Oracular Spectacular (by MGMT, Alternative Rock)

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."

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.

Released on: January 21, 2008
Label: Sony Music
Genre: Alternative Rock