Review: MGMT - Congratulations (* * 1/2)

You have to hand it to any band that willfully alienates a good portion of their fan base in the name of progress, though you may wonder if the decision MGMT made was the right one. Their first album left them among the hottest rock bands in the world, receiving critical acclaim and popular attention with hook-filled tunes like “Kids” and “Time to Pretend.” It seemed only logical that they would capitalize on this success by turning in an even more radio-friendly record, but instead MGMT head determinedly in the opposite direction for their second full-length, Congratulations. Of course, given the eclectic nature of their debut, Oracular Spectacular, this decision by the band to continue exploring instead of refining their sound isn’t a complete surprise. Across the album, their ambition results in some genuinely fascinating experiments, but Congratulations more often feels like an awkward first step toward the goal than its attainment. (Continue Reading @ In Review Online)