Reviews (page 8 of 15)
I bought this on iTunes! Kill me now. My local bar plays it constantly. This feels like the soundtrack to Gossip Girl. Xoxo. Pretty up and down album that endures.
One or two tracks hold up. 1.5/5
I never knew MGMT, only by some memes with Eletric Feel. Even though I am a 90's kid, it just didn't make its way to me I suppose. That's what I love about this project, I had a streak of bad albums that took me a while to recover from, but I'm so glad when I got back I got an absolute string of bangers, and this one takes it. Cheerful party music that wasn't afraid of sounding meaningful. And I'd bet at the time they were considere shallow, but anyone that listen to this album will be able to say all tracks still hold up in lyrics and melody. An absolute must-hear-multiple-times-before-even-generating-the-next-suggestion. The only track I didn't quite enjoy was 4th Dimesion, so... Fav Track: all of them
I'm mean its fine isn't it. you can see why the singles were the singles, they were a good bit better than the . Its not amazing, but its certainly not bad.
I did not use a private Spotify session for this one. I have heard a few of these songs on the radio, a lot, but have never listened to the album. It's music with a good beat, interesting lyrics, but leans way too keyboard heavy for me. I am fine with just hearing these songs on the radio without playing the album.
Good album
Better than I expected, but still not for me
Fantastic album, lots of hits and everything else is great.
OK. I really liked this, a lot! I thought it would be something I simply or merely enjoyed just because of its alternative roots and base energy, but it is more clever than that, always changing up and not ever getting stale. I remember liking a few of the songs on this album that got some marginal air play back in the day, but I am very glad now to be reintroduced and able to listen whenever I want. Cool Beans!
A lot of unique and interesting variation in between songs, Moon Birds was OK too, I think I'll go with a 3 here
Pretty damn good. Falls off a little bit in the end but the first five songs are about as strong of an album start as u can get
Im realizing i may have gotten my Vivid and MGMT ratings confused. But the three pop hits from this album are truly unbeaten. And I see the vision for this being their slightly more modern take on the soft bulletin. All in all, great stuff.
downloaded electric feel, time to pretend, kids and of moons, birds & monsters. a few classic millennial songs on here. i still like frank oceans version of electric feel bettee
Decent - their later ones are better
Whiny crap
There are three hits on them and they are bangers - pop perfection. The rest is OK but feels a bit like filler. All in all, a fun album.
Des pièces foisonnantes, à décortiquer, mais qui s’écoutent fluidement comme du pop rock entraînant
Better than I thought it would be.
I didn't know the songs I've heard of theirs were theirs. It was an enjoyable album, though a lot of them turned into mainstream songs.
It was indeed spectacular!
Indy Rock original
Love this album!
Incredibly nostalgic for a time that was and also for the time that has never been anywhere else but in our teenage dreams and wishes. I first heard "Time to Pretend" while watching "Skins" - and this whole album could basically be a soundtrack to every coming of age story. Great listen! Once again, I wish I could rate this album 4.5 stars/5.
A lovely throwback to a band I found very mid.
Throwback. Good electronic nostalgic sounds
2.75
3 killer tracks plus average supporting tunes.
Songs: Time to Pretend, Kids
yet another album that gets better on a re-listen
An album I loved when I was younger but aside from the big hits I found I wasn’t as high on it this listen through. Although it must be said how pervasive this sound became in the late 2000s/early 2010s due partially to this album. So good job lads (3.5/5)
As someone who grew up in the 2000s, I obviously know Time to Pretend, Electric Feel and Kids by heart, because they have been all over the radio in 2008/2009. I do feel like they are all part of the canon of 2000s commercial pop hits, that are also just really good songs. However I did not listen to the album, up until now, even though I am a pretty big fan of Little Dark Age. This is a good album, even though the drop in quality between the three hits and the rest is obvious.
Love it!
Bangers
Actually a pretty good effort... sort of reminds me of early David Bowie...surprisingly... the two guys in the group say they have the Talking Heads in their blood... but, i heard NONE of that... lol... but, i did hear Donovan... and T Rex a bit... modernized with sampling of course... fairly strong tunes... "kids" being the "hit"... but the record peters out at the end... four stars... a score that could be five if you are under 40... and three if you are over 60...
Rating (1-5): ✩✩✩✩ Will I be listening to this again: Of course, I already had saved a few of the songs :) What do I like about it: Sounds like most Alt/Indie Pop music, wich I enjoy very much ;) What I dislike about it: Actually enjoyed it weeee Higlighted songs: The Youth, Electric Feel, Kids,
And we’re off! Great start
Bowie-esque. I’m glad it came out after Uni. Remember them being everywhere. Glad they’re not anymore.
irritating
It’s fun, I love their sound, but there was nothing standout beyond the songs I’ve already heard
Youthful feeling
I've never sat down and listened to this record, but much of it is familiar. I don't generally love an over emphasis on synthesizers and drum machines and what not, but this record does all of that really right, and there's at least 3 tracks on here that I already revisit somewhat often. For me, this record is creeping up on a 4-star rating because I genuinely really enjoy parts of it and will listen to those tracks again. I think I give it a 3 because there aren't quite enough of those to qualify it as a hard 4, but this is probably my favorite record presented in 1001 so far, with the exception of Wish You Were Here, which is a hard 5 star record.
Some absolute, world level tracks that made a huuuuuuge splash and still resonate today....but surrounded by relatively mid content. This album feels like it looses steam on a front to finish play-through. Trim the second half and you might have a five star EP. 3.5 stars.
Three bangers and the rest is not too bad.
Listened before?: Yes, many times An album for the youths, that I loved when I was a youth.
Reminds me of Arcade Fire and Foster the People. I really like the first half but then it falls off after that. I definitely prefer their later Little Dark Age album.
June 2025 four
Nostalgic is probably making this a bias rating but I love this album.
It's interesting, I like it. 3.5/5
I remembered the big hits, but never really liked them back in the day. The rest of the album veered between annoying and background advert muzak. There was a tiny hint of something better early on, but by the end it was just a slog to get through. Pretty dull 2 star fare.
Good tunes
Love this album, has to be 5 stars as these guys wrote this and pioneered the sound of psych pop that I love today. Inspired so many
This is one of those albums where I recognize why people might like it. It’s well made, can be catchy, and has a high production quality. But… it’s just not for me. Kind of feels too clean? A lot like the rich kid who wants to be indie and gets really into raves? I found myself more interested in the filler tracks and wanting to turn off the singles.
4.5/5. Love how fresh and relevant this album remains, first listened to these songs when I was in jr. high and these songs continue to be bangers. Indie sleaze supremacy please.
Pretty good album with a distinct sound and a couple of absolute bangers. I dig it.
Great albumz
Classic for me - makes me feel like im back in high school
Man, I used to hear these guys on the radio so often back in 2013 that when I saw that the album came out in 2007 I was quite surprised. I have heard Time to Pretend, Electric Feel, and Kids so many times that I was like "Oh this song too". Lot of bangers for them but I also find this kind of corporate music basic as well, that's why it isn't 5 stars for me.
Like the vibes, quite fresh Fav song - Kids 3/5
Excellent
Actually, not half bad.
pop moderne plutot, j'aime bien !
I thought this would be a great album and I was right.
This is an amazing record that you don't think you'll like but every song here is well written and instantly becomes a favorite because it exists in a place that defies everything you expect and becomes the kind of record you urge everyone to listen to because it's so perfect,
MehGMT
AVRG
Killer front half, forgettable back half. I do like synth-pop and I recognize their impact on modern synth-pop but I'd imagine their other albums are better.
right up my alley. objectively probably a 3, but the memories make it higher.
Great album. Never heard anything besides the classics (Pretend, Kids) which, by the way, are contenders for some of the greatest songs of the century so far.
Classic.
MGMT is one of those music acts that I heard about, but never focused on listening to, despite their popularity. I got to say, I really dig this. It’s a nice blend of pop and electronic that doesn’t really drag or turn into background music. And it doesn’t come off as too indie either, if that makes any sense. It’s party music that doesn’t feel like party music. I was only eleven when this album came out, so it’s nice to finally get to hear it after all these years. Hopefully I get to see more from MGMT on here to see how they progressed. Favorite track: Kids Other hits: Time To Pretend, Weekend Wars, 4th Dimensional Transition, Of Moons, Birds, and Monsters, Future Reflections
Now this is an album that never gets old for me. I own this on vinyl and it has one of the strongest "A sides" of any album ever. "Time to Pretend", "Weekend Wars", "The Youth", "Electric Feel", and "Kids" is an INSANE run of songs!! Unfortunately the B side isn't as great but I do like "The Handshake". Overall this is one of the best indie albums of the 00s and the perfect coming of age album. Definitely a challenge to pick a favorite song here.. Favorite track: Time to Pretend 4.5/5
One of the best to do it
maybe it's not a 10/10 album but it has great songs and i love the nostalgic feeling
Greit nok
Poor
Cool album!
2007 was a fantastic year for entertainment. This album was a real nostalgia trip, and it still holds up excellently today.
Вполне норм, но такая, легонькая электронщина попсовое Не мое немного
130/1089 - Well it sounds like pop music. I read that this album was made "ironically" which I call total bullshit on. You can't do things "ironically," that's just a smokescreen for doing what you want to do without others judging you. Maybe you can start things out ironically, but putting that much effort into releasing an album definitely takes willpower and some genuine love and respect for what you decide to record. I obviously am putting my own experiences and viewpoints into writing this but I am so sick of irony permeating society and the people I interact with on a day-to-day basis. Got off track from the review, well made pop music but not really my thing and seems frontloaded.
Rating: 4 Notable songs: electric feel, kids, time to pretend This album was such a breakthrough and defining piece of art. I still listen to these songs actively in my playlists. As an album I'll admit after the first 5 songs it does drop off, but the impact as a whole gets its a solid 4.
This was such a cool album when it first came out, and I loved how MGMT managed to get recognized by mainstream culture. One of the things that always stood out to me was how psychedelic it sounded, but with synths and keyboards driving the music. They found the perfect balance between being forward thinking while still maintaining that retro, vintage tone and texture in their sound. Even now, some of these songs are still enjoyable, despite all the radio play they’ve gotten over the years.
3.5
fine
Shit
This album was very solid. The first track, Time to Pretend, was probably my favorite, but it was truly hard to choose the best song from this album. It brought back a nostalgic feeling in me (which is odd because, to my knowledge, I didn't know of this band and/or album prior to this listen). The music was great, the vocals were soothing, but it was the lyrics which really made an impression on me. This album was creative and a breath of fresh air.
love this low key electric pop vibe
I feel about this the way boomers feel about Led Zeppelin
Phenomenal childhood nostalgia, their hits were absolutely fantastic and the other stuff was pretty good too.
Good stuff. Handshake best track
Was really looking forward to hearing this album someday, glad it popped up here! Novel. Well recorded debut, highly talented guys breaking with that mid-00s alternative rock/dance trend (like Snow Patrol, Arcade Fire, Killers, etc. etc.). I like music that confronts the artist's escaping youth and the shallow enduring pain that goes along with lost childhood, lost innocence. 21 Pilots do this well, also. I really liked this album, the sounds, the songs, a lot of sonic variety. I'll put this on again. Better than a 3 but not quite a 4 but yoou have to round up sometimes.
2.5/5.0: Mixed
liked this more than expected based off of the singles
Ok pop album with two big hits?
3.5
Modern day psychedelic album. 4/5
So I didn't know who these people were but I knew the first and fifth songs, and they're not absolutely amazing but they're pretty nice. The rest of the album was alright, and it was okay playing it in the background, as it is fairly chill.
Yes
this was surprisingly very enjoyable and I had no idea I actually knew some of the hits
überraschend bekannt und gutes dabei
Apathetic dogshit carried by a two short riffs that can’t even sustain interest for the duration of the songs they’re on, let alone 40 minutes of this crap.
first time listening to the whole thing but its evidently a classic...
Meh GMT
It's impossible to come to this album with fresh ears. I really liked it when it came out, but through no fault of the band's, I think it wore out its welcome about 10 years ago. Objectively, it's an eccentric, eclectic, arty synth driven pop album, and it is done quite well.
This was EVERYWHERE in the late aughts. Solid work, but it didn't age particularly well because of the imitators.
Album cover is meh. 1. Catchy. Great song. Nostalgic. 2. Ok. Pretty flat throughout. No ups or downs. 3. Also, meh, overall, generally not making much of an impression. 4. Radio hit. Unique interesting, like song 1. Good beat. Fun lyrics. 5. Their biggest hit I think. Also funky, fun, great beat. 6. Dark. Mysterious. Like it. 7. Daniel Johnston-esque. Reminds me of a country/blues singer I can't place right now. A tempo change! 8. Fun. Tempo changes here and there. Guitar solo. Head bopper. Bluesy. 9. Space oddity synths. So David Bowie. The chorus saved this from being boring. 10. Also good. Fun. OVERALL: the best songs are on side A with two of the weakest songs. 7/10.
Really great album with more really good songs than I remember. Will listen to this again for sure.
not for me
Immaculate vibes, truly. One part nostalgia and one part undiscovered bliss
Classic 00’s era album - so many radio hits on here , but are actually good songs too. I should come back to this more often.
Super nostalgic and still very fun
I was pleasantly surprised by this, I enjoyed almost every track. I think particularly the opening two but the vocals were consistently pleasant and there’s nothing better than restrained use of synths, they’re certainly present here but not overused which is welcome. I also like the psychedelic sound on here, this was an all round good time.
Great album! Fun and simple.
Three five star songs and a bunch of 2-3 star songs. Not a bad record but not as good throughout as the standout tracks.
Favorite Track: Time to Pretend
Mal öppis anders.
find MGMT huere geil. aha nöd gwüsst dasi de song kenn, aso time to pretend. tönt extreeeem geil. die plätschrige snyths und so huuere cool. sehr nostalgischi musig. weekend wars au seehr cool mega amdersch very classical harmony. the youth isch suuuper cute bitz radiohead sehr geil. kenns glaub vode konzert haha. ooooh modulatiooon so schöön suuper. electric feel und kids hani afoch so löse lose well insane bangers huuuuuuere gueti songs beidi. zurecht roese hits. 4th dimensional zügs etz au sehr cool halt chli weird aber da chönds. of moons loht etz chli noh s isch immerno meeega kreativ. aber jo begeisteret mich weniger. the handshake isch jo au en haaammer song. das isch es verdaaammt guets album.
bin seehr gspannt AHHH DAS SIND DIE time to pretend findi seeehr cool, au wenn michs glaub wür störe wenn alles so upbeat isch hahah okee unbegründeti sorg, weekend wars tönt ho um einiges andersch au wenn das jz nöd mis lieblingslied wird hahahaha ahh jaa electric feel kenntmer KIDS KENNTMER MEGAAAA FEST d stimm passt da halt echt super und de (für mich) summer-vibe git eifach e gueti luune) jaa isch nöd nötig so lang aber suuuper lied 4th dimensional findi no cool aber nüt unglaublichs jaa sither laufts für mich rifach chli ah mier verbii ABER finds sehr erfrischend und nöd schlecht galteret für 2000er electromusig glaub es knapps 4i. pretend, electric feel und kids sind suuper und de rest eifach meh
Бодренько так, слушать можно иногда. 6,5 из 10.
Favorite Tracks: Kids Time to Pretend Electric Feel
I was familiar with them, but damn, this is good.
Got to be 4 for Kids alone
There’s a few classic songs on here but mixed in with some pretty forgettable ones too. Was interesting to listen through the album as I reckon I’ve never heard the non-singles before. Held my interest but probably nostalgia playing a bit of a role there.
Good electro-pop, but don't know that I'll return to it. Feels like it walked so Tame Impala could run.
I liked this album more than I thought I would! I’ve getting more into this style of pop lately. This album had the perfect balance between cohesion and diversity! I was surprised to realize that “kids” was on this album, but it didn’t even end up being my favorite track! Favorite Track: The Handshake
A rule of thumb this list has not challenged is that a great pop album (think most of Madonna's imperial run from Virgin through to Music) delivers four great singles. Plus well a load of other stuff. This album delivers three great singles, plus a load of other stuff. Hence three stars.
MGMT occupies a club in my head with Foster The People; Peter Bjorn and John; and Portugal. The Man, although the latter came later IIRC. I actually always liked PBJ and P.TM better than MGMT and FTP, considering the latter to be mostly fluffy, shiny music that you might randomly hear on the radio or while shopping at Old Navy. It's not bad music; just vacuously catchy without much substance. That said, I really enjoyed listening to Oracular Spectacular in its entirety. I won't become an MGMT superfan anytime soon, but they are really talented and I will probably listen to this album again at some point.
Hollow wannabe Rolling Stones tracks with a farting synth on top. Such garbage that you half expect Oscar The Grouch to pop out of it.
Boring album with an overplayed hit.
Pop Prince wannabe. Meh.
College era
FINALLY SOME GOOD FUCKING FOOD!!! I love MGMT and this is the kind of groovy I need to get through the day. this is probably one of their best albums too, ugh, love it
The singles were, I suppose, the sound of the summer nearly 20 years ago. The rest of the album is pretty forgettable.
Horrible
I first heard Kids in 2013 or 2014 when I was in 9th or 10th grade. My art teacher, Mr C, had a indie rock Pandora station playing all times during his classes. Mr C’s music taste ending up having a huge influence on my own for the rest of high school and beyond! This album is an easy 5/5 for me. Fav song is the iconic: Time to Pretend
Electric feel, kids, and time to pretend were the soundtrack to my college years.
Three or four terrific songs, and an original sound that has held up for almost twenty years.
Pretty forgettable, like most of the music from this decade.
Definitely some envelope-pushing melodies and production. I can't really say that it's as incredible now as it was then, but the band has only continued to expand their sound since this debut. I can definitely see the vision on the album as a whole, even when (in my opinion) that vision isn't realised as well as it could be. Top 5 (no order): Kids, Of Moons Birds and Monsters, Time to Pretend, Electric Feel, Future Reflections Some weaker and less impactful songs, but none that I would consider forgettable. I think if I had become an MGMT fan when I was 14, I'd have been obsessed with this album. Even so, I have to appreciate and respect what this album does. 7/10
The hits were great, classic songs. I didn’t realize it came out when they did. Overall, as a cohesive album, it was pretty solid, not sure why the whole album is on the list, though, for a debut though it’s fantastic.
Favorite Track: Time to Pretend
Some interesting songs here with a rich sound.
Better than I had memorized it.
3 absolutely top of the heap tracks packed amongst, unfortunately, some really unremarkable filler. I listened through several times to see if I was missing something about the other tracks, and I can’t even recall the songs as soon as they have ended. I remember listening to some of this back when it first came out and thinking, guess I’ll stick with the hits. It still holds true now that I’m listening to it almost 20 years later with intention. That said, Time to Pretend, Electric Feel, and Kids are in a league of their own.
cal
Time to Pretend is an amazing song ruined by the Minecraft Movie. Everything else is good but doesn’t hit that same level in my opinion.
pretty fricken good actually
Debut album. Indie / Pop. Time To Pretend is a banger to open up with and great lyrics. Electric Feel is another really good track, both the melody and lyrics. Kids is a superb track and the best on the album. Pieces Of What and Of Moons, Brids and Monsters are also good tracks. Really good production on this album. Very good, some bangers and some depth.
Maybe it's my nostalgia taking over, but I love this album so much. It's just... incredible
Alt-electro-pop yeah! This one passed me by in 2007, but loving it in 2025.
оказалось что знаю три! возможно с половиной! песни, сильно больше чем думала. норм, интересные, но задавленные, долго слушать сложно)
Oh, this takes me back to the mid-2000s golden age of indie pop. Shout-out to CBC Radio 3, where I probably first heard all the hits off this album.
There are some BANGERS here. This isn't my absolute favorite style of music but this is pretty good. "Time to Pretend" I had no idea was by them. "Of Moons, Birds & Monsters" impressed me thoroughly. I think this is a solid 3 album. Liked Songs: "Time to Pretend" , "The Youth" , "Electric Feel" , "Kids" , "Of Moons, Birds & Monsters"
liked songs: Time to Pretend, Weekend Wars, The Youth, Electric Feel, Kids, Of Moons, Birds & Monsters Very good pop 3.5
3.7 At first I thought this was going to be another naff 2010s spacey poprock album (this list has contained a fair few already), but it turned out to be better than expected. Like with a lot of the genre I doubt this will stand the test of time (I can't remember anyone even mentioning MGMT in the last 15 years?), but enjoyable to absorb the first few listens. Last half of the album definitely weaker than the first half.
Great new wave french touch
Great, I had forgotten how much I enjoyed this album, and it was nice to be reminded of it
Some songs that went on to become classics, but the overall album is okay.
3.8, I've heard the top 3 songs too many times but they're all bangers
I'll be honest, I thought I might get into this one more than I actually did. Other than the 3 singles that were everywhere back in my college years, I don't think I had heard anything else off of this album. I suppose I never hated the singles, but in part due to their popularity, and definitely not really being my kind of "sound" at the time, I guess you could say I didn't really like MGMT. I feel like I've heard some random songs of theirs pop up on streaming radio here and there since then, and was actually kind of impressed that I was into them. Again, I think any dislike I had for them was more of me being a contrarian than actually giving them an actual shot. Now, what I do enjoy is hearing the old school keyboards and electronic influence, but what I don't really enjoy is the songs themselves. Nothing really stood out to me while listening, and I guess part of me was expecting more of an outright synth-y assault compared to what I got. I guess its hard to truly judge since I've heard them a million times, but it does seem the band (or more likely the label) got it right with the singles they chose, they do seem to be the strongest songs here. I bet if I gave the album a handful more listens I could probably find some other stuff to enjoy, but overall not much to grab me on a first listen. Much like The Strokes album I reviewed recently, there also wasn't much offensive to my ears to really turn off from the sound. So we'll just throw this album in the pile of "hipster-haunt background music that I don't mind."
The hits still hit and the rest of the album is very listenable.
I'd always heard this was a solid album but never gave it a listen. I really enjoyed it, a few nostalgia songs mixed in with some good ones I'd never heard.
The singles from this album were so overplayed on release that I assumed I didn't like them, but revisiting this it's actually a great album. Well, the first half is a fantastic collection of trend-setting and catchy psychedelic pop songs and the second half is a bit of a slog.
If they make a musical about being a millennial in the late 00s early 10s, this would be the score.
Boy, tough album. Has three amazing nostalgic songs, but the rest is iffy. Probably another 3.5, just because I got so bored along it but tough to give an album with 3 bangers a 3.
Has Oracular Spectacular aged well? I think so, but I’m extremely biased as this album ranks highly among the most formative of my youth. I still love it. It’s an essential work of synth-pop/psych rock and in my opinion a modern classic. Though when I think about it in 2026, I can’t help but feel distracted from the music itself and more focused on how it’s perceived today by the larger culture. I fear a future in which some bullshit term like “Urban Outfitters-core” is used to describe a past era of indie music as dated and cringe, with the album art for Oracular Spectacular becoming a visual shorthand for “millennial cringe.” Don’t even get me started on “indie sleaze.” I could be fearful of this for other great oughts albums, but MGMT’s debut seems the one of the most likely to fall victim to this kind of dismissive pigeonholing. Lest we forget, it was huge. “Kids” and “Electric Feel” were ubiquitous. So was “Time to Pretend,” which popped up in a fuck-ton of movies, TV shows, video games, and commercials. The band opened for Paul McCartney at Fenway Park in 2009. Jay-Z asked them to make a song for The Blueprint 3 (he scrapped it). This level of commercial success was great for Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser’s pockets, but not so good for their minds and souls. They were uncomfortable with the their newfound and unexpected fame and creatively they were disinterested in trying to do anything like Oracular’s three big hits ever again. I recall choruses of disappointed fans around 2009-2012 complaining online, “I saw MGMT and they didn’t even play ‘Kids’…what the fuck??” So this is the strange dilemma MGMT found itself in during the heyday of indie blog rock. Oracular catapulted VanWyngarden and Goldwasser into the limelight on the backs of three throwaway pop songs written essentially as a joke in their Wesleyan University dorm rooms. In the span of three years they went from singing covers at college parties backed by an iPod to opening for of Montreal, (still backed by an iPod) to signing with Columbia and recording their first album with legendary producer Dave Fridmann. Soon they were playing major festivals and touring with Radiohead. If they had any idea they would become so big so fast, they probably would have made a very different album. Or maybe taken it more seriously. But that’s part of what makes Oracular Spectacular sublime. It’s not serious. This is the work of guys in their early twenties dicking around in the studio with the dude who produced Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. Look at their weirdo tribal hippie get-ups on the cover, watch one of the music videos, note how they wore capes on Letterman. Gen-Z or whoever else can make fun of it all they want…the band was ostensibly making fun of themselves in the first place. What else makes it outstanding? The seven other tracks I haven’t even mentioned. MGMT’s story is fascinating in that it is so wildly unlikely in just about every conceivable way. They became huge on accident and will almost certainly never put out another album as successful as Oracular Spectacular.
Iconic songs, but I’m kinda tired of them, not their fault
It was fine background music. Kids is a bop.
For about a decade this was the soundtrack to every snowboarding video ever made. Still stands up.
A fun one. First half much better than back half.
Stand outs : Youth, Electric feel and kids. Rest is alright ayouths is especially catchy. 4th dimensional transition is interesting.
I know that I basically love all aughts-era indie but this album really is something special. Just banger after banger. Such a great coming-of-age album.
Has several hallmarks of music i don’t like. Techno, high pitched waffly male singer, etc. But this is really good! Seems strongly Bowie-influenced in a great way. Despite its techno roots, this album is (intentionally) underproduced and sounds homemade/DIY. Also, the tracks have a high degree of musicality, which I appreciate— it’s FUN listening. A four.
Once the internet was invented, MGMT were inevitable. Still, if you look at play numbers for the tracks on these albums, the three popular tracks have 10+ times more plays than the rest. Shallow? Fated to pretend? You be the judge. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing. Youth is for the cocky and confident. Mgmt are ok, and were fun for a while, but if you think the youth is starting to change, maybe it's just you getting older. What does all this mean? I don't know, but what I do know is that the second half of this album was ass compared to the first, and I probably won't listen to it again on purpose. 2.5 stars rounded up.
Probably on the better side of good.
The 3 hits are worth price of admission alone, but the other songs are pretty good as well. There is a noticeable drop off in the last 2-3 songs, though.
Enjoyable album, the songs I’ve heard before/the singles are generally the best ones, but some other good stuff on there.
Okay. Couple of good records.
Far too nostalgic for me to give anything other than a 4. I'm level-headed enough to not give it a 5 but "Kids" and "Electric Feel" alone make this a millennial essential.
Brilliant album, played it to bits when it came out but had forgotten about till now! Great to revisit and remember.
Enjoyed this.
Honestly, this whole album was kinda mid. Nothing bad about it, two songs approaching a billion plays, likeable, but kinda all sounds the same.
I was pleasantly surprised by this album. Only knew the band through "Kids" which was all right but often sounded to me as an "indiewashed" dream pop update for the 2000s. This album has a lot more to offer that foes into the direction of space rock and psychedelia as well. Not every track is great but it's certainly a great mix of catchy and dreamy.
This is the first album I’ve gotten that I had already listened to because I liked it when it came out. I haven’t listened in years, and it’s still really good. Kids is a great song, and there are a lot of other strong ones. I forgot how much I like Pieces of What.
Will relisten great album 9/10
super phonky and vibey. I'm definitely coming back to this. great songwriting too
Vibey but not always my vibe
i wish i was a millennial (ew) just so i could experience being in uni 2007-2012
Millennial hipster beach party with a couple joints vibe
Kids <3
With the addition of kids it boosts it to a 4 Edit Apr 15 2026: 4 --> 3
This album is much more than the hits. One of the best of the 2000's
great album, no misses.
Shoutout to Saltburn for putting "Time to Pretend" back on my radar. Solid album! There are some more experimental songs that, while fun for a listen, I probably won't come back to.
Brilliant album, some really good massive summer hits and nice variation of tracks to keep it interesting while still being MGMT.
Great proto-vapourwave / shoegaze pop fun. Kids is definitely the outlier in terms of tone.
Bomb af
Good
I listen to Time to Pretend on the regular - excited to see what other songs I like off this album. Oh, I also love Electric Feel and Kids. Rest of the album was inoffensive, and easy to listen to. I liked this album!
Really cool weird sounds and pretty interesting album overall. Definitely not the type of music I usually listen to but it wasn’t bad.
Pretty good psychedelic album, wish I could give it a 7, but it was a really good chill relaxing time. Made my car ride a lot better today
solid vibes, got better around the end. wouldn’t put most of it in a playlist but it’s good enough to maybe relisten
Entirely boring and derivative shit. The 2005-2015 decade of modern pop is dead to me. Zero stars.
best single run for any album ever, the rest of the album is great but those singles man holy fuck
Good.
Well executed but not for me
Not a big fan, wouldn't add to library but wouldn't turn it off either.
This is the first album on this list that I have come across that is from my time. It came out when I was in college and thus has so many memories tied to it that influence how it sounds to me. Opening with time to pretend the drums, background synths and voclas just come together. Weekend wars and the youth aren't the anthemic bangers that exist elsewhere on this album but I think that they are interesting musically and lyrically. Kids is a 5 star track in it's self. The 4 star rating is probably nostalgia based.
decent vocals and sometimes even decent songwriting. arrangements are poppy trash tho'. could only make it halfway through. i'd give it 2.5, but if I can only give whole stars, it gets rounded down.
3.5 - nearly a 4 but the second half isn’t as strong
A few catchy songs like time to pretend, electric feel and kids, but overall I cant get over the singers voice, something weird about it, too high pitched and distorted. Guess I'm just not a fan of MGMT
MGMT is one of my absolute all-time favorite bands so seeing this pop up on here was a nice surprise! I’m surprised to see this over Congratulations, but maybe that’s still yet to show up! OracSpectac is a pretty flawless album that helped the entire soon to be 2010s indie rock sound go mainstream, and while it isn’t a fiver in relation to the rest of the MGMT discography, it’s gotta be a fiver in relation to this list.
yeah i forgot how awesome this album is honestly, it goes so hard for no reason and I forget that i feel that way about every single song here. probably part of that is nostalgia, and actually i remember thinking i was cool and interesting when i was a tween and listening to this whole album all the way through--maybe one of the first albums i did that with--so it's funny to do it again now as an adult. but maybe that is part of what is feeling so good about it, is those memories of this album that make me feel like i am like, doing something by listening. it's giving me that self-involved childlike mindset that i think i lost not too much after i encountered this album the first time.
I like the hits the rest of the songs were not memorable. I don’t even know if I finished the album.
Ikkje så dumt
The hits still hit. Impressive album with compelling highs and inconsequential lows. They captured lightning in a bottle a couple of times on this debut album.
Time to Pretend // Weekend Wars // The Youth // Electric Feel // Kids //
Reminds me of being a Houston hipster in the mid-2000s.
This album is too thin and childlike to be very good. It’s a slice of ‘07 for sure.
Everybody seem to love this band in the late 2000s but I never did. And I dislike the guy's voice. And I don't love the synthesizer noises very much. The synthesizers sound like bad video game music and I generally like video game music.
These guys are OK, but not really my cup of tea.
There's a great EP buried in this album.
Generation defining songs followed by some alright tracks
Nice album, apparently the sound of a certain generation?
Radio filler.
craptacular
It kinda falls off in the second half for me, but still, three absolute all-timer singles in that front half.
Hits and misses but utterly synthtastic
Good
Minecraft movie song
notes
Every time I revisit this album I always go “damn, this is better than I remember” and then proceed to forget about it for a couple years. MGMT are largely a singles band, with the singles here, and on their other albums, being the obvious highlights. Time To Pretend, Kids, Electric Feel?? Whew! Though it’s more consistent than I really give credit for. The Youth is incredible. That one song with Monster in the title is a banger. Pretty strong album, honestly! Saw Porter Robinson cover Kids last year and that ruled. Saw MGMT live in 2018 or 19. A lifetime ago. Much prefer their 2018 album Little Dark Age, which I can only hope is on this list. This is probably more of a 3.5, but for this site I’m giving it a 4.
I've listened to Oracular Spectacular and pretty much every MGMT album (except for the newest), they were one of those bands that I wanted to get into more but I wound up feeling like they weren't sticking with me like I think they would, even on my fave album by them (Congratulations). Coming back to this album for like the 4th time now just keeps the weird trend where the more I hear it the less I like it, maybe it's the fact that I have certain tastes and biases that have developed but genuinely hearing this album just feels like the 2 excellent singles (Time to Pretend and Kids) and 2 great deep cuts (Of Moons, Birds & Monsters and Future Reflections), everything else runs in the kind of indietronica/psych pop thing that just doesn't do it for me at all, mainly the vocals where they could get really annoying in some songs, or just the vibe they were going for just didn't really sound that interesting. It was a weird feeling to listen to this and feel like I was just waiting on the songs I liked while everything else was simply pure filler. I think they got better with Congratulations and Little Dark Age but generally? This album is just not my favorite take on synthy psychedelia (which is otherwise something I enjoy...)
Boring
Typical electro-pop fare, not sure why it made the list to be honest.
Interesting!
I can't think of a better way to describe being a teenager. I got all the memories and fantasies again from hearing this. All the friends, late nights, parties, running around, highs and lows. For 40 minutes, I got all of that back.
Great album
I saw "psychedelic pop" and thought I was in for something trippy and rock-influenced—maybe even a little mind-bending. Instead, Oracular Spectacular felt more like a synthy indie-pop mixtape with a few catchy hooks. I recognized "Time to Pretend" and "Electric Feel," but beyond that, it just didn’t hit. If you're expecting anything close to actual psychedelic rock, this isn’t it.
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.
Perfectly fine, if you define fine as being stuck in a Starbucks for 40 minutes 3/5
Ok but nothing new I liked
Great album. Did not expect mgmt to be this versatile
Well! This was alright. I could see themes of childhood and fantasy here but I'd need a few more listens to really make something out of it. The sound isn't really my thing, but I think it's because i'm put off by the fact that mainstream rock (ie Imagine Dragons) kind of got colonized by a watered down version of this sound? MGMT of course are much better than Imagine Dragons-- their songs *sound* like something while ID songs are a big nothing-- but in the year 2025 to me it plays a little like car commercial music? I suppose? I just don't have a lot of context for late 2000s to early 2010s indie so I could be wrong. I do love Kids, though-- but its the only song that I had listened to before. I think it's a truly great song. The thing is that right now it's the only song that strikes me as truly exceptional.
At times, just shrill.
Some great tunes but some filler also
Peak mid
3/28/25. This album is a classic for me and is responsible for introducing me to "indie" or alternative music, especially in the pop space. Still sounds great to this day and every song brings a lot to the table.
Very top heavy album. The good songs are great all the other songs are pretty meh
👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
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.
Nice sounds and the hits are huge but the other stuff is just fine. Transportive to a certain time in my life but as an album it's just ok. In fact, some of this stuff sounds like Hard 'n' Phirm.
This album was EVERYWHERE in 2007. Still holds up and great listening to such huge hits again. 4/5
I don’t expect to revisit the album again, but I like this a lot more than I expected. Some songs may have replay value.
хз не понимаю, все говорят понимают я не понимаю
I remember 2007. It fucking sucked. It was such a terrible year. The recession kicked off, everyone was miserable. The good feelings of the end of history were once and for all dead and buried. Look at a list of cultural products from 2007. There’s basically nothing there. It’s like Ratatouille and that’s it. And Jesus like 300 and Transformers are hideously dated nightmares reflective of the time. Ugly stupid movies. And music? Rock is dead at this point. You’ve got what? Kings of Leon? An okay Arctic Monkeys album? Hip hop was in the dirty south doldrums, with dime a dozen acts all chasing to be the next flash in the pan ringtone artist. And then there’s this album I’ve literally never listened to until today. And this is very clearly a cultural hinge point. This is the moment when the Bush era ends and we go to something new. It’s an album of fear and ennui and a desire for something new and better. It’s a call to action with no motivation. It’s the sound of youth in revolt that can’t find its way out the door. A burgeoning movement. The sound of burgeoning social media and the step towards an all encompassing tech culture. It’s indie pop without the pretension. Every album released after this has this one’s DNA in it.
2.5.
Kids, Electric fields and time to pretend are songs of the album. It has its own tones and melodies. Very cohesive. Like it a lot!
mhhh
This was fine - music I already listen to, even. However, as far as being in this list, I thought it was a weird choice as I don't think it stands out as particularly great but then what do I know about music?
красива живот красивы песни хорошие жизнрадостные
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
The album opens with the iconic “Time to pretend”. With great synths & catchy melodies, this track does a good job of capturing the essence of the album. The lyrics here are really good too, and a little sad, but over an infectious song. Following this is “Weekend Wars”, which takes a different approach. It starts with simple but great sounding guitar, drums & vocals. By the end, the song has a lot going on with great arpeggios, synths etc. Surprisingly this song channels Mick Jagger vocally, and at least parts of the song seem to be a nod to 60’s Rolling Stones. “The youth” is a beautiful track, quite melancholic, with great lyrics too. The chorus is one of the best parts of the album so far. The following track is the massive “Electric Feel”, which is probably one of the best tracks of the 2000’s. It’s a perfectly crafted song, worryingly catchy chorus, brilliant bass line. There is nothing more to say about the track, other than it’s just great. I have similar feelings about the songs “Kids” except it comes with a bit more depth and a big sense of nostalgia. The second half of the album starts with “4th dimensional breakdown” which is a decent, more experimental song with a good outro but isn’t nearly as gripping as the other tracks so far. “Pieces of what” is fairly similar to “weekend wars” with the Mick Jagger inspired vocals. A great sounding guitar & lovely piano riff paired with the vocals make the song. I like that the song remains relatively stripped back throughout. “Of moons, birds and monsters” does a great job of balancing a pop and experimental sound with classic rock energy, with a great guitar break. The instrumentation here is on another level, and the second half of the song solidifies it as one of the best tracks on the album. The penultimate track “The handshake” has a great haunting sound to it, whilst still being as easy to listen to as pretty much any track here. The album finishes strong with “Future reflections” which is probably one of the best instrumental moments on the album. Overall, “Oracular Spectacular” is a great album, which manages to deal lyrically with quite melancholic or reflective topics of growing up and problems in life etc. whilst managing to make a brilliant sounding album which perfectly balances catchy pop choruses with experimental moments and classic rock elements. It is produced really well, too. 5/5.
Beim zweiten Mal hören hat es mir besser gefallen, aber es fühlt sich eher wie eine Playlist als wie ein Album an
Sind natürlich alle Klassiker drauf aber am Ende find ich’s nicht so spektakulär
good not the best 1st album better
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
Can't wait for the Kids needledrop in a post-college movie set in 2007 2.5
i know it's probably completely unfounded, but in my head this is the artist and album where we completely abandoned making albums because singles could do all the work with streaming and digital music. at the very least it's confirmed by the rest of this album besides the singles being dogwater
I already lived through this once and I also thought it was hipstery and annoying that time
Actually really enjoyed this album, one of the better ones I've listened to since starting this.
Never listened to the entire thing, But I recognized the hits. I really enjoyed the 60s/70s psychedelic influences. I can see why this album is popular, but not my thing.
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.
Highlights: Time to Pretend, Electric Feel. In a nutshell: monotone indietronica. The singles are excellent. Decent first half. After Kids, the tracks lacked definition and were forgettable. Was craving catchy hooks and melodies but was left disappointed. Overall: 4/10
имба.
5/5. Can't believe 1) I've never listened to the full album and 2) they're from Middletown CT
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
overblown, overhyped, and overinflated.
I love The Management!
Het materiaal op 'Oracular Spectacular' staat echt in m'n psyche gegrift. Een weird, psychedelic pop album uit 2007.. het kon ook niet anders dan dat dit album zou blijven kleven tijdens m'n jeugdige jaren. Ik zeg expliciet 'het materiaal op', en niet 'het album', omdat ik moet toegeven dat vooral kantje één zich diep in m'n muzikale bagage heeft genesteld. Door de jaren heen kreeg ik echter steeds meer middelen ter beschikking om deze 'jeugdplaat' te relativeren, door het te spiegelen aan ander werk in het genre en hun eigen latere albums, en daardoor ben ik wel íéts gematigder positief. Ik vind het bij vlagen kinderwerk vergeleken met later spul van ze, maar die onbevangenheid is natuurlijk ook wel echt de pull-factor van deze plaat. Los van dat ik er zelf fijne herinneringen van een zorgeloze jeugd bij heb, zijn songs als 'Time to Pretend' en 'Kids' wonderlijk nostalgisch, en zullen ze intergenerationeel warme gevoelens oproepen. Grappig dat ik nu bij een volledige luisterbeurt op volwassen leeftijd (ik moet zelfs toegeven dat ik - ondanks dat hij hier in de kast staat - 'Oracular Spectacular' mogelijk nog nooit in zijn totaliteit heb geluisterd sinds het bereiken van die volwassenheid) toch twee andere conclusies trek. Kantje één is - hoe warm, melancholisch en nostalgisch de emoties ook zijn - níét per se de enige 'star of the show', en kantje twee geeft veel meer weg over hun toekomstige pad naar een volwassen psychedelic/baroque pop sound. Met 'Electric Feel' en 'Kids' staan de meest pakkende en aantrekkelijke songs uit hun discografie op de eerste zijde, maar ik moet toch concluderen dat songs als '4th Dimensional Transition' en (vooral de outro van) 'Of Moons, Birds & Monsters' meer aanhaken bij de sound van de albums na deze, die ik bij vlagen toch ietsjes hoger heb zitten. Maar de consistentie van kant één is wel een stuk hoger, en zorgt blij vlagen voor een after diner dip tijdens de gezapige momenten op de achterzijde. Eindoordeel is dat de tijd deed leren dat dit misschien niet dat oppermachtige, megalomane album binnen de alternative pop scene was, wat ik wel een tijdje dacht, maar dat de tijd ook deed leren dat nostalgie een sterke emotie is. Heb genoten van andere momenten die me destijds zijn ontgaan, maar de verdomde 'overdraaide' earworms van kant één blijven toch weer het meest hangen. 7,5/10 Highlights: Weekend Wars Electric Feel Kids 4th Dimensional Transition
Ik kwam laatst tot een interessant inzicht. Ook al luister ik graag naar hele uiteenlopende soorten muziek, ik heb een hele duidelijke roots van mijn muzieksmaak. En die ligt in 2007/2008/2009, de jaren dat ik zelf begon met ontdekken van muziek is ook mijn smaak ontwikkeld. En in de jaren werden de hitlijsten en radiostations (naast slechte popmuziek) gedomineerd door indie-acts. What a time to be alive. Ik houd er van om mij breed te oriënteren en nieuwe muziek te luisteren. Allerlei soorten genres kan ik waarderen en leuk leren vinden. Maar puntje bij paaltje keer je terug maar je roots. Het stapje naar deze plaat is snel gemaakt. MGMT is één van die artiesten die toen opeens hartstikke hard doorbraak. Met een vreemd creatieve plaat waar ze ook nooit meer aan hebben kunnen tippen. Zeker de 5/6 tracks zijn weird, bijzonder maar ook ijzersterk. En Kids is natuurlijk een anthem voor iedere indie-kid. Door het unieke geluid van die nummers, die toch weer een soort van grensverleggend waren, en door de nostalgische gevoelens waarmee ik nu overspoeld wordt, geef ik Oracular Spectacular gewoon lekker 5 sterren. 8,5/10 Highlights Time to Pretend Kids Electric Feel
A great pop album filled with catchy, fun and memorable tracks.
It sounds mainstream, I don't know how to explain it. Ant the sounds get repetitive after few tracks. Anyway is ok
The singles (I assume) are pretty good, but the rest isn't. It doesn't offend, but doesn't inspire either.
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.
Boring. What I imagine people with no personality listen to. Not sure what the target demographic is meant to be.
++: The Youth, Electric Feel, Future Reflections +: Time to Pretend, Of Moons Birds & Monsters, The Handshake +-: Weekend Wars, Kids, 4th Dimensional Transition, Pieces of What 5,5/10
I'm not a monster, the singles are good. The less said about the rest the better.
Decent. 3/5
Not the album I remembered. More delicate. Kids still goes hard. Other stuff is a little mid. Artful mid 00s poseur indie. Melodious. Was expecting nostalgia but didn't really get it.
I just found this inoffensive. Nothing to annoy or inspire just a middle of the road something / nothing. I knew the first song well and that was the peak straight away so it just fell away after that. I dont even know what this is but to me just electro pop or something. Not my world. 2 would be harsh and 3 would be generous. So there we go!
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.
Fav: Kids Least Fav: The Handshake Finding a least fav song was difficult, it’s just banger after banger, the nostalgia helps too
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.