Album: Oracular Spectacular
Artist: MGMT
Release Date: October 2, 2007
Genre: Indie
Length: 0:40:30
Label: RED Ink/Columbia Records
Producer: Dave Fridmann/MGMT
Rolling Stone Top 500 (2012): #494
Rolling Stone Top 500 (2020): N/A
1,001 Album Book: Yes
Make Great Music Together...(it doesn't actually mean this, don't attack me!)
Indie pop duo MGMT, from the middle of nowhere Connecticut with their debut album, and quite frankly, one of the most iconic albums of the 2000s. Given the amount of hit singles released from this record, one would think it would've sold well and peaked high on the charts, but it performed exactly the opposite of what you would have expected. Only peaking at 38 on the Billboard 200 and selling a total of a little over 600,000, this album did receive gold certification, but still had a very underwhelming release.
Even with an underwhelming release, it's hard to deny some of the songs on Oracular Spectacular are exceptionally produced masterpieces. From the opening synth lines on "Time to Pretend" to open the album, the mysterious sounding bell-like synth part in "4th Dimensional Transition", the high-pitched singing along with the grimy crunch of the drums in "Electric Feel", all the way to the joyous laughter of children enjoying recess on "Kids", this album is a never-ending treasure map that has bits of gold scattered about the entire ten song track listing. While the second half of the album is not nearly as strong as the first, it's still great, it just sadly falls slightly flat compared to the masterpiece of the first. If they took the first half only and released it as an EP, it seems like it would've sold better than the full length record.
With a sound that explodes with power, Oracular Spectacular is one of those albums that makes you question just how ONLY two individuals could create something so exciting. Every listen, I guarantee you will find new things you didn't hear in previous listens, which just makes the album's everlasting appeal that much more. Along with how great of musicians Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser are, their lyrics overwhelm the listener with nostalgia. I'm not sure if this is because this album came out when I was only nine, if it's the sound of "Kids" laughing and screaming, or if it's simply that some of the songs literally talk about living out your past and remembering it, or if it's the combination of all three of those. Like I mentioned earlier, the last few songs on the album are still amazing songs don't get me wrong, but when put up next to songs that have an argument of being a part of defining an entire generation's early music listening, it's hard to enjoy the second half as much as those first few. It's almost like the first half they knew was going to be so good they were comfortable with more experimentation and psychedelic themes during the second. I love experimentation and psychedelic sounds in songs but sometimes it can be overdone and I feel like they were just about to overdo it without ever actually tipping into that realm. However, I DO highly recommend listening to the entire record, mainly because each song is so dense and I know it will leave someone longing to come back to dig deeper.
Favorite Songs: "4th Dimensional Transition", "Time to Pretend", "Kids", "Electric Feel" Least Favorite Song: "Future Reflections"
Production Quality:
Mix = 10/10
Innovation = 9/10
Songwriting Quality:
Arrangement = 9/10
Lyricism = 8.5/10
Instrumentation Quality:
Vocal Timbre = 8/10
Instrumental Timbre = 10/10
Group Chemistry = 10/10
Overall Likability:
My Personal Rating = 9/10
Overall Rating: 9.25/10
Any confusion on how the rating is weighted/calculated, please look at my "About" page.
Remember this is all my opinion! Let me know if you agree, disagree or have any comments!
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