Brooklyn-based MGMT’s Oracular Spectacular is one of those rare near-perfect debuts that indubitably marks the arrival of a musical mainstay. The band, which was born out of a shared love for music between two college students, consists of Andrew Vanwyngarden and Ben Goldwasser. They didn’t initially take themselves seriously as songwriters…that is, until Columbia Records offered up a six-figure recording contract.
Teaming up with Flaming Lips’ producer Dave Fridmann, the youthful duo have made an unforgettable album that shape-shifts genres and sounds, ranging from psychedelic to electro-funk, new-wave to garage-rock. Here we find singer and guitarist Goldwasser seamlessly morphing from a young Mick Jagger (“Weekend Wars”) to a sexed-up and shirtless Prince (“Electric Feel”), his lilting soprano sauntering over tightly written tunes made epic by Fridmann’s mammoth production. Lead single “Time to Pretend” may mock-prophesy their path to fame being corrupted by sex, drugs and self-destruction, but these kids are far too smart for those shenanigans.
Bruce Scott