ALBUM REVIEW: MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

MGMT
Oracular Spectacular
Columbia, 2008
*** out of 5

Like fellow travelers The Evangelicals, MGMT (pronounced The Management) are also purveyors of ear-bendingly twisted pop hooks, amping up melody and mood with deep growling keys and left-field curves. Their latest, Oracular Spectacular, seems to be further proof that 2008 is shaping up to be a fantastically savvy year. Really, I must remember to be more conservative with the old asterisks: the bar seems to have risen to a level that only the finest Fosbury flop could make it over.

True, a sonic link to The Evangelicals (whose Evening Descends was my first must-hear of ought eight) may not be immediately obvious to those who put on Oracular Spectacular for the first time, and I’m totally charitable enough to suggest that MGMT’s muse veers more into cosmic sleazoid funk territory than a wide-screen cinematic ramble. However, consider if you will the following facts, and I think you’ll agree with me that we’ve stumbled on an obvious and disturbing conspiracy.

1. The Evangelicals are from Oklahoma.
2. The Flaming Lips are from Oklahoma
3. Jonathan Donahue was a member of The Flaming Lips before forming Mercury Rev.
4. Dave Fridmann was the bass player for early Mercury Rev.
5. Dave Fridmann produced Oracular Spectacular.

Do you see it? It’s perfectly obvious to me: Wayne Coyne and the rest of his Flaming Lips / Mercury Rev-tainted motley crew are intent on taking some of America’s finest indie-bands and infusing them with an adventurous, near psychedelic spirit while not forsaking a sense of pop dynamics. Simply put: it’s got to hit both the head AND the heart (but not literally).

Ideologically we ought to be worried: if I see any inflatable globes at a MGMT show, I’ll know the corruption is complete. Musically however, well, how could anyone complain? It’s true that the Abba meets the Velvet Underground stylings of Time to Pretend were heard on a 2005 EP, but this is the major-label debut and Time to Pretend’s a great song.

If there’s any particular gripe about Oracular Spectacular, it’s that the production of Mr. Fridmann, fantastic though it may be, makes certain noises (Pieces of What) here sound a little to close to vintage Mercury Rev, or the aforementioned Flaming Lips. As well, occasionally, the vocal stylings of Ben Goldwasser and/or Andrew VanWyngarden veer a little into a Gordon Gano-like whine not heard since the first Violent Femmes album.

However, these are but minor quibbles. I’m excited to see what else 2008 brings and whether The Flaming Lips will further reveal themselves to be indie-rock’s Kevin Bacon.

Review by Greg Hood-Morris

Agree? Disagree? Email Greg at criticizegreg@gmail.com

Comments

[weranim]

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