MGMT: Congratulations

Label: Columbia

It’s second-album time for these breakout stars of the Brooklyn scene, so you know what that means: Lots of smack-talking on MGMT. You know what else? Listen to Congratulations and you’ll realize that none of the new criticism sticks. What people seem to be saying most is that this record lacks any real pop songs—and yet all I hear is glistening pop songs, starting with the first three: “It’s Working” (lush and nimble, not unlike Violens), “Song for Dan Treacy” (crisp and recalling a certain early-‘80s UK-ness) and "Someone’s Missing" (slow and airy before opening up into MGMT-style grandeur). You can bet most of the haters don’t even know who Dan Treacy is — but I digress. Together with producer Sonic Boom, MGMT have stepped forth with a sophomore album that sidesteps the conventional and banal expectations of these times and instead merges ambition with genuine pop instincts, nodding repeatedly toward prog-rock song structures without falling down that rabbit hole. Even the 12-minute “Siberian Breaks” is little more than a handful of tuneful little nuggets woven together. Dismiss this album at your own peril. (Edgar)