Oracular Spectacular

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Glam rock, disco pop with a few mature themes.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

Find out more

Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this album is full of metaphorical lyrics and loopy verses, but nothing inappropriate for teens. Several of the songs cover somewhat mature subject matter (references to guns, the pitfalls of extravagant lifestyles, depression), and the album will resonant best with teens probably dealing with coming-of-age issues.

  • The songs deal with some pretty heavy topics, such as depression and disillusionment and sometimes have a cynical undertone. "This is our decision to live fast and die young/We've got the vision, now let's have some fun."
  • Only minor references to guns, but nothing particularly violent.
  • Some sexual themes, but nothing explicit ("Shock me like an electric eel/baby girl/turn me on with your electric feel/I said ooh girl/shock me like an electric eel").
  • One song, "Time to Pretend," contains the line "…f--k with the stars."
  • Not applicable.
  • "Time to Pretend" has drug references: "I'll move to Paris, shoot some heroin and f--k with the stars/You man the island and the cocaine and the elegant cars," but this reference is in the context of a tongue-in-cheek song about the pitfalls of extravagant lifestyles.

What's the story?

MGMT's debut album is an audio patchwork of various musical genres from the last three decades, all mashed together to create a unique collection of songs. The 10-track album covers a lot of new territory, with the cynical electronic "Time to Pretend" and the eerily melodic "The Handshake." But there's also a lot nostalgia on the album, including the disco-inspired single "Electric Feel" and the psychedelic "4th Dimensional Transition."


Is it any good?

 

With lyrics like "We've got the vision, now let's have some fun/Yeah it's overwhelming, but what else can we do?/Get jobs in offices and wake up for the morning commute?" MGMT seems to have a lot to say about coming-of-age. The band even touches on the tried-and-true theme of teenage rebellion on the song "The Youth" ("Lock the parents out, cut a rug, twist and shout/The youth is starting to change/Are you starting to change?"). You might not get the meaning of some of the songs in just one listen, but the musical stylings will take you back decades to the glam rock era. The real appeal of the album has to rest in the infectious beats and unexpected instrumentation combining with the eclectic lyrics that set this band apart from cliched rock groups, especially on tracks such as "Kids" and "Electric Feel." Although some of the lyrics are confusing and the electronic effects sometimes weight down tracks (particularly "Future Reflections"), the band presents a solid debut that pays homage to the futuristic past.


Sign Up Message
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
Each week we send a customized newsletter to our parent and teen subscribers. Parents can customize their settings to receive recommendations and parent tips based on their kids’ ages. Teens receive a version just for them with the latest reviews and top picks for movies, video games, apps, music, books, and more.
Please enter an email address.
Please check your email address for possible typos.
Sorry, you must be 13 or older to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Sign me up!

What families can talk about

Families can talk about how special effects are used on this album. Does the use of synthesizers, unusual instrumentation and electronic effects enhance the themes of the album? Or does it detract or over-complicate the meaning of the lyrics?


This review was written by Jacqueline Rupp
Teen, 18 years old
April 15, 2011
 
!!!
grat

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 16 years old
November 4, 2009
 
MGMT!!
Time to Pretends drops the f-bomb, reffers to heroine and cocaine. In other songs there are some sexual things brought up, MGMT is very good in the studio and live. Plus, the lead singer is pretty hawt.

Flag as inappropriate 
Adult
May 2, 2012
 
Awesome Album
Says F--k one time, that's the only bad language in the entire album. Great for 10 up

Flag as inappropriate 

This review was written by Jacqueline Rupp
Artist:MGMT
Release date:January 21, 2008
Label:Sony Music
Genre:Alternative Rock
Parental advisory:No

This review was written by Jacqueline Rupp
 

Review It

Share your review with others

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

 

vote now

Will you add Oracular Spectacular to your playlist?


Already listened to it? What do you think?

 

Been There? Tell us about it