adamsfriendjoe

RATING: 4.5/5

The term ‘oracular’ can be defined as something that is enigmatic or hard to interpret and in this light it becomes a highly insightful comment on the nature of this debut album by this Brooklyn duo.

Let’s get any judgment out of the way immediately. This album is fantastic. In the past few years I have found that with all the albums I have listened to (and I listen to a lot of music!), I rarely like an album the first time I listen to it. This does not mean that I do not go on to really adore some of them. Albums such as ‘Weekend In The City’ by Bloc Party, ‘Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?’ by Of Montreal and ‘Colour It In’ by The Maccabees are just a very small fraction of the albums I have gone on to play incessantly while strutting around with my overly large colourful headphones on. Generally though I need a little time to get used to the songs and realise (if it is a good album) the many intricacies involved in the melodies and/or the catchiness of the tracks. 

However, from the very beginning of the album with their hit single ‘Time to Pretend’ to the fantastic vocal finale of ‘Future Reflections’, this album is simply spell-binding.

The songs are original and intelligent, yet instantly accessible, making you feel as if you have listened to the track a hundred times before, but still cannot get enough. The vocals have a great range, taking in influences from the quirky style of Modest Mouse, the older (and more preferable) rawness of The White Stripes, the catchiness and attitude of Prince, and the memorable, melancholic group vocals heard in the likes of The Sleepy Jackson. The melodies are also highly eclectic. There are elements of funk, country, 80s pop and ballads that permeate the songs throughout providing it with a simultaneously new sound yet the comfortable sense of familiarity.

What was particularly refreshing about this album was that, contrary to recent trends, you hadn’t heard every song to death already. However, nearly every single song stands out as a hit in its own right. At first, I was slightly anxious about them placing ‘Time to Pretend’ as the starting track of the album. After all, anyone who has made a mix tape knows that if you start with your strongest song, you are leaving yourself with nowhere to go. Yet it proves to be a masterstroke for two reasons. First, the perfectly managed eclecticism of MGMT means that every song is so diverse, from the Bee Gees-esque (but good!) ‘Electric Feel’ to the quirky, rustic appeal of ‘Pieces of What’, which sounds like a restrained Modest Mouse, perhaps more like Isaac Brock’s sideband, Ugly Casanova. Therefore, there is no danger that the rest of the album will sound like a poor echo of their one hit like horrific bands such as Scouting For Girls, or even the increasingly unoriginal and unimpressive Calvin Harris. And second, ‘Time to Pretend’, in my opinion, isn’t the best song on the album. It is fantastic, but there are others that are at least, if not better, than their hit single. In particular, ‘The Youth’ is a mesmerising, atmospheric song with a chorus that you will find yourself humming away to yourself even weeks after you last listened to it. It is just one of those songs that makes you feel as if you should be feeling some intense emotions, perhaps going through that serious part in the film that is a diving point in a character’s development. ‘Kids’ is equally good with powerful synth melodies that brilliantly supplement the great lyrics and vocals. Once again I am sure that you will be singing along and I would be surprised if this isn’t release as a single at some point.

It has been quite a while that an album has come out that is so consistently good. There is not one song that you  you want to skip and the album has a fluidity and unity that makes it a moving overall piece rather than simply a collection of good songs. This is yet another testament to the talent of Dave Fridmann, who was also producer for Flaming Lips. The only fear now is whether their second album can live up to this initial standard, as so many bands seem to falter. However, considering the wealth of influences and the impressive depth of the album, I am hopeful that there is plenty more to expect from this exciting band.