Oracular Spectacular

Great album

Half of this album is still popular fifteen/twenty years later. I was so into this album when it came out. It's not a fully great album but the tracks that are popular are great.

Some great tunes but some filler also

Some of the songs on here are hugely nostalgic for me, other than that I don't know what to expect other than the other album I've heard from them (Little Dark Age) is pretty good, so I'm hoping this one is too. Finally before I listen I have to say I'm surprised this is on here, though I probably shouldn't be, just feels like something that would be overlooked. Time to Pretend An indie classic that channels a very specfic time period that feels so long ago. That synth line is extremely catchy. The dreamy slightly reverby production is pretty nice on the ears. The lyrics play on nostalgia a lot, which adds to the sentimental feeling the song is giving. Feels like it's aged really well and you can hear its influence clearly to this day. Great. 4.5/5 Weekend Wars A strange follow up to the heavy synth focus of the previous track. A pretty consistent utilization of both physical instruments and electronics, it creates a pretty unique sounding indie rock track which still sounds fresh. The singing is quite erratic and strange though I think it really fits with the instrumental. Lyrically it's also solid feels like they're pretty well thought out and seem a bit obtuse in their meaning which could be interesting to look into. Good. 4/5 The Youth Starts really suddenly. Great instrumental. Unsure what to think about the vocal melody. I feel this exact musical aesthetic can be found everywhere in the modern streaming era of music, can definitely see its influence. It's a pretty repetitive track, though it does sound pleasant, has great production and is fairly catchy so it honestly doesn't feel that way. Its lush and gorgeous production also helps, along with that the track is pretty short. Good. 4/5 Electric Feel Absolute classic. Bouncy and fun bassline with some extremely pleasant synths. One of the goofiest choruses I've ever heard lyrically, but somehow it just works. A pretty dumb and brainless song, but damn if it isn't catchy. Love how it is produced. I also think its hilarious that they made this as basically a joke and it turned out better than most electopop songs. A staple of the era, extremely nostalgic. 5/5 Kids Another one of the songs that just feel like genre staples at this point. The synth line has become sort of iconic at this point. The lyrics are strangly dark, and I feel the fairly emotionless and rigid vocal performance add some unsettling vibes to what on the surface seems a pretty light high energy track. Gonna be stuck in my head the entiretly of next week. Fantastic. 5/5 4th Dimensional Transition Strange and moody. Unorthodox composition. The instrumental is really interesting. Can't say I'm able to follow what's going on with the lyrics, the effects on the vocals are really heavy so it's hard to understand what he's saying. Defintitely not as accessible as the previous songs on the album though I'm feeling intrigued by this one. Feels like there's a solid artistic vision there. Unique. 4/5 Pieces of What The vocals are a bit rough, the effects and mixing don't do them any favours. When the only thing else of prominence in the mix is a basic guitar and an okay bassline the vocals really don't work for me. The more instrumentally dense part towards the end is probably the song's highlight where the pieces sort of fall in place for a satisfying ending. The lyrics are pretty evocative and easy to follow which is a plus when the song is so sparse. The individual parts of the song come together into something that is just fine. 3/5 Of Moons, Birds & Monsters Feels more rock inspired than the previous few tracks. The vocals sound a bit unclear, sort of seem overshadowed by the instrumental. I like how they are structured though, feels dramatic with a slight theatrical edge. Strange lyrics, hard to follow. Love the spacy instrumental passage which closes the track, has a psychedelic vibe to it. Great. 4.5/5 The Handshake Interestingly produced. The trippy effects makes it feel a bit all over the place at times. Evolves a lot throughout. Can't say every experiment on this tracks works, though nothing feels too egregious. Has some catchy moments, but overall a bit inconsistent. Decent 3.5/5 Future Reflections Very electronic opening, really enjoyed how unique those effects were. The synth mirroring the vocals sounds pretty nice. Like the juxtaposition between the darkness of the background noise and the light high pitched synth. Fantastic instrumental throughout, keeps surprising with new ideas. While I haven't been impressed with the vocals at most points on this album I feel like they really work here, he seems to put on a great performance which stands out over this very demanding instrumental. Great. 4.5/5 This felt more like two albums than one complete piece. Where you had the more accessible pop/electronic part in the first half, the second half dove into some very experimental pieces covering a varied selection of genres and influences. At first it came as a bit of a shock as I was enjoying the bouncy, catchy listener-friendly songs of the first half, even appreciating the depth they went through to keep their songs subversive and unique. Though listening through the second half I came to appreciate the change in direction, and while every experiment didn't work I still give them plenty of kudos for sticking with it and daring to create something different. All in all I had a lot of fun with this one, not only did the hits from this provide me with plenty of nostalgia, I feel like I have grown a new found a more appreciative view on MGMT as someone who creates more than catchy indie pop tunes. I could critisize elements of the album, such as the singing being rough in patches, but even with that I found something to enjoy at every corner here. Not one of my all time favourites, but an album I'll probably come back to many times in the future. 4.5/5, leaning closer to 4. Fave track. Electric Feel Least fave track. Pieces of What

Time to Pretend is a great song, it deserves to be a hit. I think the lyrics also do a great job of capturing the zeitgeist too, #YOLO. These guys sound like the group LCD Soundsystem was talking about in Losing My Edge. There's a Rick and Morty music vibe about these guys, maybe it's just both are of the same era. Seriously, The Youth sounds like it was lifted out of a Rick and Morty episode...has anyone checked to see if this album syncs with the show? Electric Feel was the other big hit. Jamiroquai definitely influenced these guys, dance electronic funk. LCD Soundsystem probably as well. This album is catchy. I remember liking this album when it came out, I think it might have just come out at the right time. It feels like an album that is speaking to its generation, probably in the same way albums often talk to their generation and say the same thing but think they are only talking to their peers. I bet these guys love Beck. Not sure if I love or hate The Handshake. Future Reflections has a familiar sound but I can't place it.

This album was EVERYWHERE in 2007. Still holds up and great listening to such huge hits again. 4/5

There's a chance Electric Feel may be the catchiest song of all time. Still working on the science to back that up.

A classic. Lots loved from teenage years.

Alright, this thing hit some suppressed memories. It has a very nostalgic feel to it. Synths everywhere. Big hooks. It's like Tame Impala and The Flaming Lips shared a joint and then decided to write a pop record in outer space. There’s a fun playfulness to it. Sometimes it leans a little too hard into its own trip, and feels like a party you didn’t expect to enjoy but somehow end up dancing at. Pretty sure I heard this in a commercial once, but I’m not mad about it. Spins: 3 Playlist Additions: - Time To Pretend - Electric Feel - Kids

4/5. If you like music, you'll probably enjoy this. This is just well-written psychedelic pop and awesome instrumentation to back it. You're bound to like at least one song on this one and even still, the album front to back is a great listen. This was a repeat in high school but even listening to it again after several years all the way through, it's easy to see why these songs are recognizable while still feeling original. I think the only thing that does bring it down from perfect is the second half not being as strong as the first half. Best Song: Time To Pretend, Kids, Electric Feel

I'm torn between a 3 and a 4 for this one, but I expect nostalgia will win out to bump it to the higher score. Not my favorite MGMT album but it's hard to deny that the hits in it really hit. It's a fun mix of electronica and pop that hits just right.

Good album. Lots of good songs on here

Creative use of old Rythims. S

Я без понятия, которая из песен самая лучшая. Time To Pretend, Electric Feel, Kids - все великие вещи и абсолютная классика на данный момент. Очень рад, что группа не остановилась там, но выпускает отличную музыку до сих пор, может быть даже более впечатляющую. Лучшая песня - Weekend Wars.

Omg so good

A great pop album filled with catchy, fun and memorable tracks.

De MGMT me esperaba la hostia en verso y pues tampoco, pero me gustó mucho igual. Las canciones guays están un poco quemadas. La portada me hace sentir cosas.

My opinion on this one will be biased. Released when I was 17 it became part of the soundtrack to my university days, particularly Kids which was played in every club night I can remember during my first year. After what is probably my first critical listen, the album is more varied than I remembered but just sings to me of the noughties, an optimistic time pre-financial crash and pre austerity, where me and my fellow millennials were coming of age. It still feels like a youthful and fresh, but if I'm honest, there are probably some tracks that I would find fairly average out of context. However, I will never hear electric feel, kids, or time to pretend without being transported back to that time.

I was not expecting to enjoy it so much. Good stuff

I was really torn between a 4 and 5 for this, but outside the three hits and a couple other tracks, I don’t think the album as a whole is quite up there as a 5. So 4.5, rounded down to 4.

Pretty good stuff, even beyond the two tracks I knew. A nice debut. Always appreciate it when all the music is done by just one or two people.

Fun and nostalgic electronic album. Listened to a bunch of these songs when I was younger. Good listen.

Really solid album, I like how much the instrumentation switches up and the range of sounds they have throughout all the songs

-The nostalgia conjured by this album is unbeatable -The singles are the stand-out tracks for me however the rest of the album is also really listenable

I love their heavy electric sound

Time to Pretend 4.3 Weekend Wars 4 The Youth 3.8 Electric Feel 4.4 Kids 4.5 4th Dimensional Transition 3.3 Pieces of What 3.6 Of Moons, Birds & Monsters 3.6 The Handshake 3.7 Future Reflections 3.2 Score: 3.84

probably would not have listened if not for this 1. omfg they put this one in the minecraft movie trailer 3. very nice, vocals remind me of bowie at points 6. really like this one good album, just not entirely my thing, i've definitely heard at least half the songs before

This one gave me no Time to Pretend. Just a nice Electric Feel

The highs of this album are excellent. Unfortunately, they only comprise about a third of the album. The rest is serviceable, but unremarkable.

Very European in style, I did like it as not something I had listened to before except Kids. Not sure I will return to it but worth at least one listen. A well produced piece of Pop music

full of bangers, I had no clue these were the ppl who made them loo

Really miss this era of psychedelic indie music. One of the highlights from this whole time period.

This album isn't the best, but the hits defined a generation and I have to rate it as such. Best Songs: Time to Pretend, Weekend Wars, Electric Feel, Kids Worst Songs: The Youth

What's this? A post-2005 indie pick from a band that's actually pretty popular? I must be dreaming right now! MGMT is actually a band that I have heard of before, which is a strong sign that they're important enough to be included in a list like this. So, how do I feel about their debut album, Oracular Spectacular? Well, I think the album is quite befitting of its name, because this album is indeed spectacular! It's great! I really really like this album. The vocals aren't my favorite, but they do feel genuine and fit the lyrical themings of the album. Speaking of which, this album's writing is solid! There's songs about things like growing up, war, love, and other things of the sort. The writing itself is fairly respectable. The sound is what really sticks out to me here. There's a mix of synthpop and psychedelic elements that feels very modern and I love it. The album is kind of split into two halves, which is pretty cool. The first half is absolutely stacked, with it including this album's big singles, "Time to Pretend," "Electric Feel," and "Kids." Those songs are all excellent (especially "Kids"), but the backhalf of the album still has some great deep cuts like "Of Moons, Birds, & Monsters." Overall, Oracular Spectacular is an outstanding debut album that I think is deserving of its recognition on a list like this. High 4/5.

BEST SONGS: -The Handshake -Time to Pretend -The Youth

Багато хто говорить, що у час свого виходу, альбом зробив справжній фурор, лунав із кожної праски і всіх порядком дістав. Проте у мене подібних спогадів немає, адже в ті часи, я слухав зовсім іншу, більш важку музику. А з Oracular Spectacular познайомився вже десь у середині 2к10-х. І навіть тоді, він звучав особливо, космічно та був мало на що схожим. Створюючи цей альбом MGMT просто отримували фан та намагались створити дуже сильні поп-хіти, які при цьому будуть звучати максимально дивно. Змішуючи #indierock із #psychodelicpop їм вдалося створити музику, яка за своїм духом дуже нагадувала Talking Heads, адже була такою ж нетиповою для свого часу, але при цьому неймовірно чипляючою. Усі ці дивні «космічні» сінти та атональні гармонії, ніби і були родом із минулого, звучали настільки сучасно та стильно, що, навпаки, справляли враження «музики майбутнього». Але чим ця робота подобається найбільше, так це своєю магічною здатністю дарувати тепле почуття ностальгії за безтурботною юністю. І ця ностальгія не привʼязана до чогось конкретно, та відомого. Вона просто існує тут немов невідʼємна частина композиції. Навіть тематично, його основною ідеєю є важливість пошуку свого місця в житті. Коли фокус має бути на тому, що тобі справді подобається робити, а не на «грошах та славі». І ностальгічний настрій, як ніколи гарно, товаришує із цією тематикою.

4 - I kinda wished it was more than the songs I already loved, but it was not a very consistent listen

Really nostalgic. The Singles Are really Great and some of the other Songs Are excellent Too. First half is was netter than the second one though

I normally hate synth pop, but this hits. Perfect combo of synth pop, neo pyschadelia, 2000s pop, and 18 year old nostalgia

The singles are obviously mega, but some of the album tracks are also really great, Weekend Wars and Of Moons, Birds & Monsters. I'm leaning towards a 4 because I don't totally love this, but it is really good.

Not as good as We (Don't) Care EP Also I was gonna say Mellon Collie and the Infinite Album seriously that shit is way too long

the hits are good, and plentiful, but outside those its a little dry. I do have to commend them for a varied experience though, no two songs sound alike. I remember Electric Feel the most because one year houseboating with friends there was a boat parked next to us that played it on loop until 5am.

Really fun creative album. Forgot how many hits were on here. I’m knocking a star off because I was checked out by the end and didn’t notice that I was 3 songs into a Spotify Recommends playlist.

Toyed with giving this a 5 because I do think it's one of the top ten albums of the aughts...but 3 of the songs on the second side are forgettable, so 4 it is. Still a favorite of mine though.

I did really enjoy this. However I'm starting to notice a lot of male singers on this list have that alt rock very nasily voice. Hopefully this doesn't impact further study.

Fun album it was very 2000s but in a good way. Favorite Songs: Time To Pretend, Electric Feel, Pieces of What, and Kids

This album defined mid 2000-10 indie rock:pop. Outside of the obvious smash hits…. 🤷🏼‍♀️ unmemorable. 3.5

I liked this at the time, without thinking that it would end up on any sort of ‘best ever albums’ list. But screw it, it belongs, and it holds up 18 years later. The three singles are all A+, and a large part of the soundtrack to my uni years (I remember Time to Pretend closing the original series of Skins, which seemed like the perfect pairing). The rest of the album is strong too, full of grooves and dreamy melodies and just the right amount of genre-hopping experimentation. The downwards key change on The Youth always makes me smile. 4.5

very good

🌟🌟🌟🌟— 4[.2] of 5 stars: If there was ever an album that could capture the feeling of nostalgia, it would be this one, especially on its hits. It’s wonderfully artistic, with incredible instrumentation, and each track feels like it has its own unique soundscape, whether it be the synthesizers on “Time To Pretend,” the driving bassline on “Electric Feel,” or the playful samples and drums on “Kids,” each seems to transport me to a different world, all culminating into a singular nostalgic journey, with unexpected twists throughout, that kept me hooked in. 👍: Of Moons Birds & Monsters⭐️, Electric Feel, Time to Pretend, Future Reflections, Kids 👎: Pieces of What ⭐️ = favourite (for future reference)

rating- 4/5. > they have such a unique sound imo and I think this is a really good album! I like the theme too of growing up and stuff. kids was my song back in the day:(. 4th dimensional transition was weird. of moons birds monsters instrum was nice. late night summer kinda album. > thumbs up: the youth, electric feel (THROWBACK WTF), kids (crying emoji this song is so good), future reflections. W pull for day 2 ^_^

Enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. Kids was overplayed in my youth so much always avoided this one

I like this. I feel like alt rock is so expansive and can incorporate some many things now with the influences of tech and synethizers and how they impact sound. This is an album that shows more young and modern takes on society with a new and different sound. Sometimes it gets a little whiny but overall I appreciate the newness and uniqueness this brings to music.

I'm familiar with the hits: Time to Pretend, Electric Feel, & Kids. "A family of trees wantin' to be haunted" I'm not sure what this song is about but I get the feeling it's some kind of Stephen King summer camp thing. The non-hits didn't super grab me but I didn't dislike them. They were pretty creative.

I was already pretty familiar with this album. Really great hits on here! There aren’t any songs I dislike, I feel like this is all quite well done. Their high notes get a tad grating after awhile, but I’m a fan regardless!

Ooh this was fun to revisit. I liked this a lot back in the day and I’m happy to report it still works for me. Fun, artsy dance-rock like a folkier Talking Heads or something. Good good stuff.

Pretty awesome stuff. Will go down as a classic and genre-creating band and album.

Love some of these songs, bring back great memories of my Bristol days, but the back half sort of drops off, so 4 out of 5 stars

Finally pulling through with a modern pick that stood the test of time. MGMT is a special band.

First half great but then really uneven

Started off strong, ended a little underwhelming but overall a great album 4/5

A favorite and would always listen to again…loved this album so much in law school. Was so excited to get it and it delivered. First half of the album is my favorite, and electric feel is a forever banger. Really a 4.5 for me.

Album #500! Crazy. The hits from this album were huge when I graduated high school - lots of nostalgia here.

MGMT - Oracular Spectacular One of the best pop albums of the 2000's. Also, it's surprising that the singles here are better than the rest of the songs on this album (other than "Of Moons, Birds & Monsters). It's really consistent and overall it makes it an enjoyable and fun listen to it. In the end, this is really good! 1.- Time to Pretend = 10/10 2.- Weekend Wars = 9/10 3.- The Youth = 9/10 4.- Electric Feel = 10/10 5.- Kids = 10/10 6.- 4th Dimensional Transition = 8/10 7.- Pieces of What = 7/10 8.- Of Moons, Birds & Monsters = 10/10 9.- The Handshake = 7/10 10.- Future Reflections = 8/10 FINAL SCORE: 8.8/10

Solid record; these dudes truly did something original with their sound. Glad I got to listen to the whole thing via this journey!

Nice, i like it

Great listen

It's a really good record with some bangers that will stand up while being totally a product of the time. It sounds a bit dated while only being 18 years old.

This whole album is mostly overshadowed by 3 incredible songs, the rest sadly didn't reach those same heights, but this album is still pretty damn good and feels shorter than 40 minutes. I'm teetering between a high 3 or a low 4 on this one I think I gotta give it the low 4. "Time to Pretend" and "Kids" are too damn catchy

The three singles that everyone knows are obviously iconic bangers. The other 7 songs are a lot more of a mixed bag and feel like they come from a different, 60s psychedelica inspired album. I'm not sure if this contrast was intended or not and I'm not going to complain about the existence of Kids or Time to Pretend in this world, but it is some STRANGE sequencing. The true classic MGMT album is Little Dark Age imo, and I hope it appears on this list.

really enjoyed it:)) some kinda childhood-teen summer memories/vibes release

HOW GOOD! Some timeless classics that define a generation. I love this album, from beginning to end it attempts to bring the old back and make it new in MGMT’s own way. No wonder so many millennials love these guys. Sure there are some tunes that fall a bit flat, but overall it’s different, it’s fun, it’s cool.

It's such a nostalgic album for me. And a great one at that.

Super catchy, I'm unsure why it is but I actually had an okay time listening to this inspite of hits being overplayed to hell

The amount of airplay the hits from this album still get is a testament to how great they are. Solid album that goes in many interesting directions with influences from Bowie, Shoegaze, Prog, and Synth-pop. Great entry into music for these kids, if you can find it check out the video of them playing Kids to a crowd of about a dozen when they were just starting.

Spectacular

I mean, such a classic of the 2000s. MGMT was touched by grace on their debut album at least for the first five songs.

Overall: 8/10 I know and love the singles off of this album passionately but for some reason I've never felt compelled to listen to the entire thing. What a dummy. I do think the singles are far and away better than every other track on the album but when the singles are this good it doesn't really matter. I just enjoy that they tried to do something a little different with each song, with electronic and folky sounds co-mingling in a pot of insanely catchy pop music. Has it aged well? That I'm not sure, but it's at least a great capsule of what 2007 was like (I would assume, I was only 10 at the time). Fav Song: Time to Pretend Least Fav Song: Of Moons, Birds & Monsters

Good tunes

Enjoyable

4/5

This album was a really enjoyable listen!! Mgmt's debut, Oracular Spectacular, that was intended as an attempt of mockery on modern pop music but ironically ended up creating 3 of the most popular dance tunes of 2008. The themes throughout the album stayed focused on youth, growing up, rebellion, and how it felt for their childish dreams of fame and fortune to come true as adults. Overall this album made me feel very pumped and I'm glad that I had the opportunity to discovery it, although it did disappoint me to hear that mgmt didn't particularly love the album themselves.

Upon first listen, I got the feeling that MGMT were the North American equivalent of Empire of the Sun with the bright, overtly neon approach to their music. While that may be the case, what makes Oracular Spectacular stand out from that is the overt commitment to the bit and MGMT keeps the vibe intact as they sail to the next stage. Favorites: Time to Pretend, The Youth, Electric Feel, Kids, Pieces of What, Of Moons, Birds & Monsters, The Handshake.

Decent debut

3.5 stars

3.5

very good, lots of strong beats and very catchy lyrics

This was actually really good. Was pleasantly surprised.

More like 4.25, solid and trippy

Influences from all and sundry but surprisingly enjoyable.

Another car CD. At the time it caused a real stir - came from basically nowhere and was on every radio station on repeat. Funky, fresh, lots of disco and electronic influences whilst being clearly pop music, and MGMT essentially did everything themselves. Kids, Electric Feel, and Time to Pretend are the standouts, but I also like Weekend Wars and The Handshake. Some of the other tracks disappear a little, and I can't listen to the album on repeat, but it is generally brilliant.

Enjoyed this. Only really knew the hits before, and they are very strong. Really distinct sounding and nostalgic for uni. However some of the other album tracks were very good too. Think I liked weekend wars and of moons, birds and monsters. Ill be back to this

Nostalgia! I've never actually listened to this album apart from the singles - fun album!

Sentimientos encontrados en este. Un par de temas únicos y que vuelan la imaginación. Muchos otros me hacen pensar "para eso existen los rolling stones", pero debe ser el timbre de la voz, quizá? 4th Dimensional tema favorito. Un 4 débil.

The couple of titles I knew from this album are really entertaining and a good modern version of some psych/pop. It did not really revolutionize music, but it's pretty OK, and between the obvious bangers the album is solid.

The album matches my vibes. Reminded me of high school days. A bit front loaded.

Óvæntur hressleiki sem ég hefði samt mátt búast við. Ég þekki hljómsveitina og nokkur af lögunum á plötunni en hafði aldrei samt hlustað á þessa plötu. Rólegu lögin henta illa því þetta ætti bara að vera stuð út í gegn. Mér finnst það vera þannig band

When this album dropped, I was in grad school in New Orleans and I think I heard it about a week after it was released. Instantly loved it and played it to DEATH! Time to Pretend, Kids are the standout hits, but most of the album is very good. Lyrics are strong, and vocals are wild and unique. Lots of new things on this album that hadn't been done before. It still sounds quite innovative. Very impressive and a lot more worthy of this list than many.

Really loved this album back in the day. Still a big fan but I can tell that it's also lost some of that old luster for me as well. 4.5

Really enjoyed this. Knew the singles, enjoyed the rest

Very cool record. I really liked it. Different and fresh. Lots of catchy stuff on here.

Listening to MGMT nearly 20 years after the album was put out brings along with it a touch generational clarity. As I was listening to Time to Pretend, I realized how much of a Millennial anthem it was as a two individuals are continually talking about a listless life, void of responsibility, and can only present itself as a state of Peter Pan syndrome. This by no means is intended to sound as condescending as it may have come off. But as I listen to songs, I kept recognizing different variations of the constant pursuit of self identity, especially pointed towards a generation that was coming to age in the advent of social media, smartphones, streaming, and other forms of technological convergence, which provided everything that they would need in the palm of their hands. This album is actually filled with really good songs, such as the ethereal The Youth, and probably the most famous track Kids. Overall, if I was building a time capsule from the early 2000s to try to explain this generation, this would be a definite must.

This is the ultimate do the singles make a great album or do you need consistency throughout. They are 3 completely awesome tracks here: Kids, Time to Pretend, and Electric Feel. The rest is way more freaky and weird. Which now after seeing their catalog evolve is the true place they belong and not so much the 3 huge indie-pop hits that made them super famous. I kinda dig the weird tracks but none stick with me like the pop hits.

When this album came out in my teens, nothing sounded like it - it was different than anything in the charts. The album holds up well, but the singles are definitely standout. Their next 2 albums are better, but this is still great

This album is one of the reasons I started this 1001 journey, what a surprise it was. Downloaded it immediately.

Chad and nostalgic to my late teens. 4.5

Like happy dancing To sad anthems by yourself Laden with fun drugs

The big songs from this album, particularly “Time to Pretend”, are very dear to me. The rest of the album is good too, but I expected to love the whole thing as much as The Big Three and didn’t. Still liked it a lot. It’s lush and creative and tongue-in-cheek.

Pop rock. Pretty fun throughout. Electric Eel is a banger.

I really enjoyed this but I always liked the singles anyway - just never really bothered to listen to the album. But really lovely tunes and I liked the voice and the vibe. Very calming.

Besides Frankie goes to Hollywood, I was stuck in a rut of threes for a while. Thank you, MGMT!

It's like Ween for a new generation, and I'm on board. Adler is a fan, and I get why. I think I've heard "Kids" before, but the album was a first time thing. I loved the spacey production, the psychedelic feel, the melodic sensibilities. Good stuff.

So that's where that song Kids comes from. Cool. I dug these guys. Fun music, cool sounds. A little bit Animal Collective, a little bit Royksopp, a little bit glam. This isn't something I would have checked out on my own, so I'm glad it showed up here. Thumbs up

What a fantastic opening track! I missed this band in action when they first hit but many of the songs are familiar. I just loved this.

Makes me feel pretty old as in my mind this is still a newish album, yet it was released 2007... A special place in my heart as it was part of the soundtrack to a happy time in my 20s

Really cool album, more advanced/ambitious than you’d expect Enjoyable throughout

Really fun album. Smiled a few times throughout and really enjoyed the hits off this one

I haven’t listened to this for years, but it was much more enjoyable than I expected it to be. Still slightly of its time though.

More like it , great album

Psicodélico mas digerivel Não é uma eternidade sem fim de coisas aleatórias, segue a própria regra. Me lembrou David Bowie as vezes

Pretty good one with a lot of original sounds Favorite track: Electric feel other picks: time to pretend, the youth, kids

A-puolella oli yllättävän paljon täytettä vain luomassa odotuksia Electric feelille ja Kidsille. B-puoli onkin oikein hyvä. Siellä myös mennään indierockimpaan suuntaan täydestä popista. Eli lopulta vaihteleva levy. Tähän kyllä aina aika ajoin palaa, vaikka alku melkein uhkaa vähän tylsistyttää.

Loved it!

This is more my speed and the type of music I usually seek out. I'm familiar with a few songs from MGMT but have never listened to this full album. I really liked it. A lot of the songs start slow but really grow on you. Nothing I outright disliked. Can definitely hear a Bowie influence. Favorites: Electric Feel, Kids, Pieces of What, Of Moons Birds & Monsters Would I listen to it again? Yes

Cool modern psychedelic rock. I feel like a few of these songs still get as much play in the radio as they did in 2007

Nice palette cleanser from Megadeth.

Unique, great melodies and hooks.

até kids só tem banger e depois desanda ainda sim muito bom provando que nem tudo que é comercial é ruim

Σιγουρα ενα παρα παρα πολυ ενδιαφερον αλμπουμ. Ανυπομονω να δω μετα απο πολλα listens πως θα κανει grown on me ο ηχος των MGMT. Απιστευτη πραγματικα παραγωγη, δεν ξερω αν τρελαινομαι απαραιτητα για τα vocals. Παντως ποιοτικο αλμπουμ. Rating: A

What a wonderful mix of music! They put so much in such a tight 40 minute package, but I felt that I was exploring my pop-rock loves from the 70s to the 00s. For a proper rating, I will have to listen to it again. And I will. 4.5/5

How did I miss this band? Definitely will give it a few more listens!

I've always liked this album

A fun album that provides a good level of nostalgia for college years

Quintessential college music of the late '00s. The three singles were mainstays at parties and on playlists. I probably downloaded them either from LimeWire, fratmusic.com, or from my roommate's iTunes library "family sharing" we had set up in the pre-streaming age. The rest of the album keeps up the electronic psychedelia vibe but doesn't maintain the high points. Some songs sound like David Bowie or Tame Impala. Synths are great, vocals not so much.

I like that their sellout record was their first one and honestly it still is pretty darn good.

good songs on the a side lots of synth driven fun

4*** One of my favorite albums

Ganska schysst album.

4/5

It was good for the brief moment in time it was new and fresh. And good to listen to it again 17 years later. Now I'll put it back on the shelf until 2034. I liken it to 60s psychedelic rock in that way. Rounded up.

I prefer these guys to daft punk

I had actually never listened to an MGMT album in full before this and was not surprised in any way that this album would be a banger. Lots of great tracks and pretty much every song is so catchy.

I'll admit that I have a real soft spot for this album. To me this might be the best encapsulation of the 2000s indie pop scene. It has three of the most iconic songs of the era ("Time To Pretend", "Electric Feel", and "Kids"), it has this understated synth-y electronic-y sound that feels so 2000s, and somehow still feels pretty fresh to me (despite the hits being overplayed at this point). I wasn't as familiar with the rest of the album outside the big three songs, and there were a couple of really solid ones. "The Youth" was a standout for me, a much slower vibe but really strong, "4th Dimension Transition" has this frantic feeling that's cool, "Pieces of What" has slightly annoying vocals but a really solid vibe, there's a lot of good here. I don't know, the rating doesn't really matter that much but I originally was leaning 5 here, but I've been wavering and I'm not sure the back side is quite strong enough. Any album with 3 songs as good as the top 3 on here deserves high praise for sure, and I do like this album a lot, but it's definitely a lot stronger on the first half. Call it a 4.5 and regardless, this is one of the better albums of the era in a genre that I am generally into. Favorite song: Kids Other: Time to Pretend, Weekend Wars, The Youth, Electric Feel, 4th Dimension Transition, Pieces of What, The Handshake 10/14/24

Weekend wars enough said. This is an iconic album that ruined this band forever because the fans wanted the 4 first songs remade and yet they still prevail

This album is so Nostalgic from my childhood. At the time it came out, I remember thinking I’ve never heard anything like it before (yeah bro I listened to Eminem and LMFAO all day what did you expect) but it hit SO hard and still does to this day. One of my favorite opening tracks on an album ever.

Really like the songs beyond the “hits,” as I never listened to this whole album. Only seem a couple of fillers on here.

Hard to untangle this one from nostalgia, but the high notes on this album are so spectacular that I am end up forgiving some of the goofier moments.

Кайфовая музыка

Drit bra album

Don’t love the deep cuts but rating it a four for the hits.

Lyrics are flippant and amazing

Just a really fun album. Also, really pleasantly surprised by the first song Time to Pretend. I guess I didn’t know that song was by them or on this album. When I think of MGMT I always just think of kids or electric feel. They just use such different instrumentation and synth sounds in such a cool way. Also, seems like they had a real grassroots type rise to fame where it took a long time for this album to get recognized. Which is cool.

One of those albums I’m really glad is on the list! At least three songs were absolute bangers that I recognized instantly. I didn’t know what band they were from or that they were from the same band. I am impressed!

I wasn't expecting this on here. I love this album! The first half is definitely stronger than the back half. If it kept up after Kids it could have been perfect record. When listening to the vinyl, I rarely flip it to side B. Side A is so strong though! A 9 out of 10 for me, but I can't say it's a perfect 5 stars.

This blend of rock with synthpop is amazing. Really fun album.

4.4 2x already a staple, used to be a 5

Does anything say late-2000s house party quite like this? You can chill, dance, reflect, or just vibe to this whole album. It’s diverse while maintaining a central theme. And it’s a sound that is extremely recognizable.

Pretty good album. Very entertaining.

know that one from Saltburn

I thought I was gonna hate them… then I listened to more than one song!! I really liked a few. Sorta funky, electro music? Some were similar to each other, but it wasn’t bad at all.

Kids is an all-time banger.

Several big hits, and like most of the other songs too.

Kind of sneaky how good it is. The vocal talent itself isn't great, but everything else, musically, is pretty excellent. There are a few songs that kind of drag down the rest of the album, but outside of that, this is great. Favorite Song(s): Electric Feel, Kids, The Handshake

I had forgotten about/dismissed these guys. This is pretty good. Big singles and weird shit.

Somehow back in the day Oracular Spectacular didn’t hit for me like other indie bands. Maybe it’s the electro popness to it. But there is more there, also Pink Floyd like. The singles are phenomenal, Time to Pretend, Kids, Electric Feel but the rest is very solid. 8.1/10

its mgmt’s first album. I’ve never listened to the whole this but it was good.

Very good album with a lot of catchy radio friendly synth music. Worth a few spins, but i also find the album to be a little too poppy to give it all 5 stars. Let's settle for a strong 4.

A great bit of Neo-psychedelia, which I thought was becoming a dying breed at the time (Well, it felt like it to me). The even better thing was that it got normal people to like the genre too. It was a very odd time, especially as 'Kids' was my 5 year old son's favourite song. So what is there not to like? I have to give it 4, due to the fact I don't play it often.

Alta vibe que ha envejecido muy bien

This album starts of phenomenally. If this stopped at Kids it would be a 5 star album, but it gets lost, and meanders the rest of the way.

Better than most

I underrate this album quite a bit! Who can forget the classic bangers but every track on this is so fantastic and they were already so fully formed as a band! Congratulations is my fav album of theirs but man does this one go!! Weekend Wars and Future Reflections are two of my favs on here!

I’ve always assumed that MGMT is just riding off of some big singles but I really enjoyed this whole album!

This album is absolutely timeless - all the times I've listened to it, it's never gotten old. It had me grooving in my cubicle.

Never ever heard of them… I like the mix of poppy electronic and some grittiness in the first tune. There’s an underlying California vibe to this, with a little red hot chillies, but then interesting psychedelic sprinkles… pretty darn surprisingly not bad ;). Really like the feel of The Youth… I’m surprised by the whole album… it’s strong all along… the put a lot of time into each tune… none feels like filler fluff. The production is also interesting, combining some character from many decades… without copying or sounding fake. I’m happy I know this album now.

Some of the deeper cuts aren't so strong IMO but the singles from the album are indeed iconic to the vibe of the late 2000s/early 2010s.

I was excited seeing this album pop up. Takes me back to my school days! Time to Pretend, Kids, Electric Feel - bangers!!!! Wish the rest of the album had the same energy but it was still a good album 4 ⭐️

MGMT seems to skim the surface of several genres: little synth-pop, a little prog rock, a little Prince. Not a bad album overall, with two or three good (and very popular) tracks.

Yes. Good album

this is difficult for me to rate objectively, and i imagine it will NOT be the last album on this list that feels fraught and unquantifiable. basically, all music from this era stirs in me two kinda contradictory but equally visceral responses: the first is extreme nostalgia and affection, and the other is extreme cringe and revulsion. i cannot hear "time to pretend" without seeing in my mind's eye the same vision of an incredibly detailed skins post-canon fanvideo that i imagined when i listened to it obsessively the summer between 9th and 10th grade. i still think it's a beautiful song, but it has this tinge of childishness that i just can't ignore. basically i am unable to extricate a band like MGMT from my own adolescence; therefore it will always sound adolescent and a bit silly to me. of course it is still immensely fun, and i might like the melancholy vaguely existential lyrics contrasted with the boppy pseudopsychedelic synths even more than i did as a teenager. but it's hard to imagine anybody over the age of sixteen taking this album seriously. i just can't tell if it actually Sounds dated or if that's just what my own past sounded like.

Not terrible modern pop.

Yet another ex-1001 album!™ http://1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie.wikidot.com/album-artists-a-z-ex I hadn't heard of MGMT, but 4 seconds into the album I recognised it from adverts. Decent enough modern pop, enjoyed it.

couple strong bangers on here, but didn’t change my life. would relisten to a couple songs

A band I've always heard of but never really looked into. I enjoyed it! Also that's where that one song comes from. I'd heard it before but didn't know it was from these guys.

Cohesive

Kids, youth, electric feel. Big nostalgia factor for me.

Воот пошла жара Я не фанат электроники, но этот альбом мне понравився.

Fun little pop record with some banger hits.

This album was a first time listen, but as it played through so many familiar melodies cause to question if it really was the first time to listen. It is not very often that an album has this many tunes used in commercials. Whether or not a good album is made because of that, is a debate though. Overall this album was an incredible experience because of the nostalgia it produces, but this reviewer was forced to imagine that everything was the first time, that familiarity did not count, and take the album for what it is and how MGMT intended it. That is impossible here. This album really produced jingles and marketing background music that has invaded the psyche of probably untold millions of people who has ever watched television. Musically, the album is really good. It is enjoyable, the songs are catchy and they maintain a great presence, which again is a callback to how engrained some of these melodies are in commercial culture. While some contrarians may feel this is a sell-out move, an objective look at this album validates why this is even on 1001, and that is people should know sometimes the music behind the ad, and that sometimes ad agencies make great decisions.

Very nice. Not as powerful as some people made it out to be, but solid through.

7/10. Some nostalgia with a few of the songs and some cleverness to the album overall but didn’t have the vibes for me.

I love this album! Two separate moments of nostalgia for me on this one. The first is 2009ish living in a loft apartment in Macon next to some preppy Mercer law students. They had three of these songs on all the time. I would go over and play bear pong and do blow with them. Good times. Next was after I moved to Savannah and I actually decided to listen to the whole album, making the ride to the beach, sun out and windows down. It's fun and refreshing, perfect beach music. They've certainly evolved with each album, but this one is my favorite. Production by Dave Fridmann, which makes total sense why this has a Flaming Lips vibe. Weekend Wars is my favorite on here.

A great album from a great time period, both musically and personally for me. Highly danceable psychedelia that is energetic and rich in layers and textures. Sometimes reminding me a little bit of Flaming Lips mixed with some French EDM. The song Electric Feel alone is worth the price of admission and I never tire of it. Fat bass, airy vocals, weird little flute, sensual, lush, soaring, funky. That song along with Kids and 4th Dimensional Transition is probably my favorite span of the album, but every track yields treasure. 4.5 rars

I'm pretty sure MGMT has a song on one of the FIFA soccer video game sound tracks,.which is probably the first time I'd heard them. This is an interesting album and I remember playing it a lot. At times the vocals on the album sound like a psychedelic David Bowie. On other tracks I am reminded of The Flaming Lips or Midnight Juggernauts. These guys overall have an eclectic sound that I really like. A lot of great tracks on here but my top songs are probably Electric Feel, Weekend Wars, 4th Dimensional Transition and Time to Pretend.

Never heard of MGMT, but recognized Electric Feel instantly. Like their sound and the entire album worked for me. Will listen to more of their music in the future. OrSpec comes in at (3.7*s)

I've always liked their sound which I'll describe as one part foggy-shoegaze, one part catchy-hook, one part synth-instrumental, and one part repeat-repeater. There's a bunch of big hits on this one and even the lesser known tracks are good. I like the darker tinges and the insane music vid for "Kids."

Always liked this album as I have a lot of great college memories associated with a few of the hits. Second half of this album is a little darker and although it is weaker it isn't necessarily a bad thing. Still a solid listen all the way through. MGMT brought some needed indie pop vibes with the keyboard/synth sounds that are appreciated. I haven't kept up with MGMT but after listening to this I feel I need to check out their other albums. I'll continue to put this on in the rotation and recommend it as a great debut from that time period. 3.65 stars

Great music, started as as 5 but the second half is not as good as the first one.

01) Time to Pretend - 10,0 02) Weekend Wars - 7,5 03) The Youth - 8,5 04) Electric Feel - 10,0 05) Kids - 10,0 06) 4th Dimensional Transition - 7,5 07) Pieces of What - 7,5 08) Of Moons, Birds & Monsters - 7,5 09) The Handshake - 7,5 10) Future Reflections - 7,5 TOTAL: 8,35 (84/100) Current ranking: 68/271 Where did they go after this? It's a pity that they didn't have any hits after this album. "Time to Pretend" and "Kids" are definitely in the top of the best songs from the beginning of the 21st century. The rest of the album is a little weaker, especially the second part, but there are still some solid songs.

You toss all the mornings lost to the clouds and you watch it go It tastes like death, but it looks like fun

Knew the two that everyone does, but glad to hear the whole album. Really enjoyed it.

Really enjoyed hearing this again

Pretty freakin good. I have never REALLY been able to enjoy it because to me this entire sound is shaded with fomo. It may have everything to do with the time. It came out when I was a freshmen in college and it seemed like MGMT was maybe the pinnacle of what I COULD be doing but instead i was playing video games in a dorm in New Hampshire. Album kinda fades but damn, lotta hits on the front half. Personally a 3, probably deserving of 5 and splitting the difference.

I thought mgmt was gonna be the biggest band in the world after this album. Huge at college parties in 2010 ish. There are three great songs and some other decent ones, a few misses. After this it seems like they turned their noses up at what made them famous (catchy dance songs) and tried to become something more alternative/psychedelic, losing some of their charm.

Excellent debut album for one of the most noteworthy pop-electro bands of the 21st century. Some proper bangers on the album, such as Electric Feel & Kids. Even as someone who primarily listens to harder genres, metal and such, the album is still a very enjoyable listen and none of the songs really call for a strong dislike. 4/5

Super nostalgic

Bright, spacey, fluid, and super well-produced. Not every song connects with me, but the three big singles are so good and the vibe is so well-established that I still come away with pretty good feelings about this one. Best song: Electric Feel

J’ai plein de chose à dire, mais je sais pas comment les enchaîner, faque je vais faire une liste: 1. Beaucoup de hits 2. Arcade Fire 3. Estival 4. Cool Et puis 5, bah y’a pas de 5

Does everyone give extra stars for nostalgia value? I have great memories listening to this back in the day, so I unashamedly added a star.

Hey I knew so many of these. Enough bops to make me happy.

Still sounds epic.

Don’t know much by this band. But already got 3 saved. Looking forward to the whole thing. Ok, the 3 I liked before, I still really like. The rest is fine. But I didn’t grab anything new. Still good overall, though. 4/5

This album has stood the test of time. I loved this back in 2007 and love it now. There are so many good songs on this album, electirc feel, kids and time to pretend are my favourites as everyone elses!! Its ashame they never hit these hights again. Favourite song: Time to pretend. Least favourite: everything is good. Album artwork: Love the cover

I love this album, it marks a special era in the 2000s. There are moments where the music doesn’t feel authentic, which I think was the band’s intention to a certain extent, but it takes away some of the magic for me.

Already in my (CD) collection. Solid record. Three standout tunes are the "hits": Time to Pretend, Kids, and Electric Feel. Not quite a masterpiece but a very strong debut.

“Electric Feel” and “Kids” are stone classics, and the rest of the tracks aren’t bad either, a collection of Day-Glo psychedelia and electronic noodling. It peters out a bit by the end, but it’s still fun.

Knew more songs than I thought!

I have fond memories of listening to this album on a boombox around campfire at a festival.

~nostalgia again~

I wanted to like this. Kids is a classic, Electric Feel has one of my favorite uses of syncopation, and Time to Pretend could replace Teenage Wasteland in all future coming of age movies. The non-singles fell flat and left me wanting to go back to the first half of the album. I'll give this another listen in a future time. Would give it 3.5 if possible.

D R U G S Now that I have your attention: Oracular Spectacular catapulted MGMT into music stardom in a way that only few debut albums have done before and after. It's of course all over the place, but having your debut contain not one, but three(!) generational anthems is somewhat of an achievement.

The first half of this MGMT’s debut record is some of the best work recorded during the 00’s. The track list is beyond insane, sprawling with hits and huge anthems that you can’t possibly have missed. That being said, the latter half isn’t bad at all - it’s really quite good. It’s just difficult following in the footsteps of the epic that is the 5 opening tracks.

Fun nostalgia album

the soundtrack to a coming of age teen movie if i ever heard one

I do prefer little dark age but this does absolutely slap.

Don't love it quite as much as little dark age but this is still a really good album

Three great tracks and the whole album has interesting beats / production.

Good surprise!

Man them singles is catchy, so simple but catchy, can’t take this too seriously, faint hate it

Nostalgíuplata hjá mér. Ipod og AUX þennan veturinn og sumarið 2008. Good shit.

I really enjoyed this a lot - pieces of what reminded my of old school rolling stones so much which i LOVED

Very good album, forget how many good songs are MGMT 7/10

STANDOUTS: Time to Pretend Electric Feel Kids OVERALL: 4/5; a nice college dorm nostalgia album

A few really great songs.

The 3 hits from this album (Time to Pretend, Electric Feel, and Kids) absolutely eclipse the other songs. But I have to admit, the hits all bang (and hold up). And the other tracks aren’t bad. All in all, this is a fantastic representation of 2000s alt.

classic vibes

Fun hipster yuppie New England band. Dazzling!

p dang good album that i had forgot about. Combo of molly and acid really did somethin for these guys. A special place in time haha

Liked this one. Fave Song "Kids" 4/5

Very nostalgic. Very summertime

Muy buena vibra y hitazos como Kids

Three of the biggest songs from my middleschool/highschool time. These songs were everywhere. They still hold up and are absolute bangers but the rest of the album is pretty mediocre to not great. I also have not heard anything else from MGMT since so no idea if they are still making music. I guess technically not one hit wonders but more like 3 hit wonders. 7/10

off to a great trippy, pop start though I wish the sound wasn't quite as fuzzy. Love the 70s nostalgia in Electric Feel. Worried that the album was taking a dive with the song after Kids but then Pieces of What came on and was happy again. Terrific album: each song feels like a blend of influence and innovation. Only complaint is that the title sounds like it came from Harry Potter.

I recently just go into them. A little late to the party, esp. since I am into band like Interpol, Editors, etc. What an interesting album. It's all over the place in "sounds" but wonderfully cohesive. One moment I hear 80's synth alt disco, then Bowie, now I'm in a early Floydian joy right, but it all sounds totally contemporary. Pretty darn amazing. There's a serious Flaming Lips vibe to them, though they obviously are NOT FL-rip offs. They are just in the same space.

Great dance album

This album is impeccably produced and is just such an incredible vibe. There's so much character and influence in here that I pick up on every new listen. You go from a generational track like Time to Pretend, which feels unique and special to MGMT's style, straight to Weekend Wars which feels like something off a Bowie album. A few are snoozers and they're still figuring things out, but man this album is just awesome. Favorites were Time to Pretend, Weekend Wars, Electric Feel, and Future Reflections

They would go on to do greater things (Congratulations and Little Dark Age), but the hits hit and the deep cuts are pretty good too. Favorites are the three obvious ones, Weekend Wars, and Of Moons, Birds & Monsters

Maybe you had to be there.

Interesting dilemma... I've always thought there was a tendency for people to vote for newer albums and bands that they grew up with and loved- recalling memories of happier days etc etc rather than some crusty old album by a band they'd never heard of. On the other hand this album is so uplifting and choc-full of ideas. Not the most innovative or deep but hell it's fun to listen to.

Already listened to :) very good

Pretty good for the type of music, with some familiar songs.

A college classic for me

I'd heard most of these songs and enjoyed them.

i thought it only had albums up to 2005 ??? this ones got some bangers on it no doubt at least a 4 already yea this album is pretty good

This one is interesting. When the songs “hit”, they “hit”. The ones that don’t aren’t disappointing, there is just a separation of likability. Having 4 charting songs on an album can’t be denied and liking those songs merits a higher rating than my “norm”. I will give more of their stuff a listen. It has an enjoyable mix of radio, obscure and deep songs to make me wonder more about them. Choice cut: Time to Pretend

5 start first half

One of the better indie rock albums from the late 2000s. A clean use of electronic into the indie rock too.

I would not have expected to like an album described as spiking "rock star cliches and acid-induced paranoia with millennial angst and hipster snark" so much but here we are. I definitely remember hearing Electric Feel before. 3.5 rounded up.

I was familiar with several of the tracks, but I enjoyed the rest of them, too.

Guys going through some growing pains Brings back good memories playing this when it first hit. Very thematic: the guys were definitely going through some growing pains. Nice production innovations.

saltburn reference 🔥yea this album slaps. such memorable hooks and unique sounds. no one does it like mgmt and no has since. the opener alone makes this a classic. could def see myself coming back to this

**Oracular Spectacular** by MGMT: An In-Depth Review **Introduction** Released in 2007, "Oracular Spectacular" is the debut studio album by the American rock band MGMT. Comprising core members Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser, the band garnered significant attention with this release, marked by its eclectic mix of psychedelic pop, indie rock, and electronic influences. This review delves into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and its broader influence on the music industry, highlighting both the strengths and weaknesses of this seminal work. **Lyrics** "Oracular Spectacular" is noted for its surreal and introspective lyrics, often imbued with a sense of youthful idealism and existential pondering. The lyrics range from whimsical and fantastical to reflective and critical of contemporary society. 1. **Time to Pretend**: The opening track serves as a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the rockstar lifestyle, juxtaposing idealized fame with the inevitable disillusionment that accompanies it. Lines like "I'll move to Paris, shoot some heroin, and fuck with the stars" paint a vivid picture of hedonistic fantasies, while the chorus ("This is our decision, to live fast and die young") encapsulates the fleeting nature of youth and ambition. 2. **Kids**: This song explores themes of innocence and the loss of childhood wonder. The repetitive line "Control yourself, take only what you need from it" suggests a critique of consumerism and the pressures of growing up, while the nostalgic tone reflects a longing for simpler times. 3. **Electric Feel**: With its sensuous and almost mystical imagery, "Electric Feel" portrays a visceral connection to nature and human emotion. The lyrics "Ooh girl, shock me like an electric eel" use metaphor to evoke the electrifying experience of love and connection. **Music** The music of "Oracular Spectacular" is a rich tapestry of genres, blending psychedelic rock, synth-pop, and indie elements to create a sound that is both nostalgic and forward-looking. 1. **Instrumentation**: The album features a diverse array of instruments, including synthesizers, electric guitars, and traditional rock setups. The use of lush, layered synths and reverb-heavy guitars creates a dreamy, expansive soundscape that draws listeners into MGMT's otherworldly vision. 2. **Melody and Harmony**: The melodies are catchy yet complex, often shifting unexpectedly to keep the listener engaged. Songs like "Kids" and "Electric Feel" are built around infectious hooks, while tracks like "The Youth" and "Weekend Wars" feature more intricate harmonic progressions. 3. **Rhythm and Beat**: The album's rhythmic foundation is equally diverse, ranging from the driving beats of "Time to Pretend" to the laid-back grooves of "Of Moons, Birds & Monsters." This rhythmic versatility adds to the album's dynamic and unpredictable nature. **Production** Produced by Dave Fridmann, known for his work with The Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev, the production on "Oracular Spectacular" is both polished and experimental. 1. **Sound Design**: Fridmann's influence is evident in the album's expansive, cinematic sound. The use of reverb and delay effects creates a sense of space and depth, while the careful layering of sounds ensures that each track feels lush and full. 2. **Mixing**: The mixing balances the various elements effectively, ensuring that no single component overwhelms the others. This is particularly important given the album's dense arrangements and wide array of sonic textures. 3. **Innovation**: The production on "Oracular Spectacular" pushes the boundaries of conventional pop and rock music. The willingness to experiment with unconventional sounds and production techniques gives the album a unique character and sets it apart from its contemporaries. **Themes** Thematically, "Oracular Spectacular" explores a range of subjects, from the disillusionment of adulthood to the beauty and complexity of human experience. 1. **Youth and Nostalgia**: Many of the songs reflect a sense of nostalgia for childhood and a critique of the adult world. This is evident in tracks like "Kids" and "The Youth," which lament the loss of innocence and the pressures of conformity. 2. **Existential Reflection**: Songs like "Time to Pretend" and "The Handshake" delve into existential themes, questioning the meaning of success and the pursuit of happiness in a materialistic society. 3. **Nature and Mysticism**: Tracks such as "Of Moons, Birds & Monsters" and "Future Reflections" evoke a sense of wonder and connection to the natural world, blending mystical imagery with environmental consciousness. **Influence** "Oracular Spectacular" has had a significant impact on both the indie and mainstream music scenes. 1. **Cultural Impact**: The album's singles, particularly "Time to Pretend," "Kids," and "Electric Feel," became anthems of the late 2000s, defining the sound of the era and influencing countless artists in the years that followed. 2. **Genre Blending**: MGMT's seamless blending of genres paved the way for a new wave of artists who were unafraid to mix electronic and rock elements. Bands like Tame Impala and Passion Pit have cited "Oracular Spectacular" as a key influence on their own work. 3. **Visual Aesthetics**: The band's distinctive visual style, combining retro and psychedelic elements, also left a lasting mark on the music video and fashion landscapes, inspiring a revival of interest in 60s and 70s aesthetics. **Pros and Cons** **Pros:** 1. **Innovative Sound**: The album's blend of genres and experimental production techniques set it apart from other releases of its time. 2. **Strong Singles**: Tracks like "Time to Pretend," "Kids," and "Electric Feel" are memorable and impactful, each becoming iconic in its own right. 3. **Lyrical Depth**: The lyrics are thoughtful and often poignant, exploring complex themes with a mix of humor and sincerity. 4. **Production Quality**: Dave Fridmann's production is lush and detailed, creating a rich listening experience. **Cons:** 1. **Inconsistency**: Some tracks, such as "4th Dimensional Transition" and "Pieces of What," feel less cohesive and polished compared to the standout singles. 2. **Overproduction**: At times, the dense layering of sounds can feel overwhelming, potentially alienating listeners who prefer a more stripped-down approach. 3. **Abstract Lyrics**: While often a strength, the abstract and surreal nature of the lyrics can sometimes make it difficult for listeners to connect with the songs on a personal level. 4. **Pacing**: The album's pacing can feel uneven, with the energy and momentum dipping in the middle section before picking up again towards the end. **Conclusion** "Oracular Spectacular" by MGMT remains a landmark album in the indie and electronic music scenes. Its innovative sound, thoughtful lyrics, and high production quality make it a standout release, despite some inconsistencies and moments of overproduction. The album's influence continues to be felt, inspiring a new generation of artists and leaving an indelible mark on the musical landscape of the 21st century.

Feels like I just got high and I’m in my parents basement trying not to wake them up while watching music videos

Sounds like the background for commercials. It’s good but not like blowing away anything.

Great electro pop sound and catchy hits

Solid pop music. A review quoted on Wikipedia says, "the songs never feel insincere" and I find that one of the strong points of the album. Oracular Spectacular is delightfully sprinkled with familiar, nostalgia inducing songs, a good ease into this project while still getting exposed to new tunes. Strikes me as kind of a reluctant coming of age album. I think in part it's due to associations with the time period, but just as much, it's focused on youth culture. Great balance of carefree and aware that, again, makes for solid pop music.

the hits are HITS. the others are mid

Listened to this album three times. Need to see what motivated the artists- I think this album came out when I was in late high school? heavy nostalgic lyrics and vibes helped it age perfectly.

I'm so excited to start with this album! I'm familiar with a lot of their songs but have never listened to any MGMT albums in full. I've always known I would like them but just never got around to digging in. On first listen, I found tracks 6+7 less polished and less compelling. Pulled me back in with tracks 8+9, then track 10 was fine. On second listen, I REALLY liked track 6! It made more sense with the context of the whole album versus just my prior experience with the singles. Track 7 was also better and I could especially hear similarities between it and Little Dark Age in in some of the riffs. Track 10 stood out more on second listen. The first half of the album (where the singles lives) is definitely stronger than the latter half of the album. In general, the popular singles are justified standouts. First half of the album felt basically perfect both as individual songs and as a cohesive piece while the second half was more deconstructed and less immediately accessible. Overall, really liked this album like I've always known I would!!!! It does have a clear \"first half\" and \"second half,\" which prevents it from sounding perfectly cohesive, but in a way that had me asking \"is it on purpose?\" I caught myself thinking \"How did I get here from Time to Pretend?\" but not in a negative way. It's cool coming back and listening to Oracular Spectacular for the first time in 2024. Easy to hear where their more recent work has grown from, and it's nice to see a logical progression from this album to 2018's Little Dark Age (I listened to the singles from LDA a LOT). I think they have only become more polished since this album. Really glad this project has pushed me to finally sit down and listen to it. I think I would listen to this album again, but will probably mostly stick to the songs I most like on it versus listening to it all of the way through. Weekend Wars, The Youth, and The Handshake were standouts to me.

Fun pop, very mick jagger vocal

Fantastic record. Nostalgic too. Don't like much electronic music but, this is how it should be done.

Really great example of indy-rock gone mainstream, which was what most mainstream rock turned into in the 2000s. This really is a great album. It has some incredible highs and no real serious lows. Really good listen beginning to end.

MGMTs Debüt mischt Psychedelic Pop mit elektronischen Elementen. Hits wie "Electric Feel" und "Kids" prägen. Innovativ und eingängig.

I feel like everyone loves this album. I love the big singles but the deeper tracks didn’t resonate with me. Rating: 4.2

Great

Even if the weather where I live didn’t necessarily match the vibe, I felt inspired to try and make today a good day when I saw I had this album today. I think it deserves that much. Because this album definitely incites emotions inside of me. Ones that remind me of the feeling of that transition between spring and summer. When things finally start to get warmer. Everybody has heard at least one of the big three from this album before. Most people have probably heard all three. I know I have. They are inescapable 2000s classics. But where this album brings the most to the table is in its deeper cuts. The ones people don’t pay as much attention to. This record embraces the weird and wacky, like its psychedelic brothers. Most notably The Flaming Lips and Animal Collective. But it’s also clear how much of an influence this would have on modern psychedelic pop music moving forward. This album feels like the amateur start. And yet, there is enough technical ability and creativity shared between the duo to allow them to create something like this. And certain parts of this album sound amazing production wise. Super unique use of textures, just like Animal Collective as I previously mentioned. It’s fuzzy one moment, bright the other, flashy the other, and a variety of others you can probably think of. Some might feel like beyond its hits, this album doesn’t have much going for it. But even if those songs are amazing, they contain the plainest of the duo’s style. Those other songs are where they really get to shine. And clearly the sound they worked with here has stood the test of time over the last 15 plus years. Rating: 8/10

This album was better than I remembered it being. I liked the singles when this came out so I listened to the rest and wasn’t all that impressed. I guess my tastes have evolved since then because I was mostly impressed with this album aside from a couple of duds. The singles are still good, electric feel is still the best song on there. Weekend wars and pieces are the two duds in my opinion. Otherwise the non-singles while not as catchy are really cool.

I was extremely happy to start my week with this album. Of course there is a nostalgic element since I've listened to it during my teenage years, but I still really this is a great album especially for a debut

Nice beats Unique and calming production

I think MGMT is to Millennials what The Moody Blues is to Boomers. Good, sure, but mostly, you had to be there to get why it’s important. Their importance feels intangible. Words can’t really explain what it is about the music itself that matters. If you weren’t there, sure, the hits are still solid, but it never feels particularly unique stripped of the context of the time. I truly believe that once all the Millennial critics retire, MGMT will go the way of The Moody Blues, directly toward the bargain bin. But as a Millennial? Fuck, man, I don’t even like this album as much as my friends, and I still love it. It’s too fun and was the soundtrack to too much of my life for me to not adore it. It’s got a couple stinkers, but there’s just something about this album that speaks to that Great Recession era of pain. It summarizes what the kids now call Indie Sleaze that to me felt like we were all just trying to numb our collective shitty adolescence. It’s gaudy but somehow sexy, cheap but kinda chic if you squint. And I think there’s a bit more steam in its engine for the moment, as long as the American economic remains in the drain, which is why it’s remained a critical darling and found some newfound fans. I doubt that will last forever, though, because things tend to get better, eventually, and even if they don’t, new voices come onto the scene to represent the pain. But until then, “Oracular Spectacular” will remain beloved in my household, and will continue to be until I die and someone else throws my copy in a bargain bin.

A really good electronic pop album with some great hooks and choruses.

Better than I remember. I've heard this before. Always liked a couple of songs, but never felt this was MGMT's strongest album - even if it was the one to bring them their first taste of success. This new listen hasn't changed that opinion either, but I recognise the album's importance, and why so many people like it. The first 3 tracks are the strongest. 'Youth' ended up being one of my favourites from the album. They both touch on the ideas of lost youth, growing up and the consequences of this. It's a poppy psychedelic, electronic trip. This new listen has helped me appreciate songs from the album outside of the classics: 'Kids' (also known for its music video that portrays what feels like borderline child abuse) and 'Time to pretend'. Both are still bangers though, of course. Something interesting from the wiki - the guy who produced this album was the same person who produced the flaming lips' music. You can really hear the similarities between both bands. Both psychdelic/trippy sounds. I'm feeling generous today so I will give this 4 stars.

Another duo that I never heard of. The music is pleasant.

Ajattelin et tää ois täys femma, koska tykkäsin jo valmiiks kaikista biiseistä tällä levyllä. Kaikki löytyy 16v mun soittolistalta :D Edellee hyvii biisei mut tää ei vaa toiminu kokonaisuutena niin hyvin kun ois voinut kuvitella. Jos vois antaa puolikkaita nii tää ois 3,5.

An absolute millennial classic. Amazing when satire also slaps.

Brilliant debut. Super consistent, super playful great catchy hooks along with irresistible melodies. Easy listen and your ears will thank you.

Surprisingly really good. When I see Electronica, I immediately get frustrated. This is much different than some of the other Electronica albums. You can hear instruments mixed with the sounds. Their voices work very well together. 4.5 stars

de va bra, men historien bakom gör det ännu lite bättre

Not bad a few tunes I know.

Fantastic album. I'd give it 5 stars, but I don't want nostalgia to cloud my judgement. 9/10 Would I listen again? Absolutely

It feels weird rating it these high along the likes of the other albums but this quietly the best alt album to date

- all these hits in one album??

There was one song I didn’t really like

Godt - mange gode sange man kender hihi. 4/5

Great album, made me feel good. Reminds me of summer.

Personally, I think this album has a lot of chaff. But the good stuff is GOOD. Overall I find it pretty solid, even if I like Little Dark Age a lot more. I probably would've filled this slot with Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours, but maybe that's a hot take?

I'd only listened to the 3 popular songs, but the rest of the album is pretty good. The songs aren't as pop, but they are interesting. I enjoyed the first half of the album more than the second half.

Really cool and interesting. Pretty stylistically diverse but all good. I recognized a few of the songs. Will have to listen to more MGMT. 8/10

7/10 - I wanted to like this album so much more. I wanted to given it a 5 but there were just not enough great songs. The famous songs are fantastic but the rest are ok to good. I also think I would have rated it higher if I didn't listen to Little Dark Age directly after which I would probably rate a 10/10

I really want to give this a 5 because I think mgmt is great, but I feel like outside of the 3 or 4 standout songs the rest of the album is pretty weak. 8/10, but super close to 9