MGMT: Oracular Spectacular

Label: Sony

It doesn’t hurt that the opening notes of “Time to Pretend” recall American Analog Set’s “The Postman.” Nor does it hurt that Dave Fridmann is on production duties here, lending the entirety of Oracular Spectacular a spacious, hazy air. MGMT’s debut album encompasses a wide stylistic ground: “Time to Pretend” blends an earnest fullness (think a more uptempo Mercury Rev) with sardonic lyrics about excess; the low-end-friendly “Electric Feel” is convincingly slinky; and “The Handshake” ends on a nicely anthemic, fist-pumping note. MGMT is also fond of the big finish – witness the planetarium-friendly conclusion to “Of Moons, Birds, and Monsters.” If there’s a flaw here, it may be that the album’s breadth comes at the expense of a clear, album-long progression: at times, this sounds like a solid collection of singles than a cohesive whole. But what a collection of singles. It’s the first great record of 2008. (Tobias)