Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Wee Tam and the Big Awesome

Just got the MGMT album Oracular Spectacular in the mail. Apparently, the kids love 'em. Here they are on Letterman last week doing the leadoff track, "Time to Pretend." Nice capes, for sure.



The album's produced by the guy from the Flaming Lips and (no surprise) it's all self-consciously trash-psych-electro-glam, if you will. I haven't decided whether I like it or not; I guess it comes down to whether the world really needs The Incredible String Band with an attitude.

9 comments:

Cleveland Bob said...

Ah yes, another Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Decemberists and Arcade Fire hipster band.

I tend to like the genre but these young'uns need to come up with a new sound tout suite.

And why the capes?

"What is my father doing in Manhattan with a man in a cape?"

--G. Costanza

Anonymous said...

In a word, no.

The only lyrics I understood were the names of drugs. Between that and the completely unnecessary and nonsensical Doors quote at the end - what did that have to do with anything? - we ought to try naming a new genre, the "trendy-reference band." Sometimes these things actually enter the lexicon.

Anonymous said...

ReMGMT:
When are they going to start wearing their underwear on the outside?

The next comment is for Steve: These guys are the spiritual brothers of that band from the Club 82 gig back in 1975: "Cyd Arthur" the Viking rock band. Am I right?

dave™© said...

I guess it comes down to whether the world really needs The Incredible String Band with an attitude.

HA!

steve simels said...


The next comment is for Steve: These guys are the spiritual brothers of that band from the Club 82 gig back in 1975: "Cyd Arthur" the Viking rock band. Am I right?


Was that their name? I had totally forgotten that...amazing.

Actually, I think those guys were a lot more clueless. The MGMT kids are more wiseacre-y....

Kid Charlemagne said...

I bet they could do a bitchin' cover of Stonehenge!

MBowen said...

OK, they don't sound a bit like the Incredible String Band (who suck) or the Decemberists (who don't). Maybe sort of half-Arcade Fire and half-Flaming Lips, with a less distinctive singer than either.

steve simels said...

Hey, I didn't make up the Incredible String Band reference -- they did (in the press stuff with the album. Apparently, these kids see themselves as heir, in part, to the ISB's psychedelic hoo hah).

But like I said -- with an attitude.
:-)

MBowen said...

Dudes, comparing yourself to the ISB or any other obscure Brit-folkies is totally 2006.