Exclusive: MGMT Unveil New Album!
News
L-R: MGMT's Andrew Vanwyngarden and Ben Goldwasser / Photo by Josh Cheuse
Mark your calendars, Blackberries, iPhones, iPads, or just write it on your damn hand -- 'cause now it's officially official: MGMT's second album, Congratulations, will release in the U.S. on April 13.
MGMT's core duo of Andrew Vanwyngarden and Ben Goldwasser recorded the album at studios in Upstate, NY, Brooklyn, and Malibu, CA, with producer Peter Kember, a.k.a. Sonic Boom of shoegaze pioneers Spaceman 3, and their live band -- Matt Asti (bass), Will Berman (drums), and James Richardson (guitar). Royal Trux frontwoman Jennifer Herrema helped with vocals, while knob-twiddler extraordinaire Dave Fridmann (Mercury Rev, Flaming Lips) handled mixing duties.
The release is the group's first since their 2007 breakout debut, the catchy and psychedelic Oracular Spectacular -- which landed MGMT on the cover of SPIN.
"It's definitely going to shock people," Vanwyngarden recently told SPIN.com of the new album's sound. "We dropped any sort of irony that was on the first record, and Congratulations feels true to who we really are."
Congratulations' nine songs are "sequenced to flow with sonic and thematic coherence." And according to Vanwyngarden, the album moves from "Lady Dada's Nightmare," a "very nightmare-ish sounding" instrumental track inspired by the "Poker Face" pop star, to "Congratulations," a song written about fame and the "worldwide economic crisis." Through it all, he said, there's one unifying influence: surfing, a sport he picked up while recording in Malibu.
"There's a surfing thread throughout the record," he explained, citing another new song, called "It's Working." "When you're surfing, there's a specific break you're paddling to. And when the waves are really good you say, 'It's working.' The song kind of has a surf-y vibe. It's like surfing on ecstasy!"
The ocean's influence on Congratulations is also evident on MGMT's website, which features an image of a beach with crashing waves and, in the upper left corner, a timer counting down to the album's release date.
Another album track "Siberian Breaks" is a 12-minute-long tune that's "like eight different songs strung together into one, and the general theme is about surfing in the Arctic Circle by Russia," Vanwyngarden explained.
As previously reported, MGMT debuted a pair of songs during their late-night set at Bonnaroo last June -- an untitled piano-led track that recalled the bright psychedelia and flowing arrangements of the Zombies' Odessey and Oracle, and the album's title track, a more standard MGMT fare (catchy synths, sing-along vocals).
Currently, MGMT have only two live concerts scheduled: an April 17 appearance at Coachella and a May 2 gig at New Jersey's Bamboozle fest.
A full tour in support of Congratulations is expected to be announced soon.
Congratulations tracklist:
"It's Working"
"Song for Dan Treacy"
"Someone's Missing"
"Flash Delirium"
"I Found a Whistle"
"Siberian Breaks"
"Brian Eno"
"Lady Dada's Nightmare"
"Congratulations"
- Posted By Anonymous
02.15.10 12:35 PM
Seriously you guys? I mean, every band has people that don't like it, and some have valid reasons for it. I, for one, like MGMT, but I don't think they're the "Best band ever". But, anyway, I'm excited to see how this one turns out, I think if they really nail this one like they did their first then they'll be highly liked, which I think they deserve. But, i will agree that the album is a bit over-hyped.
- Posted By Anonymouschick
02.13.10 4:03 PM
Flipping out!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Posted By Ronan
02.12.10 7:04 AM
This band is alright. Definitely riding on the tried and true 'run the music through all the right channels and review websites' path to a short shot at indie stardom, but who can really blame them. Their sound is such cut and paste version of everything that has been done better in the past that their isnt much to dislike (beside that fact). They probably accept that being sugar sweet catchy will only last so long so they will most likely drive at continuing to appropriate the sound of other good psych-pop acts like Animal Collective with more songs like 'Pieces of What'. All that aside, if it sounds pleasant to the ear who can really complain?
- Posted By a hot girl
02.11.10 4:41 PM
i think MGMT are good enough although i don't like their video for "kids" because of the baby crying. its disturbing. i like the songs lyrics though.
- Posted By Abii
02.11.10 4:19 PM
MGMT are such an amazing band, I don't understand how anyone could possibly not like their music. If you don't like MGMT, there is definately something seriously wrong with you. WOO HOO MGMT BEST BAND EVER! ORACULAR SPECTACULAR ROCKED AND SO WILL CONGRATULATIONS. END OF DISCUSSION.=]
- Posted By Anonymous
02.11.10 3:13 PM
I'm 15 years old and i love MGMT since 2 years ago, when I bought their first album. If they'll don't become really famous or they'll have a lots of people who dislike their songs, I think it's alright. They make Indie and that isn't very popular for many younger peoples like other genres. But this doesn't stop me to buy the new album of them. I'll look forward.
> and I'm sorry for my bad english, I'm a swiss girl.
- Posted By j3s2b3w
02.11.10 3:33 AM
ALL bands have haters LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLand lots of bands have ~*meaning and depth*~, sorry 2 say.
- Posted By Anonymous
02.10.10 8:45 PM
ok haters, if you really dislike MGMT that much why dont you just **** off because no one cares about your opinion, get a life. Clearly you just don't get their music, it actually has meaning and depth, unlike most of the music that comes out these days.
On a happier note, i am SO EXCITED for this album all of us MGMT fans have been waiting for AGES for this album to come out, and I think it'll be amazing. And I'm going to see them at bamboozle which I cant wait for :D
- Posted By j3s2b3w
02.10.10 7:21 PM
I honestly don't think they're very good.
- Posted By cat
02.10.10 2:38 PM
I love mgmt, their lyrics are so deep and meaningful, and the music is so catchy and danceable! My favourite song in the whole world is "Kids". unfortunately i don't think mgmt will be able to pull it off with this album, but prove me wrong MGMT, prove me wrong!!!!
- Posted By Robert Schrader
02.10.10 12:22 AM
If a band has to admit that their first album was all about irony and being hipsters, their second is dead in the water. Blah.
- Posted By gatorboyce
02.09.10 11:31 PM
This album is going to be amazing...
- Posted By Peter Hoffman
02.09.10 9:51 PM
I want it now!!!
- Posted By idlehands237
02.09.10 8:41 PM
One hit wonder is someone who has...ONE hit...Check your facts buddy.
- Posted By Tom Novak
02.09.10 6:54 PM
12-14 year old kids don't support MGMT, I don't know if you've been to ANY college campus in the last 2 years. If you don't get why they're good, then you obviously aren't into that genre/scene, so leave it be. You just don't like to dance, I'm guessing??
Anyway, I'm quite excited for this album! I hear it's also going to have a more jammy feel since they let the touring band in the studio with them.
03.05.10 6:43 PM
Hell yeah. Metanoia is a beast of a song.
I actually am starting to hate Kids, it gets way to much hype, and it's not nearly as good as the second half of Oracular or Metanoia.