Congratulations

iTunes Review

On MGMT’s hugely successful debut, Oracular Spectacular, they declared, “This is our decision, to live fast and to die young.” Luckily they stuck around long enough to produce another deeply satisfying full-length work, one that feels even more expansive, and dare we say more mature than Oracular — and we mean that only in the best way possible. Rather than stuffing it full of easily digested pop baubles, Congratulations brims and bristles with over-the-top prog-rock and psychedelic space oddities (with both of those genres responsible for the audacious “Siberian Breaks”). There are insightful musings on their own success (“Flash Delirium,” “Congratulations”), and loving musical tributes (“Song for Dan Treacy” effectively conjures the troubled Treacy and his work with the Television Personalities; “Brian Eno” is a pinwheeling nod to the great musician, with a slight Bowie flavor). Recorded with Sonic Boom of Spacemen 3, and again with Dave Fridmann at the mixing helm, this work — from clever arrangements to the pointed lyrics — is a stellar step in MGMT’s bold career. Congratulations, all around.