After MGMT’s hits-filled breakthrough Oracular Spectacular, they turned their sights away from mainstream success and towards psychedelic weirdness. Its followup, 2010’s Congratulations, may have been divisive amongst fans, but it’s arguably an even greater artistic achievement than Oracular Spectacular.
MGMT went even further down the rabbit hole with their self-titled 2013 album, but it looks like they’re bringing the best of both worlds to Little Dark Age. Both singles, the title track and “When You Die,” have one foot firmly planted in genuinely trippy psychedelia, but MGMT are writing danceable pop songs again. They’re still nothing like “Kids” or “Electric Feel,” but MGMT aren’t the type to ever fully repeat themselves anyway. This middle ground suits them perfectly well.
