Reviews (page 5 of 15)
These guys mix genres very well, i appreciate that. Some of these tracks are peak summer music. Fav song: “Kids”
A unique sounding album, my partner loves this which makes me enjoy it even more, some great songs it has a kind of futuristic melancholy feel
This record is all time nostalgia. I’m not generally huge fan of electronic music, but this record is quite pleasant and has a few bangers throw in. Amazing how many of these songs I already know, and have actually stood the test of time. I can’t believe Kids was barely a top 100 single at release. Overall, this was a very nice blast from the past, that actually had some teeth in the deep cuts. Could be nostalgia, but I’m giving this one a 4.
So so good
I always feel nostalgic towards indie sleaze. Such a freaking cool album
I honestly think the deeper cuts off of this are nearly as good as the singles, but because people haven't heard them as much, they think the rest of the album falls flat. That being said, Kids is still the best track off this record by a long shot
Starts super strong with danceable beats and catchy hooks. Solid party/vibe album. All of these songs still hold up, despite being almost 20 years old. The last half of the album is unknown, but still solid. Has a bit more of a mellower vibe at times, which is good. I give it four out of five. A weak 4, but still af 4.
⭐⭐⭐⭐- Indie rock/pop med elektroniska inslag. Ett varierat album. Produktionen är intressant med oväntade pålägg, skiftande tempo och influenser. Något i Weekend wars ger mig lite David Bowie vibbar, även lite på The handshake, vet inte riktigt vad det är. Det finns en handfull hits på det här albumet plus några andra låtar som sticker ut som bättre. Några spår är lite svagare men inga som jag tycker är direkt dåliga. Ett gediget album, dock något framtungt, som jag nog kommer söka mig till igen, åtminstone lyssna på utvalda spår. Så det blir en svag 4a.
A little bit of nostalgia is driving this review (great throwback to middle school), but man I forgot just how fun this album is. A nice blend of synth, psychedelic, and alternative elements with the runtime being the perfect length before this loses it's luster.
A really enjoyable album with lush production and a knack for surprising you with the interesting directions the music takes. Even the tracks I didn't really enjoy for most of the song managed to win me over by the end with what they managed to build up to (thinking of Weekend Wars and Pieces of What in particular here). These guys have a real skill for creating soundscapes in their music that draw you in to their world. There are catchy tracks like the big hit singles, but also dreamlike, hypnotic tracks like The Youth, as well as almost frantic tracks like 4th Dimensional Transition. They managed to shift between these styles effectively while maintaining a cohesive sound and feel. I also really enjoyed the sort of synth pop take on a prog record on Of Moons, Birds & monsters. That song was a standout for me. If I had to level any criticisms at the album, I'd say I didn't particularly care for the lyrics. It feels like they were trying too hard to be cryptic and provocative but they only very rarely manage to say anything evocative. They've gotten a lot better in this aspect on their more recent albums in my opinion. My other criticism would be that the album has some really dull verses at times, even though as I mentioned before, they do salvage things with what the songs build towards by the end. Still, the time spent leading up to those moments can feel pretty repetitive. Favourite tracks: Of Moons, Birds & Monsters, Kids, 4th Dimensional Transition
I caught myself listening to MGMT's debut album in its entirety for the first time. The impressions are mixed. A triptych of "Time to Pretend," "Electric Feel," and "Kids" — an absolutely bulletproof, neon-dance-infused collection of singles that any young band would envy. The problem is, these are the main strongest points of album. It's immediately obvious that the band is more drawn to 60s psychedelic rock, and MGMT aren't quite there: the result is either a strange, rhythmically tom-pounding primalism or downright boring acoustic hippie fare. The label also knew these songs weren't worth promoting the album with, and they didn't reach the masses. Instead, the band dug in their heels and made their next two albums in a similar style. The result is predictable. But the singles are fantastic! How could I give anything less than a four stars?
Cool, good indie sleaze
I used to listen to them all the time when it first came out
Pretty familiar with this album already and torn a bit. First give songs are fantastic and I could listen to them on repeat non-stop. Everything after is just meh to me.
Super epic sauce
På den ene sida, joda. På den andre sida, eh. Æ likte den der sangen alle har hørt, og det va ingenting fornærmanes på gang, men det va ikke min greie.
What an absolutely bonkers debut album. Released 20 years ago this is wildlyy ahead of its time. I feel like this electro-pop style resurged the indie scene and elegantly crossed over into the mainstream. Time to Pretend and Kids may be overplayed and beginning to feel lacklustre and commercialized to death but trying to listen to them with a fresh perspective I totally get why they were huge songs. The rest of the album is actually even more interesting and feels like it had a massive impact on the new music scene over the last 20 years.
immediately recognize first track - it was everywhere. had no idea duo band were from connecticut or this was their debut. out 2007, same year as neon bible and ga ga. recognize "the youth" - it's spacey, reminiscent of arcade fire chorus. "electric feel" i recognize. 70s disco groove, princey. spacey, trippy/psychedelic, chorus forward, bright, synthy. lots of layers and sound for just two musicians. "hipster supermarket music." this globalization of fashion on the cover looks tone deaf in 2026.
Classic indie rock
stabil, das genre ist nicht mein favorite aber dafür cool
The kids seem to like it
I guess I really like MGMT. Didn't know that.
banger
Some great hits on this album. Particularly fond of moons, birds and monsters. Just falls short of 5 stars with a couple of weaker songs
melancolico, nostalgico, night vibes m encanta pop psicodelico
I feel like the sentiment of nostalgia will hit everyone at one point or another. I've certainly made mention of when an album or a song on my journey has brought back memories, and this is no different with the singles off of MGMT's debut. I distinctly remember "Time to Pretend" and "Kids" being everywhere in the late 2000s, which, for me, was a time of reaching adolescence, a very formative stage of growth and development that I think a lot of people can relate to. So naturally, I still enjoy those songs to this day, along with "Electric Feel," which I discovered earlier this year. That said, how does the rest of Oracular Spectacular stack up? Well, let me state that there are other strong songs besides the singles. The folk haze of "Weekend Wars", the Middle Eastern vibes of the polyrhythmic percussion and synth bounce of "4th Dimensional Transition", the Bowie-esque acoustic strum of "Pieces of What", and the frenetic psychedelic rock of "Of Moons, Birds & Monsters" turned out to be great bops. Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser do their best to combine upbeat melodies with darker lyrics and themes throughout the record. It's a formula that has stuck with the band throughout their sonic evolution, and it certainly works, albeit with diminishing returns in replay value. At the very least, Dave Fridmann did his best to make the most of it, modulating between blown-out, compressed production and cleaner, atmospheric soundscapes. That said, I cannot deny that this album feels front-loaded. Once "Kids" is done, there is a noticeable switch to more progressive psychedelic flourishes than the more marketable synthpop of the first half, and I don't find it as compelling. I wouldn't call it bad so much as the band getting lost within the weird textures and ideas they wish to explore. It would be nice to strike a greater balance between that exploration and maintaining the hooks, that's all. Still, I had a good time listening to Oracular Spectacular. As I mentioned, MGMT's sound would continue to evolve over the years, while still retaining some core elements to their songwriting. In a way, their debut does meaningfully set the tone for what's to come from them.
I imagine that if I were like 10 years older than I am, then this album would have absolutely blown my mind when it came out. I still love “Kids,” “Time to Pretend” and “Electric Feel”. But I just don’t like the other tracks enough to give it above a 4.
It's dance time! Millennial disco music. I like it.
Good stuff...
Like many others, I dived into this album in 2007 because I heard 'Time To Pretend' in a movie or TV show or somesuch and loved it. Like many others, I was confused by 90% of the album and didn't take things any further. It's a bold step to follow up that electro-psych banger with Weekend Wars and if I was producing or promoting this album, I'd have serious sequencing suggestions. But given some time and patience, there's a great album in here. It just feels chaotic, random and jumbled. You genuinely never know what is coming around the corner. That's fine, if you're ready for it and in the right mood. It took me a few days (20 years later) to find that mood but I am glad I did. It's actually an engaging, varied and fantastic album.
Such a great inclusion - magical album and one of the greatest debuts of all time. The Time To Pretend inspired by praying mantis eggs hatching on a model pirate ship anecdote gets me every time. 4.5/5
Det er ikke mange låter som eier 00-tallet slik Time to Pretend og Kids gjør. (Honorable mention til Electric Feel som er omtrent like bra, men ikke fikk like mye spilletid på radiolistene.) Eneste jeg kan komme på i farta er Clint Eastwood og Feel Good Inc. (Honorable mention til DARE som er minst like bra, men ikke får like mye kjærlighet.) I lang tid trodde jeg resten av låtene på skiva som huser disse tidskapslene var ballast. Det stemmer ikke. Hvis man forventer at alt skal være som de poppy hitsa, skjønner jeg at man kan bli skuffa når flere av sporene er mye mer psych pop enn electrobop. På en måte er MGMT Animal Collective for mainstream radio; de dekker litt av det samme territoriet, men med andre ambisjoner.
Denne skiva er jo tettpakka med hits. Og overraskende kul for å være en pop skive fra sin samtid. Nå er det jo strengt talt ikke så jækla mye pop her utenom hitsa
One of my personal favorites...
idk why i have never listened to this album in full - it slaps, big fan of The Handshake, Pieces of What and LOVED The Youth on first listen x
Pretty good, if a bit forgettable. 3.5 stars
Estás viviendo tu main character moment
A fun debut album that I still like all these years later.
I'm sort of begrudgingly giving this one a four. This album came out around the time I stopped listening to new mainstream bands. They're also one of the first huge bands whose members were younger than me, so at the time I wanted them to get off my lawn, but listening now I have to admit that this is pretty good.
Albums like this are strange to review because they are so engrained in a particular moment in time, for better or worse. The line between nostalgia and dated blurs here, but it's still a super fun album to listen to for the first or hundredth time, but not really in between.
Just sounds like college and captures the millennial spirit. It's still fun...vocals are a little goofy but the tunes are solid and it fits a vibe. I'll go 3.5 and round up because I am the perfect age and have the nostalgic connection.
molto scorrevole. mi piacciono le basi e i riffs di molte della canzoni dell’album.
Awesome neo-psychadelic pop vibes. Some songs much stronger than others. Incredible debut album.
Fantastic singles but surprisingly great outside of them. Very psychedelic.
Decent hidden gems on the album
Masse hits!
Helt fantastisk på sitt beste. Siste halvdel av platen er preget av litt for mye fyll-stoff. Så de på Roskilde i 08, var litt samme greier der. Dritkjedelig før hittene kom på rekke og rad.
Det e så friskt. Ster girer. Favoritt: Weelekexs første kamp
Partypop som går tom for hooks halvveis. Bunnsolid første halvdel sikrer fireren.
Of it's time but a great album - nice vibe and reminds me of being a teenageer.
8/10
Me gustó, no le pude prestar la atención que deseaba pero ya conocía -y tenía guardadas- algunas canciones. Siento que vibré más con las melodías que con el significado de las letras...
The right mix of pop and psych
Solid album. I liked it when it first came out... Before they took an even more interesting turn.
Nice
Solid. Didn’t expect to like it but it’s good vibes
Very familiar music. Will defo give this another shot
8/10 Best songs: Electric Feel, Kids, 4th Dimensional Transition, Of Moons, Birds & Monsters, The Handshake, Future Reflections The second this album popped up I just knew it was going to be a banger - I listened to the singles (especially Electric Feel) on repeat for years, and I knew it was unlikely the album would be bad. That being said, I find this to be an album that shifts between incredible innovation and incredible mediocrity. When the album is good, it's very, very good. When it's not, it's... fine. It's never actively bad. I do think the brilliance outweighs the dullness, hence the rating, but I was half-thinking this was going to be one of my favorite albums off this list. Oh well.
Great vibes, super creative and cool compositions. It’s a shame I never bothered to listen before today.
“Time to Pretend,” “Kids,” and “Electric Feel” all are great songs on MGMT’s debut.
An absolute classic album of the early 2000s. The three monster singles Time to Pretend, Electric Feel, and Kids more than make up for some of the weaker tracks here.
Creatively produced indeed - very wide and sharp Earworms every song and 60ties vibes The définition of psych pop rock
enjoyed it. will listen to it again
Pretty good, it had a few radio bangers and other songs I liked but nothing astounding. 4 / 5
Beaucoup de plaisir. Il y a des hits et des chansons qui annoncent le prochain album que j'adore. Je suis surement biaisé parce que j'ai beaucoup écouté cet album dans des moments de ma vie.
Interesting listen. Sits well alongside early Flaming Lips, understandably with the production of Dave Fridmann. Passed me by on original release but glad I got to hear this. A revelation. 4
Loved this one, it was a good listen since I'd heard a couple of the songs a million times but never heard others before.
Finally, I hadn’t been excited about listening to a new album on here in weeks. This was fresh and fun. It was not a chore to listen to as much as some of the other albums have been. These guys brought a new sound to the 2000s that was much needed in that era.
Really original synth pop and the first half/side is outstanding. Fell away a bit for me on the second side but I still had a repeat listen.
i’ve listened to mgmt before, specifically songs from this album. i loved them, and several of the songs on this one have very special places in my heart due to the times in my life that i loved them. fantastic album.
Not an album i would've picked to listen to myself. But, oh, how happy that i am that I ended up listening to this. I knew the hits like Time To Pretend, Kids and Electric Feel. But, the deep cuts like Weekend Wars, The Youth, Of Moons, Birds & Monsters and Pieces of What are also really good! It was a very easy album to get into, for me atleast. All I have to say is that this is a great introduction to MGMT.
The soundtrack to my college years
I remember when this came out and a guy I used to jam with turned me on to them. They hold a place in my heart with vampire weekend and animal collective.
I never really listened all the way but damn these fools kinda fuck
pretty good! 4/5
Liked this a lot more than I thought I would
В 2000-х я слушал совсем другую музыку, поэтому внимание на них я обратил значительно позднее. Да и целиком альбом никогда не слушал. Первая часть и правда более сильная, вторая - словно шлейф. The Youth - любимая.
got such good vibes of nostalgia from this one. added a few tunes to my favourites. spectacular listen! someone mentioned some david bowie sounds. i definitely hear it. considering bowie is in my top 5 artists of all time, there's no reason for me to not like Oracular Spectacular.
Not bad, reminds me of playing NHL 15
Interesting and off beat but not too quirky
I think this album is really sort of tragic. It starts with maybe one of the most incredible pop songs ever recorded, and then it really just doesn't get close to that height again. And obviously having 10 Time to Pretends on here might be tough, but really there's very few songs that even try. Kids is great (obviously), and Of Moons Birds and Monsters is surprisingly good, but it really just doesn't hit those heights. It's a great showcase of potential though. Favorites: Time to Pretend, Kids, Of Moons Birds and Monsters
What a classic. I've always liked how half the songs in here have a mid-2010's sound, despite being an album from 2007.
4.5 - there are some bangerssss on here that i knew, and some bangers i didn't. i liked most of it, but some songs fell through the cracks. high rating bc the ones that go hard go REALLY hard!
A classic album I listened to a lot growing up. Still holds up. 3.5/5.
оч интереснчй, крутой, свежий по заучаниб альбом, немного зафоршен, но есть за что.
It's like sunshine indoors
Very nice indie psych-pop record that pays great homage to the psych of decades ago while still sounding fresh and new. There are a few truly excellent pop songs here, while the backhalf forays into weirder territory and a more folky/rock approach. Well-produced, luscious record that’s just a pleasure to listen to.
Strong debut album from a band mocking the idea of fame
Filled with 2000s hipster anthems this album is both a fun and easy listen. Also, lots of nostalgia for me.
Noice
Album #1,067 I don’t know who these guys are, but I feel like I’m supposed to hate this. I didn’t hate it. It was punchy and beat heavy with some unique sounds and melodies. Maybe it won’t hold up to repeat listenings, but I’ll give it at least one more spin.
4+ Stars (12/15)
Really great album! Loved it when it came out and still love it. 4.50
iznenađujuće zabavan ima jedna luda stvar
i'm feeling rough, i'm feeling raw, i'm in the prime of my life
Ahh electronica! Some banger hits here but the rest of the album is filler. More of a proof of principle than a real advance in the music. This album = transformative for a certain generation of kids at the time; not transformative for me
Bangers abound on this psych pop beauty. Favorite track: Electric Feel
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I know a few of the singles but nothing else. 4 stars.
Buenas canciones, muchas las había escuchado pero no sabia de donde eran 8/10
Banger after banger on this one. Feels like a self-discovery journey whilst maintaining an upbeat attitude.
I actually liked this album; I already knew a few of the tracks before listening to it on TikTok. Otherwise, it’s okay.
There’s a reason Time to Pretend and Kids are the most popular songs on this album, but there truly are no bad songs. Lots of fun! 8/10
Very fun. Still feels fresh. A bit same-y at times maybe.
Magnificent, what a treat listening to this on a sunny walk in the early evening. Semi-psychedelic in some parts, banging indie anthems in others, very well crafted, what's not to like?
The 3 track that’s elevate this are the obvious stand outs and to be honest that isn’t helped by the track ordering but there’s some hidden gems outside of singles to be enjoyed here too. Pretty great album, would have been an outstanding ep
Taken by extreme surprise with this album. I need a second listen but in all this album was way better than its two hits that everyone knows.
album sounded like summer
I still jam this album on the treadmill. Fun and fresh, interesting sounds and lyrics.
the second half of the album is missing one or two stronger tracks to really bring the whole album into one massive banger. but damn, i could listen to the first half of the album nonstop, it's perfect.
Favorite youth Beat 8/10 Flow 7.4/10 Start to finish the albums goes from high energy to the end slowing down getting to a sad feel The albums doesn’t really change up on sound until the last 4 songs and stays on the same sound. Night / day Standouts prices of what (slow) guitar instead of synths Of moons birds and monsters. Outro crazy futuristic feel Overall 8.2
Quelques classiques, c'est cool
Ouais ca c cool
En vrai très sympa tah l’époque
Muy bueno y muy bien hecho, es entretenido
Album was pretty good, I already knew about it and enjoyed the songs. It's funny, I really love Electric Feel, but I always thought a remix could make it even better. Fun songs and hold up even today.
Great first half, a bit bored by the b-side.
Me gustó mucho, tiene vibras cage the elephant (social cues más que nada)
Me hace sentir solo.
Good highs, some hits, most of the rest are like mid
Three bangers and a good one on the album, but the rest isn't as magical as I remembered. Still solid and a good listen.
A four for nostalgia.
Joya millenial
Some big hits and a very certain vibe - this isn't an album held up by the 2 songs we all know
I really like this album. I love the three mega-hit singles which are still heard constantly, and the rest of the album is made up of more experimental stuff which doesnt stick with you as much but is still great fun to listen to. 8/10
3.5 or something but gets a boost to 4 stars rather than 3 for “kids” alone
Fun album! You can't really do better than KIDS (well they arguably would, with My Little Dark Age but that's another story). Lots of great ideas, and great hooks, it's just that Kids does it better really. It's the soundtrack of a specific and nostalgic time for many people, but it really does encapsulate those freshman years, the feeling of it; partying, discovering and feeling a little weird sometimes maybe, even if, it wasn't part of yours. Kids Youth (might be my number two!)
Очень вайбово и легко. Но скорее не мой жанр, чем мой
4 out of 5 I like the guys and this was a really good album. Excellent newish Alternative rock. EDIT: I did not realize this album is 19 years old! Jane's Addiction, the Cure, and 89X are old AltRock; this is newer. I am so old haha.
The first half of this album (through Kids) is incredible and then it falls off. All filler in the second half, but the first half of the album is nothing but perfect pop hooks.
Альбом с хорошими вайбами, под такую долгую поездку вечернюю или прогулку, напоминают детство, но не прям мое, не слушала бы на постоянке, поэтому 3.5/5
A few of these songs have been in such heavy rotation for the past decade that I never gave the rest of the album a chance. Solid album all the way through. I’m glad to spend some time with it.
3 mocne single - reszta to po prostu okej album.
I like it. Sounds like every band in the 2000's and 2010's, but it's good.
Very chill, loved it, had an annoying case of indie voice every once in a while.
4/5 So refreshing and fun. It sounds way more modern than it is. Good album.
good vibes only
Pretty fun album at just the perfect length.
fifa classic
This indie pop/rock duo busted through in the late 2000s with a number of distinct and quirky singles ("Time To Pretend", most notably) but the remainder of this record also contains other terrific variations on their unique psychedelia-infused vision. The tracks on this album are full of melodic hooks, unique synthesizer tones and oddball lyrics. (The double-tracked vocals do get a little tiring after a while, but that's a minor complaint.) Not every song sticks the landing, but there are more hits than misses here.
Loved this when it first came out, still sounds great. 2nd album was even better I thought
Another album that I know most of the songs off of. it is absolutely a moment in time. The lead singer sounds exactly like an old friend of mine which increases the nostalgia. I revisit this album occasionally.
4 stars Music drenched in the aughts.
Pretty fire teenage rock Feels familiar but fresh at the same time, very nostalgic even though it was released before I was born. Diverse listening experience, kinda experimental at times.
A true gem of 2000s pop. Three absolute bangers with Kids, Electric Feel, and Time to Pretend, which are fully good enough to carry the album even if the other tracks aren't quite as good. It's just a fun time. 4/5
Fun electro-pop album that takes me back to simpler times. Unfortunately none of the lesser known tracks come close to the big hits, but the most well-known songs are some of the most fun you'll ever hear. Some of the best singles you can listen to. Top tracks: Time To Pretend, Electric Feel, Kids
I enjoy a bit of MGMT from time to time, although I tend to go for their second album rather than Oracular Spectacular. I enjoyed this. The singles are poppy and upbeat. The rest of the album is a bit more downtempo, but worth listening to. It's not quite enough to get a five, but it's a strong four.
Drei Superhits, eine von denen hat man eigentlich in jeder Indie Disko zwischen 2007 und 2017 gehört. Der Rest ist auch noch ziemlich okay gealtert.
Flashy ride to the past. Habs damals rauf und runter gehört. Weiß jetzt wieder warum.
This album is a cavalcade of ideas both musically and in terms of production. It stands up well in 2026. Truly front loaded but a solid set of songs. It’s crazy for a band to have three genuinely generational hits on their debut album. The hype was real, it didn't expand too much beyond this and the follow up but that’s not the band’s fault. People are fickle and it’s hard to sustain a vibe like this for long. This is a very good pop record and well worth revisiting if you were there in 2007 or whatever. Best: Time to Pretend, Electric Feel, Future Reflections Worst: (I can’t fault this record, it’s watertight)
That second half drop off should be studied
You could call this modern classic, some elite elite songs, also some weak parts at the end. Wouldn’t give it 5 stars partially cause it’s not really my taste, but I wouldn’t balked at the idea
im gonna be honest i was trying to buy a pair of airpods with a shit ton of gift cards during the first half of this album, and it took more of my cognitive power than i expected. but i know the 3 most famous songs from this album so it's not far from what i expected. but yeah good vibes
Pretty cool indie with fun riffs and a nice vibe. 4 stars
Gran disco. Una propuesta muy interesante y creo que, dejando de lado los tres grandes y famosos sencillos que tiene, el resto de canciones son muy buenas y con cosas muy buenas, incluso algunas mejores que sus sencillos. La fusión del pop y el psicodélico funciona muy bien en este disco.
Comfort Album for me
Liked overall. Some bangers.
7.0/10 Likes this one quite a bit.
This album is pretty good. The singles, the popular songs from it, are sooooo good. The rest of the album is also pretty good, except for I didn’t really care for the last few songs. They couldn’t get their hooks in me. Overall, I prefer the only other MGMT album I’ve listened to, Little Dark Age. This is still a good album, and I do recommend. 8/10
I think it was probably a turning point in the music indistry. A lot of sound that since then has been used a 1000 times. Some songs didn't flow with me but the songs that did i see myself enjoying for a long while.
Fun album
The dudes from your dorm accidentally defined the synthpop sound of an entire generation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNC1W2m4Uug
Primeiro do Projeto! Não esperava que seria bom! Tem algumas músicas bem conhecidas também.
Just about every song is decently catchy, but only a few were memorable. I liked it overall but I'll probably only ever return to a handful of these tracks.
That one guy from MGMT: "Yo, we should totally make, like, this super-outstanding album and then just dip. Y'know, like, dominate and disappear." The other guy from MGMT: "Aight, bet."
Congratulations is the essential MGMT album.
Listened to this album a lot back when it came out but it has been a while. What I heard this time that didn’t catch my attention before was “Pieces of What”. Great song, love the vocals, but really love the jangling guitar.
Some big hits on there, and the first half especially was really catchy
Pretty neat. Standout tracks: Time to Pretend, Electric Feel, Kids
Good album, classic summer night vibes with the popular songs and a few unheard bops too.
Entuudestaan tuttu levy, tykkään saundimaailmasta ja viboista. Mielelläänhän tätä kuuntelee
so good, so sick
When this came up here I was already very familiar with and liked "Time to Pretend", "Electric Feel" and "Kids" ... which were the big songs I remember on alternative radio when this came out. But I had never spent any time listening to the whole thing. Some observations as I listen to it 3 times through... Still love the songs mentioned above. At various points across this album, I hear what sounds to me like influences by The Flaming Lips and David Bowie and - which is good. Not a copy but I just hear little things that remind me of them at times. But it has it's own original and cool sound. "Youth" - seems like an optimistic song, which is cool. "Weekend Wars" - definitely has a heavy Bowie sound especially the voice. "4th Dimensional Transmission" - cool vibe "Pieces of What" - voice kinda reminded me of Smashing Pumpkins. Love the long instrumental part of "Of Moons, Birds and Monsters" I didn't analyze the lyrics that much, as I was just digging the vibe. I ended up liking the first 8 songs on this one. Glad this site got me to actually spend time listening to this full album. It's good! I'm definitely excited to see these songs pop up on my automated playlists. Liked songs on Spotify: 8/10 Rating: 4/5
So many hits on here. Very fun beats and mostly enjoyed this, but wasn’t always sure what to think of the vocal performance.
Liked this. The 2 big Hits are both indie synth classics. Rest is pretty good. Maybe tails off after Pieces of What. Borderline 4.
I enjoyed that in a poptastic way. It’s a fun album and surprisingly consistent beyond the hits I recognised.
This is a classic. The sound of 2009-2015.
Big hits on a album with a new approach to pop. Great listen!
Very good Album
Funny enough I’ve been listening to a few songs on this album recently. It’s such a good like nostalgia good vibes album. Time to pretend, electric feel, and kids are all such iconic songs. Glad I got to listen to the album fully
Man, a couple hits on this are absolute monsters and probably are hurt by getting played waaaay too much. But I like these guys and overall enjoyed most of the album. 3.5 and rounding up because I think these guys are solid musicians and creative. Man, did they do anything else?
It’s ok. I don’t have any history with this so there are no nostalgia points. It wears influences while being a bit hipster. It’s ok. And after a few listens it’s quite good. 4 Star
This is a great album. EXTREMELY of it's time but also ahead. I see how it acted as the tip of the arrowhead for a certain type of music of this era.
4.5
4/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/mgmt/oracular-spectacular/ Anyone saying this has no place in the list has never been in a room filled with 20-40 year olds when Time to Pretend or Kids started playing.
Pretty cool
Might only be really know for the 3 big hits, but the other 7 tracks are pretty fine as well. 4.5 bumped down to 4.
Decent. Honestly not really anything to write home about. But wouldn't skip it if it came on the radio.
Really good album. Consistently good songs all the way through. The radio hits were severely overplayed, so I actually enjoyed the non-singles more. Favorites are "Oracular spectacular" and "Of Moons, Birds, & Monsters". Not quite an all time classic, but no skips which earns a solid 4 stars from me.
A very good inclusion for this list, you can’t think of essential 2000s indie without this album. They’ve had their hits worm their way into the mainstream though I’d still consider them under appreciated. I prefer Congratulations and Little Dark Age, but this album is full of bangers and is also quite comforting to me
4/5
Decent groove.
Outside of knowing the obvious hit songs, I have never listened to this album before and know very little about the band. I was genuinely surprised at how many good songs there were. I was also quite surprised how many songs I knew. The album is quite diverse and a great mix of different styles. There is big Rolling Stones influence in songs like Weekend Wars and Pieces of What as well as psychedelic rock influence in a few others. The album kept you invested throughout. Maybe it is time to listen to some more of their albums. Notable songs: Time to Pretend, Weekend Wars, Kids, 4th Dimensional Transition, pieces of what, Of moons, Birds and Monsters, The Handshake. I felt like it ended really well. I love being surprised by an album. 4 stars
I used to hate them for the omnipresent zombie of their moms' 80s tape collections that is "Electric Feel" but to be honest, it's a great album and sound. It's got some emotional depth for an album largely about taking drugs on the weekend.
When my iPod died (RIP), I lost touch with a sizable library of music that I still “own,” split between what is now called Apple Music and a hard drive, including this album, which I hadn’t heard in ages. Oracular Spectacular is a good embodiment of the iPod era, I suppose. It’s unmistakably 21st century in its grounding in electronics, synths and studio wizardry, indebted to the Flaming Lips in its love of huge-sounding, bacchanalian psych-pop anthems, 90s indie/slacker culture and even the Stones, on “Pieces of What.” MGMT made its name on the hit “Kids,” which remains an era-defining banger and helped many people deal with certain other things that happened in the world when this album came out in 2007.
Did not realise how many bangers they had
I knew the hits but never gave the whole album a shot, and I loved it. Youth is a standout track for me
Kids ❤️🩹
Umm embarrassing because I was like who’s MGMT??? And then realized that I’ve heard at least 3 of these songs many many times without ever knowing the artist. Good vibes 😎
Electric Feel is a classic. Listened walking around in Back Bay and was moving and groovin
title score time to pretend==============10/10 weekend wars==============08/10 the youth==================09/10 electric feel=================10/10 kids======================07/10 4th dimentional trantistion=====08/10 pieces of what==============10/10 of, moons, birds, and monsters==09/10 The hand shake=============10/10 future refrections=============10/10 final thoughts Good album, love it. The music is bef going on my playlist, best listens I've had in a while
Si bien conocía el álbum, nunca me había sentado a escucharlo completo, y hay algunas joyitas que marcaron una época. Medio shoegaze, medio indie, totalmente para mí. Mención honorífica a Kids por ser un ícono de la música indie, y Time to Pretend por ser mi favorita del disco.
Cool, fun album will come back to it
Versatile electro-pop-rock or something similar.
very me in quarantine
Side A: 21st Century Psychedelic Pop Side B: 20th Century Psychedelic Pop I really enjoyed this - it bounces, it's youthful. I'd heard the singles all many, many times, but the deep cuts were also very strong. The 2nd side being such a throwback to the 1960s was a surprise. I heard a lot of psychedelic-era Rolling Stones in there, as well as some reggae and Motown. Looking forward, looking back - it's gotta be - FOUR STARS
Heat heat heat heat
Very nice
Decent
Familiar, but the album was a first listen in entirety.
A surprisingly good album well produced and engineered. Nice lush soundscapes. My 1st listen to MGMT.
Banger
Fænomenalt pop album, især med de 3 store singles herfra, wow det er nostalgisk
Creative AND catchy. Very singable pop tunes with a lot of fun hooks and experimentation with electronic tools.
Songs like time to pretend, kids, and of moons birds and monsters carry this album. An iconic indie album for a reason.
Classic album from growing up. It has some of the most well known songs. The album a whole is good, but those singles are even better.
Ohhh this looks promising Ohhh I know this band. They made Me and Michael (too soon for that), but it’s not in that album so I’m good. Really good album. Couple songs I know and vibe with, the other ones are also very good. Would/will buy this on Vinyl, honestly good album to study too and there’s definitely gonna be songs I will add to my Lieblingssongs.
4.5
I didn't know what to expect but this was a pleasant surprise. I was somewhat familiar with the name of the band, but I couldn't name any songs. Turns out I had definetly heard the singles before. All the singles were highlights, along with other songs like Of Moons, Birds & Monsters. But really, all the songs are quite good, even though I'm not a huge fan of the lead vocals on some of them. I like how this is kind of pop music, but it still sounds so different from mainstream pop. I'm sure this has influenced a lot of newer music. I'm torn on whether to rate a 4 or 5, so I'll go for a 4, but I see this as a 4.5/5.
Kids is an anthem
Very nostalgic, the sound brings me right back to college. The music itself isn't super synthy but their voices are, I guess? I like how groovy some of the tracks get in the second half. Favorite song: The Handshake.
Bangers everywhere
Hits aside, I hadn't listened to this in full when it came out. The best album that The Flaming Lips never wrote.
tiene algunas demasiado flasheras o iguales en base. la escritura es increíble. overall its good, will listen again
This was spectacularly oracular. Especially loved “Of Moons, Birds & Monsters” this time when I listened. It used to be a favorite album of mine when it came out but it hit different nearly 20 years later.
Inspired by the Beatles
sooo nostalgic, takes me right back to middle school. the production is also ahead of its time, still sounds super fresh. my enjoyment dropped a bit in the last half, but overall very solid. 4/5 ⭐️
Actually more of a fan than I realised. Props.
This album embodies nostalgia, incredible sound and genre defining.
Понравился психоделически-мечтательный звук (но не настолько мечтательный как в dream pop.
Mostly Gives Mellifluous Tunage
It was an interesting listening. It gives of summer album vibes mixed with Arctic Monkeys sound.
04
Filled with all time indietronica classics. Isn't quite as consistent as their later albums, but still a good listen. 7/10
Nostalgic, with a unique sound.
It’s not just the singles that are good. This is a great debut album.
8/10
This was an album I enjoyed at the time, but coming back to it now it seems to be better than I remembered and the first "side" would have been in the running for a 5 star rating. Time to Pretend, The Youth, Kids, Electric Feel are all brilliant indie pop tunes. The second side is good but can't quite keep up the stellar quality.
Front-heavy. Last four songs could’ve been cut. Very unique to listen this album not on the PCA but on a cold January night waiting for the bus. 3 very clear universally friendly songs.
vibes. catchy. all over.
I really liked this one!! Majority were bangers. I do love MGMT!
There is a reason this album is very popular, my one complaint is that sometimes the synth electronical soundboard can become rather grating on the ears, especially if it is not the focus of the song otherwise all other aspects are very good, acceptable, more than even
Amazing album, nostalgia inducing, but the best part of it has to be its review page on this site. Whether it’s one to five stars, most of them are written way more cringey than normal here lmao
Time To Pretend is amazing. Others songs also do well
just curious did people before the invention of electricity feel electric??? how did they describe that without knowing what electric was?? is that feeling posterior? communication is easy as the ocean!!!!!!! me tripeo tanto el final.
Any debut album that has 3 legitimate singles that got heavy radio play should be taken seriously. “Time to Pretend”, “Electric Feel” and “Kids” all have a feel of a much more established and experienced group.
Two of the songs I'd already had saved to my liked songs from other playlists and found another that I hadn't realized was theirs. Overall a fair listen, that I'll look forward to listening to in the future.
This would have been a 5 if I hadn't heard the singles before.
electric back to summers in a French chateau for the first half lost me a tad after Kids but still a great album
Solid record with a clear vision of itself and its audience.
Going to see the movie 21 was the first time I stayed out past midnight in high school and what a wild time that was. I almost fell asleep in the movie.
Some certified BOPs on this one
2 big hits. The rest is upbeat enough.
An album I am so beyond exhausted with. An art school soundtrack for sure but man I am sick of hearing these songs everywhere. Its a testament to their versatility complimenting the nostalgic feeling these songs evoke. Congrats to MGMT for making a timeless revenue machine. I look forward to ~5 years from now when this isn't overplayed and is fun again. Favorite Song: Kids, Electric Feel Also, shoutout to Frank Ocean for Nature Feels
To be honest with myself I really didn't know what to expect when I saw this album being recommended. This is my first time listening to something like this and I got to say that it was amazing. I can't believe how much i enjoyed this album. I don't know what genre this is considered but whatever it is its great. The standouts are Kids, Time to Pretend, Electric Feel and Pieces of What. The song that I liked the least is ''4th Dimensional Transition'' its still a great song it just didn't grab like the other ones did.
8/10
This popped up again for me really quickly and my feelings on it have not changed - deeply, deeply nostalgic for my teens and early 20s, still really holds up incredibly well. I wouldn't bump it up to a full 5 stars but it would be pretty close now for me.
I’m surprised by how much I enjoyed this album. solid 3,5 stars
I feel like I preface every high rating with 'not what I usually listen to but...' which again is true here, I'll probably have to come around to good music not belonging to a single genre, how shocking. These were good songs, I've heard some of them before but never connected to the band so this is the first I'd heard of MGMT. The songs feel like, with a few more listens, they'd be very catchy and I liked both the vocals and music, I didn't really listen out for the lyrics much though so I may have missed something there. Overall very enjoyable, at least in comparison to other day's albums, still learning to rate things properly. Having had the weekend to think about this I don't remember it feeling like a 5 star album, but clearly I thought that at the time. 77/100 Score and Rating edited 06/01/26 Score edited 18/01/26
A couple of days ago the generator gave me The 13th Floor Elevators. One of my comments was that I've found I don't really like 60's psychedelic music. One of the things that got reinforced for me today is that I like quite a bit of psychedelic music from the decades that have followed. I recall listening to this record when it first came out, but at the time I didn't think much of it other than there were some catchy tunes. I've expanded my palette since that time, thankfully, and this time around I quite enjoyed most of what I listened to today. The singles were chosen for good reason. They are so damn catchy and so damn fun. Electric Feel is such a banger. I really enjoyed just about every other song, save for 4th Dimension Transition and The Handshake. These weren't bad, but just not as good as the others.
A pretty phenomenal debut album. It’s not really my style of music in the long run, but this is good.
love the vibes. and it was fun that i recognized some songs! i find it really funny that there's a song named "the youth" and also "kids" on the same album
Forgot how good this album is, even if it falls off a little bit at the end. Definitely a big part of my college playlist, and "Kids" is up there in my favorite songs of all time. Highlights: "Time to Pretend" and "Kids"
did really enjoy!
While the big singles overshadow a lot of the record's deep cuts (Kids is basically unbeatable), but I enjoyed this album a lot on the whole. I particularly liked the more indie rock-esque cuts in the back half; they've got a surprising amount of bite.
Helt greit, likte et par av låtene veldig godt!
Nostalgia baybeee let's goooooo!!! Standouts are deffo the singles. One of the most recognisable sounds of our time. Incredible to have come up with that on a debut album - where do you go from there??! Not quite as keen on the rest of the tracks, but I did like Pieces of What, Of Moons, Birds & Monsters, and Future Reflections. Not as much! But that's a high bar I decided I wanted to give this a 4 pretty much before it started. If I'm being objective it's probably a high 3, but I'm giving it some extra credit because the singles are BANGERS thank you Songs added to playlist (no surprises here): - Time to Pretend - Electric Feel - Kids
Hits are still good, and there are quite a few on here, but the deep cuts didn't do a ton for me
Enjoyed it more than I expected. Interesting lyrics tell the story of kids trying to find their way in this world, living fast and dying young. Great synth and guitar solos, sounds like I'm on the moon.
Fun, funky, fresh. Old faves but new earworms. Would listen again
iconique avec des gros bangers écouté agréable avec pas mal de sonorités je le réécouterai avec plaisir !!
First heard this during the first COVID lockdown, and for a debut album, it's brilliant. To produce radio friendly tracks such as the brilliant Electric Feel, stylophone-esque Kids and stonking opener Time To Pretend, and then throw in complexity and intrigue on tracks like Weekend Wars and The Youth (with it's totally unexpected key change!), this is a record that gives on many levels. It drops off a little towards the end, but definitely deserves a high 4 stars. Not sure what happened to MGMT after this, but I doubt they hit this high watermark again.
It's a great album and it has some bangers. Very cohesive and well made and flows perfectly. But it's not my favourite kind of music
Best song: Time to pretend Listened: in Meersbrook park collecting sticks with Zach.
This album brings back a ton of memories. Brian Hoesing and I had adventures. One of which was in rural Minnesota in the summer of 2008. “kids” was our anthem. He probably woulda shit if he knew I didn't have car insurance at the time.
There was a very specific time in my life, around the time this album came out, that these songs floored me. My friend Steven and I would discuss the concepts of “growing up”, “youth”, and the transition between the two. In those discussions the idea of purity, honesty, and love always came out on top, and that’s what I still hear in this record. I never followed MGMT’s career past this release, but it will always make me think of the summer of 2009/2010 when I moved back to Albuquerque and most of my life was still ahead of me waiting to be discovered… or destroyed.
Nostalgic and beautiful.
Gets a little eerie sometimes but good
Starts out strong with Time to Pretend. Then heads to Weekend Wars.which is also good. The Youth is simple melodies but easy to groove to. Then you get Electric Feel and Kids, two huge hits. These two have been a part of my rotation for years. Also enjoying Of Moons, Birds and monsters Album peter's off in quality after Kids but starting off with 5 bangers in a row is pretty insane.
I knew more than expected
Such a fire album, so good for running and dancing around so fun I made breakfast listening to it
3 monster tracks and some filler
A fun album that sounds unique while not sounding harsh or completely alien. Really liked this one.
A small view into the new indie sound that got popularized within the 2000s, this record is a landmark and it stands as one of the best from MGMT. Great feel and vibes all around.
I really enjoyed this album it was very whimsical and sad at the same time and the vocals were really nice
I really enjoyed this album. Of course the hits are amazing but the album is very very good all together. Really like their sound which is instantly recognizable.
This is def a good album to listen to on a plane. All of the songs are very layered, textured, and synth-y. I think I probably like this a lot because some of these songs remind me of growing up because they were big hits in the early 2010s. Along with that vibe though is a certain kind of vocals really popular then (idk what it’s called cause idk anything about music) that’s not my favorite. Fav songs: time to pretend (!!!), weekend wars, the youth, the handshake
3.5
4.5
Torn between 4 and 5 here. There are only 3 songs I love. Time to pretend is really nostalgic and mixes melancholy with a really happy synthy sound in a perfect way.
Solid.
Those hits are so fucking good. The rest is pleasant
Classic mid aughts hipster pop; you know most of the tunes.
Excellent sound/ I liked it !
gives heavy summer vibes and there were definitely some hits on there
I've long had daggers for this album because I took someone on a date to a very early MGMT concert, and the date was a disaster. Be that as it was, it's a good record made by a couple of young wankers. They were immature and edgy, and you can make it out on the lyrical edges, "We'll choke on our vomit" etc. And yet the music is both derivative and excellent. They do electro, they do gospel Stones, they do indie funk. There are some legend songs; Electric Feel aged better because it didn't become quite the corporate anthem that Kids did. I love it; I hate it; four stars.
Surprised to see this in here. First time I listened to this album and I liked it! Knew a couple of the songs
But a solid 5 stars with the nostalgia factor
First time listening to a complete album from MGMT. If you haven’t seen their famous YouTube video(link below) just before they went big. You can tell these dudes love making music. https://youtu.be/vNC1W2m4Uug?si=ufvYfUyveZxwWN8S
This is a fun album with some ealy 2000's pop. It was really fun listening to this album
I'm conflicted on giving this a 4 or a 5, there are quite a few songs on here that are timeless and infinitely replayable. Time to pretend, Kids, The youth (Really weird but funny music video for this one), and of course Electric Feel. I really really love all of these songs, they have that je ne sais quoi. The back half of the album is good as well, but wasn't as good compared with the first 5 songs. I think its funny how MGMT originally wrote Kids, Time to Pretend, and Electric feel as a sort of joke. Showing the world that pop hits follow a certain formula, and then these songs end up hitting the jackpot in popularity. Shows to go ya that hits really do follow a certain formula to a degree and with enough musical talent, precision and a bit of luck, you can hit it big in the music biz. Also, it kind of sucks that MGMT hates these songs of theirs and don't like playing them, and everyone hates the music that they actually want to make lmfao, (which is way more experimental than the stuff on this album). I think instead of trying to be above the industry and too cool for mainstream hits, they should embrace the simpleness and success of these songs a bit more. Like be happy with your creative endeavors, even if it isn't something you particularly enjoyed doing. IDK, just interesting to think about. 8.5/10