James Arden checks out the garage rockers latest album.
The Christian rock band from Brighton bring religion to the masses.
Recipe for modern R'n'B album: liberal helpings of guest rappers and an overdose of sexual euphemisms.
MGMT blame the negative attitudes of the pre-release press for the disappointing sales of new album Congratulations. However judging from their unenthusiastic efforts during recent interviews and shows, you can’t help feeling the negative attitude belongs to the band. As a result, the life show came across as dull and laborious, and in turn both the band and crowd seemed to find the whole scene a painstaking affair.
The band opened with ‘It’s Working,’ an unusual choice despite it being the opening tack on the new album, and it fell flat with the crowd, who never really got going throughout. Each track felt devoid of energy and looking round people were checking their phones and chatting rather than absorbed by what was on stage. Maybe if first album Oracular Spectacular hadn’t been laden with mainstream pop hits, the second album (live show and all) wouldn’t have been such a problem. I wouldn’t have had such high hopes, and the fans there for three songs (mostly 14 year olds determined to mosh, crowd surf and chant “Yorkshire” at every available opportunity) wouldn’t have existed. Even when “Electric Feel” and “Time to Pretend” were played; the crowd energy lasted solely for each song and lead singer Andrew VanWyngarden did nothing to coax it back.
“Kids” really was the final straw. For their biggest hit I expected them to pull out all the stops and for their well-hidden energy to come spilling out and embrace the crowd into an excitement fuelled final few tracks. Instead, the bassist left the stage, the drummer stood up and Ben Goldwasser (keyboards and vocals) pressed play on the backing track so they could all sing along. This poor effort at karaoke left me, and no doubt others, with a particularly bitter taste from the night. Here’s how bad it was: I left before the end to beat the queue for the cloakroom. Yes I’m ashamed of myself, but no I don’t regret it, despite claims that their two track encore was the best they’d been all night.
Reading interviews with MGMT, where they joke about how “crap” their new album is (said to both NME and Q magazine recently), makes you feel like they’re at that stage in their career where they loath their big hits, similar to Radiohead with ‘Creep.’ One album in and they’re bored of their popularity already, I’m sure their best is yet to come.
Agreed. The end was the best though. Also, was I the 'people checking their phones'?
Sweet review!
I was there and was so bored I left early. I think Dum Dum Girls copied their moves from Hurts as well ha.
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