Synth-pop band goes folk

MGMT is known for their upbeat use of electronics and synthesizers. Many of their songs include a punchy bass and simple yet fun drum beats. However, in their most recent album, Loss Of Life, they are going down a different route. Many of the songs on this album are based around acoustic instruments like guitars and grand pianos. MGMT still holds onto their drum beats that still fit perfectly into their songs. On this new album, the songs take a folky direction instead of synth-pop which differs from the band’s previous releases. 

Many, if not all, of the songs on Loss Of Life are longer than three minutes. When songs are particularly long the artist must make it so the listener does not lose interest. Unexpected changes and shifts are welcomed in tracks like “Nothing Changes” and “Dancing In Babylon.” In “Nothing Changes” the listener is tricked into thinking the song is going to be heavy with a dramatic drum beat for an introduction. However, the song eventually follows the same path as many of the other tracks and is focused around an acoustic guitar. “Nothing Changes” transitions to a jazzy horn break in the middle of the song. It feels a bit out of place being the seventh track on the album due to its dramatic ending making it feel like it should be the final song. “Dancing In Babylon” begins electronically but then transitions into a piano. The juxtaposition of acoustic and electronic instruments make the song interesting to listen to which makes up for the presence of the vocals. Within this album, the songs are not too exciting and fairly simple. 

Loss Of Life starts out with “Loss Of Life, Pt. 2,” an existential spoken word piece that discusses facts of reality. Having this song come first leads the listener to believe that this album will be electronically focused which is misleading. The song that follows directly after, “Mother Nature,” is vastly different from the first track. An acoustic guitar is the main instrument and is paired with vocals that have a cadence like The Beatles. One track that stands out as a bit different than the rest is the fifth track, “Bubblegum Dog.” It has a Radiohead-esque chord progression that is paired with fuzzy or distorted vocals. This track is more indie-rock than its fellow songs and includes a crunchy guitar solo. Songs that do include swelling synths and reverberation are “People In The Streets” and “I Wish I Was Joking.”

MGMT does a good job of making a folk-inspired album while still keeping some elements of their personal sound. This album is a tad different as the songs sound gentle and soft but it is not a bad album by any means.