Brooklyn’s MGMT began streaming their sophomore album “Congratulations” on whoismgmt.com a couple weeks ago after it leaked online. There was a lot of speculation as to what their new sound would be following the release of the album’s artwork, a cartoon cat surfing a wave, by Anthony Ausgang.
After the first three tracks it is apparent that “Congratulations” isn’t the soundtrack to a day in the waves but a dive into the psychedelic pop found in the second half of their first full album “Oracular Spectacular.” 
The song “Flash Delirium” marks the middle of the album and a turn to slower, pensive, but wonderfully melodic tracks like “I Found a Whistle” and “Siberian Breaks.” The eighth song is the curiously titled “Lady Dada’s Nightmare,” an instrumental piece that MGMT’s Andrew Van Wyngarden joked is about having sex with Lady Gaga.
The album closes with the title track “Congratulations,” a dreamy, acoustic ditty. Pre-orders will receive a bonus track called “Inbetween the Liners” and audio commentary. Fans of the first album will be disappointed there aren’t any golden indie dance eggs like “Kids” or “Electric Feel” but “Congratulations” is definitely a pleasant listen.
The Gorillaz’ third album “Plastic Beach” dropped at the beginning of last month following a lot of hype. The single “Stylo,” featuring Mos Def, wasn’t anything unexpected from the funky virtual monkeys but at least a promise that they were back. The video for “Stylo” features the crew rendered in 3-D and exchanging bullets with Bruce Willis in a lethal road race.
Willis isn’t the only familiar face attached to the project; the guest list is long and has a few surprises. Featured vocalists include Snoop Dogg, Mark E. Smith, Bobby Womack, Lou Reed and Little Dragon. Snoop Dogg of course delivers his signature sound to “Welcome To The World Of The Plastic Beach” and Womack’s soulful crooning appears on “Stylo” and “Cloud of Unknowing.” The orchestral additions by the National Lebanese Orchestra and the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble add a richness and melancholy to “Sweepstakes” and “White Flag.”
“Some Kind of Nature” features former front man of The Velvet Underground, Lou Reed, speaking/singing in a strange but undeniably catchy track.
In the end, “Plastic Beach” sounds like a lot of different things and while this might not be the best method for creating a tight, cohesive album, it’s what creators Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett wanted and as long they’re still happy doing what they’re doing, we’ll be happy to listen. Not every track is for everyone but it’s all Gorillaz.