Reviews (page 11 of 15)
In a previous time I would’ve given this album a 4, maybe even a 5. But in the grand scheme of things, it’s not worth that. Three hits amongst several other unnoticeable tracks makes this an album that defines a generation for some but has little to offer for many others.
Every Frat Boy's favorite album and just for 3 songs. Oracular Spectacular is more then just a mouthful of an album title, it is MGMT's debut album and it is pretty solid. Not going to touch on the big 3 songs because that horse has been beat to shit so lets talk about the other 7 tracks. Weekend Wars is a slow but really fun track that honestly deserves more respect, it is a fun "rock anthem" electronic track that just feels great to listen to. The Youth is a very misplaced song on this album and the start of a bunch of questionable picks for this project. It is mostly an indie rock song which is weird on a heavily electronic album, or at least that's how I see this project. 4th Dimensional Transition is yet another forceful attempt to make this project half electronic and half indie rock when the indie rock really doesn't work at all with this duo. This is an electronic group and once they realize that then they are golden, but the indie rock songs are rough and decent at best. Not going to lie completely forgot what Pieces of What sounded like mere minutes after. Of Moons, Birds & Monsters is the only good rock song here because it is heavily electronic in a trippy way that makes you want to sink into the ground. The Handshake is a simple and well executed track that gets the pass because it is simply good, no other reason. Future Reflections is such a let down closer for this project because it does the stupid indie rock thing again, just shows how this album struggles with any sort of identity and instead becomes a very lop-sided game of tug-o-war. I think one of the best ways to sum this up is with the comment @polduan made, "split this album in half and you get two different projects - first one is amazing, the latter just okay."
Starts off good with Time to Pretend - the hit. I think that the rest is pretty good, but I don’t think I’m going to listen to it again - It’s not really for me
While the first half of the album is stacked with iconic songs that still hold up beautifully, the deeper cuts don’t hit nearly as hard, often dragging or feeling a little unfocused. Favourite Songs: Time to Pretend, Kids, Future Reflections. Least Favourite Songs: Pieces of What, The Handshake.
I was underwhelmed.
Album sympa, qui a comme highlight le premier morceau. Ceci étant dit, je le trouve relativement oubliable. Donc c'est un 3. 3.5 aurait pu marcher aussi
Great album, several huge hits in only 40 minutes. Also the nostalgia factor was huge on this one.
It’s a fun album. Good but other than the singles I already know, I think it’s pretty average.
Not my favorite but this has much more potential replayability than a lot of music i've heard from this list so there's that.
3 modern indie classics and not a lot else to recommend. I can see why they never repeated this success again.
MTGM är inte något albumband. De kan konsten att avfyra rökare som Time to pretend och Kids. Men däremellan mest utfyllnad, inte dåligt, men bara inte särskilt minnesvärt. En trea för de två nämnda låtarna.
Svängig elektropop. Klart godkänt.
-OOH GIRL. SHCOK ME LIKE AN EELCTRIC EEL -this was soo fun, certainly not MGMT’s most esteemed album but i think it’s actually a really good introduction to the band -i feel like there were def a few mediocre / bad songs but the good ones made up for them -Favorites are Electric Feel, Kids, and 4th Dimensional Transition
Not my cup of coffee
Lo he escuchado como 5 veces ya, siempre termina siendo música de fondo, pero igual me gusta.
This is not my first listen of Oracular Spectacular, but my first full listen in sometime. I want to like this more. These guys are great so writers and we're definitely in line with the vibe of pop music when this album came out. I guess I think this is a perfectly OK album and deserves to be on the list but doesn't reach any new highs or get out of its own comfort zone.
Definitely some great songs, could not overcome the impression of a singing ghost jangling keys... highlights were electric feel and kids
3 great songs and a handfull of half decent ones. Not really my cup of tea and more than that, not really a strong album IMO
Aside from the trees Just wanting to be haunted I feel mostly meh
Good album
Not sure what I expected but was better than I expected
Fun electronic music. Danced around in the kitchen to a few of these songs.
I dont really like it. But then I start humming along.
fresh and flashy, knew more than one song from... the radio?
Not their best. Decent tho but I don't see the mass mass appeal. Maybe because it has mass appeal I don't care for it, it's too general.
Good
Optimistic street pop from the era that lead to the Obama election. Great production and solid songs.
it was decent but nothing i love or will return to. i knew kids and electric feel beforehand. kids being the song i much prefer out of those two. of moons, birds & monsters is my fave song from this album. i enjoyed it a lot! i’m actually going to add this to my playlist.
Several recognizable radio songs from my teens. Not generally my cup of tea but don’t hate
4 notes into first track: oh thats who this is
Sounds very 2007. I couldn’t tell if it was a unique sound or just the pop version of the “ho-hey” Mumford songs of the time.
There are some iconic songs here but the rest is just tiresome.
Not as uniformly strong as I wished it was. Love the big three, though, which are spiky, electric, and have great pop hooks.
Electronica usually not my jam, but Electric Feel and Kids changed my mind.
Def had some great songs musically. Music reflected the time in the mid 00's. Some of the lyrics got lost in the more atmospheric songs. I would have liked them to be more prominent and clear. They can really put a good beat backed with solid vocals, like in Time to Pretend and Kids. I would have liked a couple more songs in this vein.
This is a weird one to rate - three absolutely spectacular (pun intended) songs that might represent the apex of aughts indie rock, and then a lot of tracks that are sort of...fine? I don't think it's actually great as an ALBUM. I'll admit the back half of this record never got a lot of spins from me even when it first came out so it was sort of like listening to it for the first time. Weekend Wars is probably the "best of the rest" for me. I do like the production and sort of the proggy psychadelia of it all but but it just feels like there is too much filler.
I can’t think of a song better deserving of being called an “anthem” more than time to pretend. What an opener. Despite loving the singles, I never have really listened to the album. And weirdly, it didn’t do much for me. It’s almost like the three singles latched onto me when they were released and I’ve enjoyed them for the last 15ish years, but my tastes aren’t the same anymore so anything new kind of bounces off me. Weird!
It was alright - I liked the noises, but felt like I was in top man buying a shirt to go clubbing.
7/10
I mean, I've heard the opening single a billion times. It's fine! I like it, although I've never particularly sought it out. Oh, yeah, and here's Electric Feel. Yup. And Kids, yup. Yup yup yup. I actually really liked Of Moons, Birds, & Monsters, too, but otherwise yeah. I think it's good, but also I don't feel super drawn to it.
Quite fun but not sure I'll listen to it often. 3.5/5
Yay! A newer album. Knew the hits but not the rest of the album. Not bowled over but not dragged down, either.
Fun album
It was okay. There were a lot of songs that I recognized from commercials. So, that was cool to hear them in their entirety. It was kind of bland, though.
Eh
This album takes me back to a very specific time and place. There are some real bangers that still hit, but I didn't feel the album as a whole stood the test of time.
interesting jolly poppy stuff
Good
The songs that likely charted are still fun to listen to.
I liked their music and style but it wasnt for me. I enjoyed having them as background music while i was painting, but i didnt add any song to my playlist
Good modern indie pop album.
Just like that I'm waiting tables in college again
I forgot how undeniably catchy some of these songs were, and I liked hearing the ones that weren't ubiquitous singles, too.
Je to skvělé, poslechnu si určitě další alba. Líbilo se mi The Youth, Electric Feel a Kids.
not bad rate 3.5 if possible
I loved the energy of the album!
Really funny that the three singles from this album were written as a joke to parody late 2000s pop music and they became three of the best pop songs of all time. Rest of the album is new for me and is pretty ahead of it's time as Psychedelic Pop/Rock had a resurgence in the last few years, but doesn't hit as hard as the singles. Of Moons, Birds & Monsters was pretty good though.
There are tracks on here that everyone's heard at least once. It's trippy and feels kind of like an out-of-body experience when listening to this entire record through. It's got great production and head boppers, then before a track ends, the mixing gets distorted and messes with your head and in a good way too. Favourite Track(s): Electric Feel, Of Moons, Birds & Monsters Least Favourite Track(s): Pieces of What
Electronic melenium Pop. Ranked 494/500 best album according to Rolling Stone.
It’s a good Album, refreshing and easy to listen. Sometimes vocals and melodies can get too repetitive, you know what you’re getting after a couple of songs, however the synths and guitar parts save the record.
Some of my favorite songs of all time are on this album. Love the MGMT sound. But the hits are hits and some of the misses are pretty boring in comparison.
Listened to about half of it so far. I recognized a few tunes and already have these tunes in my collection. Album as a whole is OK.
Nice pop
Suddenly you hear "Kids" and you think, "Did they make this?" The album instantly improves. "Kids" isn't on my playlist yet, but that's about to change...
MGMT was very mucha flash in the pan and the songs are incredibly derivative, but these guys can write a goddamn hook. Not to mention that “Kids” and “Time to Pretend” hold a real special place in my heart because of how they coincided with my own coming-of-age out of college and into adulthood. It’s not the best, but it’s also not the worst.
Not bad. Reminds me of my year abroad, but I think other than that, I would probably just pass over this.
This was more psychedelic than I thought it would be. Good trippy bohemian style pop. The 3 singles really carried the album, with the other songs seeming mostly muted, especially at the end.
Indisputable bangers on this one, but not really my thing overall
MGMT is one of those bands I heard in early middle school when I was “beginning to discover music” and while I think it definitely influenced me, I have no desire to bring this back into my life. It just doesn’t hold up. That being said, whatever they’re doing nowadays with shit like Bubblegum Dog rules
I enjoyed this album more than I thought I would. Saved 2 songs.
While I certainly do know the two big hits, I had never listened to this album. It’s decent pop. Some similar sounding tunes.
Ganska kul album. Höga toppar, ok mellanspår. Rolig ljudbild men tappar när det blir för flummigt och såsigt. Singlarna svinbra och hållit över tid. Andra halvan tappar en del. Synd de inte vågar gå mer ”kommersiellt/poppigt ”. Bästa spår: Kids Betyg: 6 av 10 (ev 5,5 egentligen)
Now that was interesting. I of course already knew MGMT from my youth - "Kids" and "Electric Feel" were everywhere when I moved to LA in 2010 - but I hadn't actually sat and listened to the album. The album itself has a remarkably different sound than the three headline acts (including Time to Pretend). While those three have an electronic, indie-pop sound, the rest of the album is MUCH more accoustic, much more thoughtful, almost melancholy. Kind of a mix between shoegaze and folk. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure that it works cohesively - it feels like the band was shotgunning stuff at the wall to see what stuck. The result? Three all-time bangers and a full album that is never greater than the sum of its parts.
I really liked this 17 years ago, but it hasn't held up after repeatedly hearing it for all these years. It was definitely innovative at the time though. I think I've moved on from the content too.
Sometimes you are just two songs, and that’s fine.
Throwback to high school. Enjoyed the album as a whole, will probably only return to the 2 liked songs: Time to Pretend and Kids
Had a couple of good songs, but wasn't my cup of tea.
Fun album, but nothing really special. I like the tracks with short catchy Synth lines, like Time to Pretend. I think I'll listen to that one again, but other than that I don't think I'll replay this one very often.
Solid album.
Some early aught hits , not too bad
———————————— A low 3 or a high 2, so…3 My non-musician scoring system. 5 - Love it. Would play anytime, buy, see live… 4 - Good music. 3 - Average playlist. Depends on time and setting. 2 - I can’t listen to whole songs. 1 - No.
Fine.
Nothing too spectacular
bonzinho
Time to Pretend and Kids are standout tracks, tracks that preceded the album by a couple of years though. I never got into the album itself at the time, still not my cup of tea, and much preferred the follow up Congratulations.
3 stand out singles but the rest was pretty meh.
2.9
Couple of fun ones
I bought this on iTunes! Kill me now. My local bar plays it constantly. This feels like the soundtrack to Gossip Girl. Xoxo. Pretty up and down album that endures.
I'm mean its fine isn't it. you can see why the singles were the singles, they were a good bit better than the . Its not amazing, but its certainly not bad.
I did not use a private Spotify session for this one. I have heard a few of these songs on the radio, a lot, but have never listened to the album. It's music with a good beat, interesting lyrics, but leans way too keyboard heavy for me. I am fine with just hearing these songs on the radio without playing the album.
A lot of unique and interesting variation in between songs, Moon Birds was OK too, I think I'll go with a 3 here
downloaded electric feel, time to pretend, kids and of moons, birds & monsters. a few classic millennial songs on here. i still like frank oceans version of electric feel bettee
Decent - their later ones are better
There are three hits on them and they are bangers - pop perfection. The rest is OK but feels a bit like filler. All in all, a fun album.
A lovely throwback to a band I found very mid.
As someone who grew up in the 2000s, I obviously know Time to Pretend, Electric Feel and Kids by heart, because they have been all over the radio in 2008/2009. I do feel like they are all part of the canon of 2000s commercial pop hits, that are also just really good songs. However I did not listen to the album, up until now, even though I am a pretty big fan of Little Dark Age. This is a good album, even though the drop in quality between the three hits and the rest is obvious.
Actually a pretty good effort... sort of reminds me of early David Bowie...surprisingly... the two guys in the group say they have the Talking Heads in their blood... but, i heard NONE of that... lol... but, i did hear Donovan... and T Rex a bit... modernized with sampling of course... fairly strong tunes... "kids" being the "hit"... but the record peters out at the end... four stars... a score that could be five if you are under 40... and three if you are over 60...
It’s fun, I love their sound, but there was nothing standout beyond the songs I’ve already heard
I've never sat down and listened to this record, but much of it is familiar. I don't generally love an over emphasis on synthesizers and drum machines and what not, but this record does all of that really right, and there's at least 3 tracks on here that I already revisit somewhat often. For me, this record is creeping up on a 4-star rating because I genuinely really enjoy parts of it and will listen to those tracks again. I think I give it a 3 because there aren't quite enough of those to qualify it as a hard 4, but this is probably my favorite record presented in 1001 so far, with the exception of Wish You Were Here, which is a hard 5 star record.
Some absolute, world level tracks that made a huuuuuuge splash and still resonate today....but surrounded by relatively mid content. This album feels like it looses steam on a front to finish play-through. Trim the second half and you might have a five star EP. 3.5 stars.
Reminds me of Arcade Fire and Foster the People. I really like the first half but then it falls off after that. I definitely prefer their later Little Dark Age album.
It's interesting, I like it. 3.5/5
This is one of those albums where I recognize why people might like it. It’s well made, can be catchy, and has a high production quality. But… it’s just not for me. Kind of feels too clean? A lot like the rich kid who wants to be indie and gets really into raves? I found myself more interested in the filler tracks and wanting to turn off the singles.
Like the vibes, quite fresh Fav song - Kids 3/5
AVRG
Killer front half, forgettable back half. I do like synth-pop and I recognize their impact on modern synth-pop but I'd imagine their other albums are better.
Greit nok
Вполне норм, но такая, легонькая электронщина попсовое Не мое немного
130/1089 - Well it sounds like pop music. I read that this album was made "ironically" which I call total bullshit on. You can't do things "ironically," that's just a smokescreen for doing what you want to do without others judging you. Maybe you can start things out ironically, but putting that much effort into releasing an album definitely takes willpower and some genuine love and respect for what you decide to record. I obviously am putting my own experiences and viewpoints into writing this but I am so sick of irony permeating society and the people I interact with on a day-to-day basis. Got off track from the review, well made pop music but not really my thing and seems frontloaded.
3.5
This album was very solid. The first track, Time to Pretend, was probably my favorite, but it was truly hard to choose the best song from this album. It brought back a nostalgic feeling in me (which is odd because, to my knowledge, I didn't know of this band and/or album prior to this listen). The music was great, the vocals were soothing, but it was the lyrics which really made an impression on me. This album was creative and a breath of fresh air.
2.5/5.0: Mixed
liked this more than expected based off of the singles
So I didn't know who these people were but I knew the first and fifth songs, and they're not absolutely amazing but they're pretty nice. The rest of the album was alright, and it was okay playing it in the background, as it is fairly chill.
Meh GMT
Album cover is meh. 1. Catchy. Great song. Nostalgic. 2. Ok. Pretty flat throughout. No ups or downs. 3. Also, meh, overall, generally not making much of an impression. 4. Radio hit. Unique interesting, like song 1. Good beat. Fun lyrics. 5. Their biggest hit I think. Also funky, fun, great beat. 6. Dark. Mysterious. Like it. 7. Daniel Johnston-esque. Reminds me of a country/blues singer I can't place right now. A tempo change! 8. Fun. Tempo changes here and there. Guitar solo. Head bopper. Bluesy. 9. Space oddity synths. So David Bowie. The chorus saved this from being boring. 10. Also good. Fun. OVERALL: the best songs are on side A with two of the weakest songs. 7/10.
Three five star songs and a bunch of 2-3 star songs. Not a bad record but not as good throughout as the standout tracks.
Бодренько так, слушать можно иногда. 6,5 из 10.
Favorite Tracks: Kids Time to Pretend Electric Feel
There’s a few classic songs on here but mixed in with some pretty forgettable ones too. Was interesting to listen through the album as I reckon I’ve never heard the non-singles before. Held my interest but probably nostalgia playing a bit of a role there.
Good electro-pop, but don't know that I'll return to it. Feels like it walked so Tame Impala could run.
A rule of thumb this list has not challenged is that a great pop album (think most of Madonna's imperial run from Virgin through to Music) delivers four great singles. Plus well a load of other stuff. This album delivers three great singles, plus a load of other stuff. Hence three stars.
College era
Pretty forgettable, like most of the music from this decade.
Definitely some envelope-pushing melodies and production. I can't really say that it's as incredible now as it was then, but the band has only continued to expand their sound since this debut. I can definitely see the vision on the album as a whole, even when (in my opinion) that vision isn't realised as well as it could be. Top 5 (no order): Kids, Of Moons Birds and Monsters, Time to Pretend, Electric Feel, Future Reflections Some weaker and less impactful songs, but none that I would consider forgettable. I think if I had become an MGMT fan when I was 14, I'd have been obsessed with this album. Even so, I have to appreciate and respect what this album does. 7/10
The hits were great, classic songs. I didn’t realize it came out when they did. Overall, as a cohesive album, it was pretty solid, not sure why the whole album is on the list, though, for a debut though it’s fantastic.
Some interesting songs here with a rich sound.
3 absolutely top of the heap tracks packed amongst, unfortunately, some really unremarkable filler. I listened through several times to see if I was missing something about the other tracks, and I can’t even recall the songs as soon as they have ended. I remember listening to some of this back when it first came out and thinking, guess I’ll stick with the hits. It still holds true now that I’m listening to it almost 20 years later with intention. That said, Time to Pretend, Electric Feel, and Kids are in a league of their own.
оказалось что знаю три! возможно с половиной! песни, сильно больше чем думала. норм, интересные, но задавленные, долго слушать сложно)
There are some BANGERS here. This isn't my absolute favorite style of music but this is pretty good. "Time to Pretend" I had no idea was by them. "Of Moons, Birds & Monsters" impressed me thoroughly. I think this is a solid 3 album. Liked Songs: "Time to Pretend" , "The Youth" , "Electric Feel" , "Kids" , "Of Moons, Birds & Monsters"
Some songs that went on to become classics, but the overall album is okay.
I'll be honest, I thought I might get into this one more than I actually did. Other than the 3 singles that were everywhere back in my college years, I don't think I had heard anything else off of this album. I suppose I never hated the singles, but in part due to their popularity, and definitely not really being my kind of "sound" at the time, I guess you could say I didn't really like MGMT. I feel like I've heard some random songs of theirs pop up on streaming radio here and there since then, and was actually kind of impressed that I was into them. Again, I think any dislike I had for them was more of me being a contrarian than actually giving them an actual shot. Now, what I do enjoy is hearing the old school keyboards and electronic influence, but what I don't really enjoy is the songs themselves. Nothing really stood out to me while listening, and I guess part of me was expecting more of an outright synth-y assault compared to what I got. I guess its hard to truly judge since I've heard them a million times, but it does seem the band (or more likely the label) got it right with the singles they chose, they do seem to be the strongest songs here. I bet if I gave the album a handful more listens I could probably find some other stuff to enjoy, but overall not much to grab me on a first listen. Much like The Strokes album I reviewed recently, there also wasn't much offensive to my ears to really turn off from the sound. So we'll just throw this album in the pile of "hipster-haunt background music that I don't mind."
Boy, tough album. Has three amazing nostalgic songs, but the rest is iffy. Probably another 3.5, just because I got so bored along it but tough to give an album with 3 bangers a 3.
Iconic songs, but I’m kinda tired of them, not their fault
It was fine background music. Kids is a bop.
A fun one. First half much better than back half.
Once the internet was invented, MGMT were inevitable. Still, if you look at play numbers for the tracks on these albums, the three popular tracks have 10+ times more plays than the rest. Shallow? Fated to pretend? You be the judge. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing. Youth is for the cocky and confident. Mgmt are ok, and were fun for a while, but if you think the youth is starting to change, maybe it's just you getting older. What does all this mean? I don't know, but what I do know is that the second half of this album was ass compared to the first, and I probably won't listen to it again on purpose. 2.5 stars rounded up.
Probably on the better side of good.
Enjoyed this.
Honestly, this whole album was kinda mid. Nothing bad about it, two songs approaching a billion plays, likeable, but kinda all sounds the same.
Vibey but not always my vibe
With the addition of kids it boosts it to a 4 Edit Apr 15 2026: 4 --> 3
Shoutout to Saltburn for putting "Time to Pretend" back on my radar. Solid album! There are some more experimental songs that, while fun for a listen, I probably won't come back to.
Good.
Well executed but not for me
Not a big fan, wouldn't add to library but wouldn't turn it off either.
3.5 - nearly a 4 but the second half isn’t as strong
I like the hits the rest of the songs were not memorable. I don’t even know if I finished the album.
Ikkje så dumt
The hits still hit. Impressive album with compelling highs and inconsequential lows. They captured lightning in a bottle a couple of times on this debut album.
Reminds me of being a Houston hipster in the mid-2000s.
These guys are OK, but not really my cup of tea.
There's a great EP buried in this album.
Generation defining songs followed by some alright tracks
Nice album, apparently the sound of a certain generation?
It kinda falls off in the second half for me, but still, three absolute all-timer singles in that front half.
notes
Perfectly fine, if you define fine as being stuck in a Starbucks for 40 minutes 3/5
Ok but nothing new I liked
Well! This was alright. I could see themes of childhood and fantasy here but I'd need a few more listens to really make something out of it. The sound isn't really my thing, but I think it's because i'm put off by the fact that mainstream rock (ie Imagine Dragons) kind of got colonized by a watered down version of this sound? MGMT of course are much better than Imagine Dragons-- their songs *sound* like something while ID songs are a big nothing-- but in the year 2025 to me it plays a little like car commercial music? I suppose? I just don't have a lot of context for late 2000s to early 2010s indie so I could be wrong. I do love Kids, though-- but its the only song that I had listened to before. I think it's a truly great song. The thing is that right now it's the only song that strikes me as truly exceptional.
Peak mid
Very top heavy album. The good songs are great all the other songs are pretty meh
Nice sounds and the hits are huge but the other stuff is just fine. Transportive to a certain time in my life but as an album it's just ok. In fact, some of this stuff sounds like Hard 'n' Phirm.
I don’t expect to revisit the album again, but I like this a lot more than I expected. Some songs may have replay value.
хз не понимаю, все говорят понимают я не понимаю
2.5.
This was fine - music I already listen to, even. However, as far as being in this list, I thought it was a weird choice as I don't think it stands out as particularly great but then what do I know about music?
красива живот красивы песни хорошие жизнрадостные
Beim zweiten Mal hören hat es mir besser gefallen, aber es fühlt sich eher wie eine Playlist als wie ein Album an
Sind natürlich alle Klassiker drauf aber am Ende find ich’s nicht so spektakulär
good not the best 1st album better
Can't wait for the Kids needledrop in a post-college movie set in 2007 2.5
Never listened to the entire thing, But I recognized the hits. I really enjoyed the 60s/70s psychedelic influences. I can see why this album is popular, but not my thing.
Het materiaal op 'Oracular Spectacular' staat echt in m'n psyche gegrift. Een weird, psychedelic pop album uit 2007.. het kon ook niet anders dan dat dit album zou blijven kleven tijdens m'n jeugdige jaren. Ik zeg expliciet 'het materiaal op', en niet 'het album', omdat ik moet toegeven dat vooral kantje één zich diep in m'n muzikale bagage heeft genesteld. Door de jaren heen kreeg ik echter steeds meer middelen ter beschikking om deze 'jeugdplaat' te relativeren, door het te spiegelen aan ander werk in het genre en hun eigen latere albums, en daardoor ben ik wel íéts gematigder positief. Ik vind het bij vlagen kinderwerk vergeleken met later spul van ze, maar die onbevangenheid is natuurlijk ook wel echt de pull-factor van deze plaat. Los van dat ik er zelf fijne herinneringen van een zorgeloze jeugd bij heb, zijn songs als 'Time to Pretend' en 'Kids' wonderlijk nostalgisch, en zullen ze intergenerationeel warme gevoelens oproepen. Grappig dat ik nu bij een volledige luisterbeurt op volwassen leeftijd (ik moet zelfs toegeven dat ik - ondanks dat hij hier in de kast staat - 'Oracular Spectacular' mogelijk nog nooit in zijn totaliteit heb geluisterd sinds het bereiken van die volwassenheid) toch twee andere conclusies trek. Kantje één is - hoe warm, melancholisch en nostalgisch de emoties ook zijn - níét per se de enige 'star of the show', en kantje twee geeft veel meer weg over hun toekomstige pad naar een volwassen psychedelic/baroque pop sound. Met 'Electric Feel' en 'Kids' staan de meest pakkende en aantrekkelijke songs uit hun discografie op de eerste zijde, maar ik moet toch concluderen dat songs als '4th Dimensional Transition' en (vooral de outro van) 'Of Moons, Birds & Monsters' meer aanhaken bij de sound van de albums na deze, die ik bij vlagen toch ietsjes hoger heb zitten. Maar de consistentie van kant één is wel een stuk hoger, en zorgt blij vlagen voor een after diner dip tijdens de gezapige momenten op de achterzijde. Eindoordeel is dat de tijd deed leren dat dit misschien niet dat oppermachtige, megalomane album binnen de alternative pop scene was, wat ik wel een tijdje dacht, maar dat de tijd ook deed leren dat nostalgie een sterke emotie is. Heb genoten van andere momenten die me destijds zijn ontgaan, maar de verdomde 'overdraaide' earworms van kant één blijven toch weer het meest hangen. 7,5/10 Highlights: Weekend Wars Electric Feel Kids 4th Dimensional Transition
It sounds mainstream, I don't know how to explain it. Ant the sounds get repetitive after few tracks. Anyway is ok
Decent. 3/5
I just found this inoffensive. Nothing to annoy or inspire just a middle of the road something / nothing. I knew the first song well and that was the peak straight away so it just fell away after that. I dont even know what this is but to me just electro pop or something. Not my world. 2 would be harsh and 3 would be generous. So there we go!
Those three songs (I don’t need to name them, but just in case: time to pretend, electric feel, and kids) were inescapable in 2007-08. I think I even saw these guys at Lollapalooza around then. And, as I remembered, the rest of the album is just okay. Between a 3 and a 4 on the strength of those three songs and some scattered nice moments, but I think ultimately a 3 reflects the whole of the album more accurately.
Congratulations is better Will I listen to again: 50%
Solid album. 3 songs that are 5s but the rest doesn’t hold up to those 3. Great change of pace to everything else that was being released at the time. 3.75
👾
Nice pop-alternative listening.
Poppy electronic goodness, very synth very cool, and a whole bunch of guys on it, well done haha
The album's massive hits stick out like a thumb (for the better), compared with the rest of the album which is just decent indie rock with nice electronic elements.
The electronic more popular songs were great but everything else was mid
I'm fairly certain you could consider Electric Feel a disco song. I like the awkward vocal style of the lead singer, it adds an endearing, sincere quality to the music. The hits are very synth heavy, but alot of the other songs here are oddly folky.
The singles are undoubtedly stone cold classics of the time but always felt it more difficult to get into the rest of the record.
OK, didnt really catch my attention and was quite samey
I had this album and just got rid of it, oddly enough, a couple of weeks ago. I kept four tracks: "Time to Pretend", "Kids", "Electric Feel", Of Moons, Birds & Monsters". The rest just kind of left me 'meh'. I think the rest of this record and future records had them alternating between trying to recapture the magic of their hits, and experiment like their heroes did. Neither effort quite succeeded. These few songs, though, worked for me on many levels and pushed this record up to 3 stars.
Inte nåt särskilt. Trea
Oracular Spectacular boasts some of the biggest radio hits that effectively blend indie pop and electronica. Time To Pretend, Kids, and Electric Feel seemed to soundtrack the late 2000s with it's pretty electronic textures and modern psychedelic influence. Aside from the hits, the album doesn't do much to impress me. The back half especially feels like there isn't much going on.
Tiene 2 canciones nada mas en lo que a mi respecta
Familiar with the hits Kids but have never listened to their albums not a bad listen to be fair after several mediocre albums and worth adding to my Spotify for future can't believe its 2007 tho
There are a few tracks that I really enjoy, but not all.
The three hit singles are supremely annoying, mostly thanks to their repetitive, squeaky keyboard riffs. The rest is actually quite decent.
Good album
Was not sure if this was hard rock or synth pop depending on the song
Another completely unknown band for me. Nice tunes. Good album overall.
I remember the singles quite well from my youth. This really was a hot time for these indie/electronica acts, was it? The production and catchy electronic compositions stand out, but so too do the strange lyrics. I guess the latter was normal for this genre. Anyway, the singles (Time to Pretend, Electric Feel, Kids) absolutely carry this album, as the latter half doesn't reach nearly the same heights. What did impress me was the fact that the duo of VanWyngarden and Goldwasser pretty much did it all here, as both were the only personnel involved with the production & composition. That's worth something at least. Mid to high 3.
4th Dimensional Transition was a little anxiety-inducing for me, so I couldn't listen all the way through Pieces of What was the second song I didn't much care for Pretty good otherwise! 3.5
Не моё
songs i like: time to pretend, the youth, electric feels, kids
Album art:4
I love how this record captures a nostalgic sound and vibe. However, aside from the big hits, it didn’t connect with me all that much.
Sure cool. This is already in my playlist gimme something NEW!!!!
Kids is a banger obviously. The rest are a little bit soulless…
This is #day166 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… well, modern indie. I've heard "Time to Pretend," "Youth," and "Kids" at some point. Listening to this record begs the question: does this music have such lasting power to deserve a spot on the list? Yeah, it's kind of well put together, blending genres and styles from various decades, but there's nothing memorable aside from the three cuts I've mentioned. I was going to give this a 2, but let it be a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day167.
While not my favorite genre or band I can't deny how much this changed the sound of pop/electronic music in the US for a couple of years. Some good earworms in there, I think this album will stay enjoyable and relevant for a while.
Easy and fun listen, and the hits are nostalgic. A good project with a lot more layered production than I first imagined. Best song: Electric Feel Worst song: 4th Dimensional Transition Cover check: They dressed well for the party
Mediocre writing, would listen to once but not anything I feel I need to go back to
High and lows
3/5
Had heard the hits (which were the most enjoyable part of this for me) but the rest was still fun to listen to. Not jumping up to go listen to their next album
- hat mir ganz gut gefallen, mich aber nicht komplett umgehauen - Kids ist "witzigerweise" das zweite Lied, das ich jemals bei Spotify in meine Lieblingssongs aufgenommen habe (so früh, dass nicht mal ein Datum dransteht, aber es muss 2014 oder vorher gewesen sein, denn das dritte Lied ist "Wicked Ways" von Eminem und das wurde am 10. April 2014 hinzugefügt)
Only enjoyed the songs I know
Like Wikipedia says.
A really enjoyable album for my Sunday morning walk along the beach but for the rest of my life I doubt it would reappear
Bon petit album, rien de fou mais ça s'écoute gentiment
The big name songs are hard to enjoy at this point but the in-between songs are actually quite enjoyable, if a little lackluster
Not bad
I apparently know MGMT tracks already! But I can't stand this style of singing. The tracks tend to run together. Might be too gay for this.
To be fair I had to listen to this one twice. I have never heard of this band before. I can hear the Bowie influences here as well as funk. It was an enjoyable listen, although somewhat repetitive at times. I will listen to this again.
Meh
It was a middle of the road album. They are not bad, but not great either.
I had heard of them before. The lyrics were meh along with the style
The bridge between Millennial music and Gen Z music. Knew some of these songs from my childhood/middle school years. The album sounds nice well produced. Dude’s voice does not however so that dampens the enjoyability a bit. Also some of these song were super overplayed. Lyrics are kinda dumb too imo.
Has some classic songs. Glad I listened to it at least once the whole way through. They wrote it as young people with disdain for the world they live in. I wonder how they feel now? Weekend Wars was a standout with its David Bowie type vocals. The “hope then it all sucks” approach was a mixed bad. Some ideas landed and many didn’t. I like when they leaned into the fun musicality. They had better success with the dark lyrics and the levity of the music. The funky danceable stuff was nice.
Never really liked them
Ok Album, has 3 good songs others ok Best song : Kids
The gap between singles and album tracks has never been larger, makes the klaxon album look consistent. Time to pretend, electric feel and kids are so good, some of the best songs from that noughties electro-indie era. I don't think there was another song I actually enjoyed from this, let alone came close to those three. The other tracks almost sound like a different album, much more guitar focused but in a really drab way 2.5, but that is really based on the singles.
One amazing song. The rest is meh
I would have sworn that I hadn’t heard anything by this band, but then the track Kids kicked in with an infectious beat and hooked me in. This has a fun, glam, 70s vibe, reminding me somewhat of Sparks in it’s variety although the vocalist is nowhere near a match for Russell Mael when he attempts a falsetto on Of Moons, Birds and Monsters. A promising debut album that has put them on my listening radar.
I enjoyed this more than I was expecting to. Catchy tunes that manage to have a little depth. Solid album.
Overrated, overhyped and an outsized ‘impact’ on today’s music.
The tracks that incorporate electronic elements carry more intrigue than the more traditionally rock sounding songs. More of the former would benefit this album.
I was surprised how many songs I was familiar with. Not so much that I like them, but I don’t hate them, either. It’s an okay album and I didn’t mind too much listen to it, but I don’t see even intentionally listening to it again.
not the kind of music i usually listen to, but it was a solid album. time to pretend and kids were already on my regular rotation, and honestly, they were the only songs i enjoyed enough to keep listening to. the others were good too, just not my taste. i might’ve enjoyed electric feel if it weren’t for the electric feel incident….. these guys are talented though! 3/5 for me
3.5 stars
Some really good with a couple bleh songs. 3.5
3 out of 5. Middle of the road for me.
Gear: Meze 109 PRO Artwork: 🩳🏝️🩳 Production: 🎧😐🆗 Music: 🍄🎨🌈 Rating: 🩳🩳🩳(🩳)/5
Never listened to this before but somehow know all of the songs. Flaming Lips esque
Had 2 huge hits, rest of the album is pretty good, worth another listen
Songs i knew:2 Songs i like: 2 Decent album, starts well and tails off after about halfway through. Not a bad debut album at all from these lads. Low 3.
Early 2000’s indie bangers don’t come much more indie-y, banger-y or early 2000-y than this. Time to Pretend and Kids are incredible little pop tunes. Remind me of more carefree times. They’re the sound of walking past a wine bar at Glastonbury that’s blasting tunes and a crowd breaking into impromptu dance at 3 in the morning. Can’t honestly say I’ve ever actually listened to the rest of the album until now. It’s pretty different from those singles, more chamber pop-y on Weekend Wars and The Youth, then goes all 60’s prog rock in 4th Dimensional Transition and Of Birds, Moons and Monsters. To be fair, they had to be a bit proggy with titles like those. Enjoyed this overall, but it loses its way a bit in the latter half.
Don’t think I ever actually listened to this all the way through. Time to Pretend was inescapable in the mid 00’s and with good reason. It slaps and was nice to revisit. This album feels like they had a couple of smash hit singles which didn’t quite represent them fully so the rest of the album is a weird mix of poppy-proggy numbers which probably explains why they didn’t continue their rapid rise. Bit like other mid 00s indie also-rans like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Foxygen, Cymbals Eat Guitars and many many others. Highlights: Time to Pretend Weekend Wars Electric Feel Kids 4th Dimensional Transition The Handshake Lowlights: Everything was fine, even if it does trail a bit towards the end (picks up with The Handshake) Didn’t hate anything which I kind of half expected to. Strange album. Feels like they had a poptastic hitmaker on board for their big singles but could only afford them for them and had to do the rest themselves. Made me listen to Foxygen - We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic again which I love so thats a good thing.
I've gone through the stages of hating MGMT because they're new and everywhere, being ambivalent towards them because of their continued success, and finally, accepting them as a good alt pop band. "Time to Pretend", has somehow gotten better as years go by. I'm starting to notice touches of Bowie and Burne, disco and country, oh so many influences, all packaged into a 2000's hipster duo's debut. I'm glad I came around to them eventually. While I wouldn't say it's one of my favorites, this album absolutely deserves to be on this list.
7/10 Highlights: Kids Time to Pretend The Youth
Pretty good just not that monumental to me.
This is not good, and it's not bad, it's just OK. Time to Pretend is the absolute stand-out, and as the opener it just means everything else is not as good. Also, I can never not hear "That's a lovely bit of cheese, Grommit" in the chorus of Kids. This may or may not be a good thing.
Reminded me of Sparks. Enjoyed listening to the album. Favourite track Electric Feel
Heidän pyrkimyksensä kirjoittaa hitti tai pari suojelee heitä heidän luontaiselta progemaisuudeltaan.
3. Not my bag but decent album.
Liked this album. New band for me.
Boogies i Odense
første 5 numre, fine nok. taber kraftigt pulsen. Unge priviligerede boys
The hits are great (especially "Kids"), but the album feels like it's pulling in two different directions. Sometimes it works, but a lot of the non-hits are mediocre imitations of better bands, and that sort of thing isn't in MGMT's wheelhouse. I know they didn't like the hits and wanted to do something else, but this ain't it.
I don't know if I'd use the word "spectacular" but this album was pretty good.
I like some of it but there’s a disparity between what was commercially successful and the rest of the album (kids vs. the youth, imo). It does feel out of place though. There was a lot of this more electro-alternative coming up around this time, and I’m not sure MGMT is quite so formative for that genre
I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to! I was a bit glum and it was just the right combination of upbeat vibes and familiar hits. Just goes to show that I should stop judging albums by their covers because this cover is shit!
The album is ok, but the singles have been so overplayed over the years that I didn't really enjoy the album. I think it deserves to be on the list, but not a huge fan on the full listen through personally
Pleasant electronic pop music. Pretty slick. Good debut album but lacking any real feeling.
It’s ok
I didn't realize I hadn't listened to this whole album before. It's not bad. I'm still not a huge fan though.
Indie pop, but still just pop. Three songs I obviously already knew. It's alright, but nothing too remarkable for me.
Good pop lines - does not talk to me
An interesting sound, but it feels very dated.
There are a couple songs I adore on this album, but other than that it feels pretty mid. Disjointed, even.
Had never heard this happen before It's a good one
78 kg... huhhuh.. aamutuimaan ja alasti. kannattaa varoa... kylillä kulkee tankki... päästäkää tämä hirmu läpi... väistäkää tai metalli mötkö painaa päälle.. rautaritarin eteen ei kannata jäädä nuokkumaan.. 2024 sykähdyttävimmät urheiluhetket: jättihirviö body builder pistää juoksuksi keskellä toria, täysillä vetoja vaam.. miten on mahdollista olla tuommoinen , atleetti... albumi meediumi. 2000 luvun lörppäilyä kivaliva.. hittejä hittejä... peliservuilla kuultu kids duu du du du duuuduuduuduu daaaaaa daaaaaa... increbile melody. melodical concept, ideas out of the wazoo... ja omg niin true lyriikat myös 4thndimensional transu
22/10/24 The album was nothing special, bang average and slow.
This one is melancholic; electro music with futuristic yet retro vibes. Favorite songs were Time to Pretend and Kids.
As the kids would say, this is mid
Not entirely what I was expecting from the cover image, but pleasantly surprised. The opening track is quite psychedelic, a theme that is maintained. However, this isn't your traditional 60's psychedelia, while it still gives a nod to the past, the sounds are still pretty much of the present utilising modern synths and production. In parts their sound is occassionally reminiscent of the Amorphorous Androgynous and Seeds of love era Tears for Fears also springs to mind, although there's definitely some 70's funkiness going on (Electric Feel) and "The Handshake" has a bit of a Sparks sort of fell to it. overall not an unpleasant album and I will give it a second listen. If there is one criticism is that there's not really out and out banger of a track. Overall 7/10
Time to Pretend is a fantastic opener and Electric Feel and Kids makes this a really impressive debut, but overall nothing too moving for me
You can hear Dave Fridman's production. It's like a synthy poppy junior Flaming Lips.
this album is kinda wild. Almost half of the songs off this album were massive radio hits / bangers. That being said... the other songs on the album fell very flat. I loved the songs I recognized, but didn't enjoy the other songs on the album. Definitely wouldn't do a full listen through of this album again, but am glad I listened to it.
I thought I had never heard of these guys, but there were several super famous absolute bangers on here. There was some variety which was good, but some of the songs were kind of snoozers.
No song takes me right back to high school like Time to Pretend, and there aren’t many songs that hit close to home like it does in adulthood. This album wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great either, the hits standout well above the rest. I definitely see the influence this album has though, I would even guess we don’t get Gambino’s Awaken, My Love without this album being made.
yeah, i always meant to listen to more MGMT than just little dark age over and over again. my one qualm is i think it would sound better if they sang in a more serious way more of the time. less frivolity!
This is pretty good and creative music, but it also gives me terrible flashbacks of wandering through department stores with my mom back in the late 2000s. (I tried to ignore that when listening.) I like the modern pop take on the "wall of sound" technique. A chorus of vocalists and light synths that, individually, aren't anything impressive – but as a group, they sound bright, heroic, unified. It's hard to describe. But the best tracks are the ones that embrace this fresh, modern sound, including Time to Pretend, Kids, and Of Moons, Birds & Monsters. There were exactly two tracks – Pieces of What and Future Reflections – that were noticeably worse than the others simply because they stopped committing to this "choral"/wall-of-sound technique, and it became more obvious that these musicians aren't nearly as good as their smokescreening might suggest. This was especially noticeable in the vocal, which was wavery and technically bad when it was by itself. In other tracks, like Weekend Wars, the instrumental was uplifting and well-mixed enough to mitigate the poor solo singing. (Is this being a little harsh? Maybe.) 3/5 Key tracks: Kids, Time to Pretend, Electric Feel, Of Moons Birds & Monsters
Couple og good tracks Kids and Time to Pretend otherwise sub arcade fire. Just okay.
Il y a des albums, dans cette liste infernale des "1001", qui se présentent comme des évidences. Des monuments intouchables, des piliers sur lesquels des chapelles entières de la musique se sont construites. Et puis, il y a les autres, les phénomènes de mode, les étoiles filantes, les coqueluches d'une époque précise qui, une fois le soufflé retombé, vous laissent avec un goût étrange dans la bouche. Un goût de "tout ça pour ça ?". MGMT et leur "Oracular Spectacular" se rangent sans l'ombre d'un doute dans cette seconde catégorie. Que celui qui a réussi à passer à côté du tsunami MGMT en 2008 lève la main. Personne ? C'est bien ce que je pensais. C'était impossible car de la radio de supermarché au blog du hipster le plus pointu de Brooklyn, ces deux-là étaient partout. On nous les a vendus comme les nouveaux sauveurs de la pop, les héritiers de Bowie et de Prince, les porte-étendards d'une jeunesse décomplexée qui avait enfin trouvé sa bande-son. Un buzz, un vrai, comme seul l'Internet naissant savait en fabriquer. Et moi, vieux con né en 1970, qui ai découvert mes groupes sur des fanzines photocopiés et des radios pirates qui crachotaient, je regardais ça avec la méfiance d'un chat face à une porte automatique. La machine à hype était en marche, et elle tournait à plein régime. Alors, j'ai posé le disque sur la platine, enfin, j'ai cliqué sur "play", on est en 2008 après tout. Et la première chose qui frappe, il faut bien le reconnaître, c'est l'efficacité. Une efficacité redoutable, chirurgicale. "Time to Pretend" déboule avec son arrogance adolescente et sa mélodie synthétique qui s'incruste dans le cerveau pour ne plus jamais en sortir. C'est l'hymne parfait pour une génération qui rêve de gloire facile et de mort prématurée, le tout sur un ton faussement ironique. Le cahier des charges est rempli à la perfection. Puis vient "Electric Feel", autre tube interplanétaire, avec sa ligne de basse funky et son refrain qui sent bon les soirées d'été un peu trop arrosées. Et bien sûr, "Kids". Ah, "Kids"... Ce riff de synthé, si simple, si évident, si... putain d'agaçant à force de l'entendre partout. C'est le genre de mélodie qui aurait pu être composée par un enfant de cinq ans sur un Casio, et c'est probablement là que réside son génie commercial. Le problème, c'est que derrière cette façade de tubes imparables, j'ai eu du mal à trouver une substance, une âme. Tout me semble calculé, calibré pour plaire. C'est de la pop psychédélique, nous dit-on. Psychédélique ? Vraiment ? Je ne veux pas être méchant, mais le psychédélisme de MGMT ressemble plus à un filtre Instagram qu'à une véritable exploration des tréfonds de la conscience. C'est coloré, c'est rigolo, ça fait des petites vagues, mais ça ne retourne jamais le cerveau. On sent les influences, bien sûr. Un peu de glam par-ci, une pincée de disco-funk par-là, un soupçon de pop baroque à la Flaming Lips... C'est un melting-pot bien exécuté, mais qui manque cruellement de danger, de folie, de cette étincelle qui fait qu'un album vous marque au fer rouge. Passé le trio de tête des singles, l'album s'égare un peu. On sent que les deux branleurs de Brooklyn ont des idées, qu'ils tentent des trucs comme sur "The Youth" ou "Of Moons, Birds & Monsters", mais ça manque de colonne vertébrale. On passe d'une ambiance à l'autre sans véritable fil conducteur, comme si on zappait entre différentes playlists. C'est un album qui a été conçu pour l'ère du mp3, du "shuffle". On picore les tubes, on oublie le reste. Où est la cohérence d'un "Disintegration" ? Où est l'urgence d'un "Unknown Pleasures" ? Nulle part. On est dans le divertissement pur, la bande-son d'une époque qui a peur du silence et de l'ennui. Et puis, il y a ce ton, cette distance ironique, ce cynisme cool qui parcourt tout le disque. C'est peut-être ça qui me dérange le plus. La musique que j'aime, celle qui me fait vibrer, elle est viscérale. Chez MGMT, tout est sous contrôle, on fait semblant d'être des rock stars décadentes ("Time to Pretend"), mais on sent bien que c'est une posture, un jeu. Il n'y a pas de sang sur les murs, pas de larmes sur la console de mixage. Juste deux types très malins qui ont compris comment fabriquer la pop parfaite pour 2008. En fin de compte, "Oracular Spectacular" est un album qui porte bien son nom : il est spectaculaire en surface, mais son contenu reste un oracle difficile à déchiffrer, peut-être parce qu'il n'y a pas grand-chose à y lire. C'est le reflet parfait d'une génération : talentueuse, hyper-référencée, douée pour la synthèse, mais qui a parfois du mal à trouver sa propre voix, sa propre vérité. C'est un disque brillant, mais froid. Un feu d'artifice qui illumine le ciel un instant avant de s'éteindre sans laisser de traces, si ce n'est le souvenir de quelques belles couleurs. Pour la jeunesse de 2008, c'est sans doute un 5/5. Pour le vieux disquaire que je suis, qui a vu passer des centaines de "prochains grands trucs", ça ne vaut pas plus qu'un petit 3/5. Un album pour son époque, mais pas pour la mienne.
Never heard this before. The music is fine with a good variety throughout the album. But nothing resonates with me.
This disappointed me. I remember MGMT bursting onto the scene when I was a teenager and, while it's still decent, it hasn't really stood the test of time. "Time to Pretend" and "Kids" are still impressive, but the album as a whole didn't.
Oracular Spectacular is undeniably a singles-driven album, with some standout bangers like Time to Pretend, Kids, and Electric Feel that quickly became iconic. These tracks are infectious and captivating, showcasing the duo's knack for catchy hooks and vivid production. However, as a whole piece of work, the album doesn’t quite maintain the same momentum. Some of the deeper tracks feel less cohesive and lack the immediate impact of the singles. While there’s plenty of creativity and experimentation throughout, the album can feel a bit uneven in its pacing and direction. That said, the high points are strong enough to make Oracular Spectacular memorable, even if it doesn't fully hit its stride from start to finish. It’s an album with flashes of brilliance, best appreciated for its standout moments. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 3 STAND OUT TRACK - Time to Pretend
The singles are great, but everything else really isn't. Also this reminds me of all the annoying stoners I know that dress like the album art.
Somebody listened to a lot of David Bowie.
A fun laidback vibe beginning to end. Kids was one of those songs I’ve heard a million times but now finally know the name of. Good stuff here.
Cool...I guess... doesn't really do it for me...3
Best Song: Electric Feel. A bit overplayed, but the rolling rhythm is really nice. Worst Song: Pieces of What. This album absolutely did not need an acoustic Brit-rock song in the middle. Overall: Really feels like (at least) two incompatible albums here. You've got the pop-electronic first half that's decently catchy, but then it just kind of devolves into random, more experimental directions that never feel all that purposeful. Would have preferred that they had stuck with what worked in the first half.
Some good tracks for sure. Each track, however, was so different from the others. At times it was a bit disorienting, like “Who am I actually listening to?” Enjoyed it for the most part
Three big singles here, but a lot of the rest of this just washed over me. I had higher hopes. I'd revisit this, but sometimes the hits are the hits for a reason. The closer was pretty decent though. Best tracks: Time to Pretend and Kids.
have a really hot and cold relationship with this band... i liked them when i was a kid and then HATED them, when I was dating rowan she was a really big fan and I never got it but then their Little Dark Age album reallllly connected with me.. and I still think its a really wonderful album, but that might be sorta where my fandom starts and ends... altho there are some really great tracks on this album and Congratulations.. none really connect or reach the heights of LDA...
Famous songs: Kids Time to Pretend
Some highlights and bright bits musically but overall I found this tepid. Cognitively I can see this may be important in the transition through the 90s-today, but it leaves my soul asking me to get back to music with feeling, please (my soul has good manners). I’ll post this in my conversational brain under “music to pull out so that my decade(s) younger friends think I’m still relevant”. And how the fu k do these guys have 80x more listeners than Ozomatli?! If there was a “2.5” rating, but 3 it is
Listened to this quite a bit when it first came out and is an album that I always forget about. When I remember and put it on I always enjoy it- just positive sounding, upbeat great songs. Definitely captures the 2007 vibe.
I had no idea this was considered such an important album in music history but sure. It's hard to hear this for what it is since it's so strongly associated with a very specific Vibe from being a tween/teen during the time following its release but I can totally see how Music Appreciators could've found this to be a really interesting and pioneering album. I've listened to a lot of 60s psychedelic rock lately for one of my other ~listening challenges~ (specifically Jefferson Airplane, Love, 13th Floor Elevators, etc.) and hearing this album after those definitely makes me appreciate the evolution (or maybe even reinvention) of that sound for the digital age, and for a totally different audience. None of the non-singles particularly stood out to me. I think that's partially because it's hard to truly assess those songs when they're up against ones with which I have such a strong familiarity, but I also think the singles just had that oomph factor that made them so iconic that the others, despite being interesting, didn't quite have. Fav tracks: kids, electric feel
Enjoyable elctro pop with a hint of chart ready weirdness.