded down—well, save for the garage-rock freak-out of “Brian Eno,” a hyperactive tribute to the ambient icon. “It’s Working” crisply revamps Phil Spector’s wall of sound; “Song for Dan Treacy” plays nimble cat-and-mouse with ‘60s organ and falsetto vocals. “Congratulations” wraps up with a wry take on the perils of stardom—the spiritual flip side to their debut’s fanciful “Time to Pretend.”

6.8 / 10

MGMT follow the surprise hit Oracular Spectacular by teaming with Spacemen 3's Sonic Boom for a leftfield psych-pop LP bereft of obvious singles.

A-

A deep plunge into murky waters, MGMT’s follow-up to its breakout 2007 album, Oracular Spectacular, will turn away listeners expecting a string of soundtrack-friendly sort-of hits like “Kids” and “Time To Pretend.” That’s almost certainly by design, since nobody makes an album as dense and immersive as Congratulations…

8 / 10

Bold, brave, bonkers, and sometimes brilliant.

After the smashing success of Oracular Spectacular, it was clear that MGMT were going to be at a bit of a crossroads when it came time to follow it up.

8.0 / 10

Career suicide, heinous art, and no regard for their fanbase. Those have been the three themes bandied about in early appraisals of Congratulations.

The album is a mildly interesting listen, but proves to be nothing less than a regression into ennui-drenched acid folk mimicry.

6 / 10

MGMT's second album offeres diamonds lurking amid the distractions, reckons <strong>Dave Simpson</strong>

40 %

Album Reviews: MGMT - Congratulations

63 %

2.5 / 5

MGMT - Congratulations review: A decidedly run-of-the-mill rock record.

MGMT's Congratulations sounds like a deliberate attempt to shake off casual listeners. Rating: * * *

8 / 10