MGMT - Congratulations

It has been some time since the Brooklyn based band MGMT have produced any significant new material, and many have been awaiting the new album with anticipation. As is common in today's internet age, their new material has been leaked before the official release date.

Congratulations is a departure from what many fans might have expected from the band. Gone are the instant hits of their first album, such as Weekend Wars and Kids. Instead, the band have decided to go a more experimental route. For example, the song Siberian Breaks runs over the 10 minute mark and is apparently about surfing in the Artic Circle. The track is complex and at times seems almost a composite of a few different songs. Ultimately, it is a rewarding song which requires repeated listens.

This track is a microcosm of the album as a whole in that it will challenge listeners rather than pander to their expectations. There are a few great tracks here like the haunting I Found a Whistle and Brian Eno. Although some may call Congratulations self indulgent, you have to give the band credit for trying something different. I feel the album is at least as strong as Oracular Spectacular.

Since the leak, the band have posted the entire album on their official website which can be found here http://www.whoismgmt.com/uk/home