MGMT – Loss of Life

By Kassidy Wiskari

I have been a huge MGMT fan for a few years now, so when I heard that they were releasing a new album, I couldn’t wait. There is something so special about this band to me and I love all of the different types of music they put out. MGMT started in the early 2000’s in a small city college in Connecticut when the two members bonded over their love for psychedelic rock and funk. Some of their biggest hits have been from the first album, Oracular Spectacular, like “Time to Pretend,” “Kids,” and “Electric Feel.” Despite most people knowing them as an electro-pop band, they have never put themselves into a box and explore lots of different styles.

This album, Loss of Life, is a soul-searching record that appeals to an indie rock audience, but also has hints of pop and psychedelic rock. It’s hard to put into words how much I really love this album. The first time I listened to it, I felt like I transcended. It speaks to the soul in a way that I haven’t experienced in a lot of music. The first track, “Loss of Life (Part 2)” sets the scene for an emotional, trippy, and unexpected journey. This is an electro-funk ballad with spoken words from a Welsh poem. It then melts into the first single from the album, “Mother Nature.” This is also the most popular track. It’s more upbeat and intense, with prominent drum beats and guitar. It’s also very catchy and has a reflective vibe, which really speaks to the audience. Some other highlights of the album were “Nothing to Declare” and “Bubblegum Dog.” These were also released as singles, which definitely helped build hype for the album. The album ends with “Loss of Life,” the title track. It’s an extension of the first track, and it is super trippy and funky. I think it’s really interesting that they flipped the tracklist with part 2 coming first.

Something that really stuck out to me about this album was the lyricism. MGMT is known for their metaphorical and poetic lyrics, and this album was no different. It’s really fun to be able to learn and analyze the lyrics. Overall, this album was my favorite of the year, so it was a pleasure for me to review it. I’m excited for whatever they have coming up, and I’m crossing my fingers for them to announce a tour or a Chicago show soon!

 

Favorite Songs: “Bubblegum Dog,” “Nothing to Declare,” “Mother Nature”

Rating: 10/10