MGMT – Little Dark Age

By: Robert Warren

MGMT’s new album Little Dark Age lost the style we grew to love in the song “Electric Feel,” that grew the band popularity. It seems this album’s electric-synth 2018 melodies may be a bit too slow, too bland, too lacking in taste and not breaking out quite the same as their 2007 upbeat sounds that happened with original lyrics/composing by VanWyngarder and Ben Goldwasser. It’s a new album for MGMT, but the music’s flavor isn’t up to par with the high level of work they put out previously. It just isn’t the same and, unfortunately, that is a bit of a disappointment as this album is a bit raw, somewhat stale and just another album on the market compared to their 2007`s Oracular Spectacular album, which later went on in 2012 to make the Rolling Stone “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” list where they landed at number 494. Perhaps MGMT should reconsider returning to the sounds that they had during their Oracular Spectacular album that came from hit songs like “Kids” or “Electric Feel” because it is those sounds that made the band sound special. This experimental music that Little Dark Age has may just be a bit too experimental compared to their original sounds, which set a precedent of what we should be able to expect from this band. It`s the root of what makes MGMT special that fans love. Nevertheless, anything MGMT does deserves a listen, even if it borders too out-of-the-box. It may not be the best of their work. It may not even be close to it, but it is something people can dance to nonetheless. There is something to at least appreciate from that, but this album is definitely a bit disappointing if I were to be totally honest.

1. She Works Out Too Much

MGMT starts Little Dark Age with the song “She Works Out Too Much,” where it has colliding sounds that blend into a spacy time traveling EDM mix that sounds like trippy falling stars. Dealing with a failing relationship, this song pokes fun at dating apps where you constantly swipe, tap and don’t take time to relax as you try to focus on getting a match. It`s never relaxing, this song points out, as the narrator seeks to get a new routine. What this song does well is its use of falling elongated psychedelic sounds and the cleverly crafted lyrics to it, but what lacks is getting more upbeat as it just feels like it has a slow dying beat to this song. Perhaps this song would be better if they could bring the energy from “Electric Feel” into this. It just lacks energy in comparison to their other music. The lyrics and concept are worth checking out though.

2. Little Dark Age

When you wish you could keep a secret to yourself, hide it away and never let the world see you – then you put on “Little Dark Age.”  This actually ran as the first single to this album. The idea of hiding away deep in the isolation of secrecy running through is touching, but the emotion of the song is lost in the drop of psychedelic driving EDM style beats that runs throughout this album. The song does give off a haunted house/Halloween feel to it which works, but it isn`t very easy to connect with in the addition of scary sounds. It deals with the image of the dead, with secrecy and opening your eyes when you’re alone. It is interesting to say the least, but it isn`t going to be very pleasing if you want something more upbeat.

3. When You Die

When you think someone is just so wonderfully nice and so beautifully kind it could be hard to think any differently of that person until they make some move that just flat out proves you wrong. That`s what this song does. It takes a nice facade and breaks it entirely very quickly with lyrics such as, “We`ll all be laughing with you when you die.” It makes you question, where did that even come from? The shock factor of what comes from this song is very startling. It gets you thinking, “WHOA! HOLD ON! Yep, that just happened.” The video for this track is quite trippy and worth checking out if you find the time. This actually may not be the best song on this album, but it does come with the greatest shock value to it. Worth checking out.

4. Me And Michael

There is something beautiful that just works with this song “Me and Michael” as it has a nostalgic beat and has a blast-from-the-past feel with an 80`s taste to it. It is feels psychedelic works really, really well as a nice addition overall to Little Dark Age as well a single all on its own. This song is one of those tracks that points away from the MGMT 2007 sound, but there is just something about it that is absolutely pleasing. It is twinkling sounds of 80s flavor work well in a place opening your imagination to starry destinations unknown to the world. It is a slower tune with twinkling beats and gentle notes that come in. It is a song that’s musically really great and definitely has lyrics that are open to interpretation.

5. TSLAMP

The song “TSLAMP” is clever, especially in its writing. The title is actually an acronym for “time spent looking at my phone,” which is featured throughout the lyrics. This song really hits on the detachment that the world faces as people are isolating themselves getting caught up in their phones. This song takes the concept of the phone as a barrier for communication, interaction and engagement to the world. It is an epiphany to what cellphones are doing to isolate individuals. This song works a bit better than some of the others on the album, but it definitely could use a boost in energy.

6. James

Finally, a bit more upbeat, this song is more of an attention grabber. This song has a little more momentum to the moving parts of it. There is an echoed voice to this song, more of a background pop to it and the building of this song works well. It has a twinkling feel to it like the “Me and Michael,” but this one has a more moving and driven momentum to where you can feel like the track is headed somewhere. It is moving. That is the best way to describe this song. So, put on some headphones and press play to this very moving of a song.

7. Days That Got Away

In this instrumental piece there are video game sound effects that leave you craving and wanting more. It has a trance hypnotizing state to it in its psychedelic-electronic flavor. The beats just carry you through the track like a voyage and the melodies make you feel as though you are traveling on a spaceship. While this song is enticing, it actually can be skipped. For those who do take a moment to listen to it, you will find yourself easily carried away.

8. One Thing Left To Try

This song arguably is one of most upbeat songs on the album. Ironically, regardless of its positively upbeat melodies, it appears to be a dark song dealing with the struggle of suicide. It is actually as deep and dark as it is upbeat. The irony in this album are during times like this song and “When You Die” that make this album interesting. It seems that during the darkest moments of this album that the most energized melodies carry it forward.

9. When You`re Small

At this moment of the album, the song “When You`re Small, probably has the most pathos behind it as there is a sadder tone of giving up to it. It is very drudging in how this track is carried as each beat feels like a stomp of a boot through sticky mud. It is a song that features carrying notes over…well, muggy beats. Listening to the melodies makes you only want to be in a better place if you`re small. It feels like a sad song. It is a sad melody. It is drudging through with the instrumentation. It really is a good listen though in the quiets of your time.

10. Hand It Over

Just wanting what is theirs, the narrator opens up to try and just receive what is handed their way. In this song getting what is theirs is important and it is a move toward setting things right. It is a spacy trip of spinning sound that makes this a good listen. It is truly one of the better songs on this album.

Unfortunately, Little Dark Age is a bummer. If you want the 2007 MGMT sounds that grew them to fame, there are some clever crafts to the work here. It may not be the best album, but the writing and some of the music videos are pretty entertaining. Even though this album is no “electric feel,” it is still MGMT so it is worth giving a try.