MGMT: The Management Is Still In Charge

Track 4, “Introspection,” examines the uncertainty of defining identity, asking the question, “What am I really like inside?” The following track, “Your Life Is a Lie,” is a blunt, definitive response to “Introspection.” By the end of the song, both the protagonist and his wife have discovered the shallowness of their lives and gone their separate ways, but the singer at least reassures us that the man will “survive on [his] own.”

Track 6, “A Good Sadness,” explores the loneliness experienced by the now-single protagonist and those unsuccessful attempts we make to mitigate the damage and pain of broken relationships. Track 9 revisits the issue of loneliness by offering the time-honored advice that there are “Plenty of Girls in the Sea,” but this is a cautious, cynical tale:

There’s plenty of girls in the sea
And plenty of clowns in the village
The trick is to try to be free
And tend to the void, don’t just fill it
The bartender concedes, from inside his vest
That none of the best ones were ever the best
So keep it short, simple and sweet
Cause there’s plenty of girls in the sea

Whenever you want there to be

Even though MGMT claims that Congratulations offers a more integral representation of their musical style than does Oracular Spectacular, many industry analysts have interpreted the disparity in album sales between the two releases to mean failure. Regardless, MGMT has proven that success shouldn’t depend on someone else’s approval. Today, the band members focus on impacting the world in positive ways. In a Rolling Stone interview, VanWyngarden says, “I don’t want to be seen as a band that’s just another messenger of a generation that doesn’t really care about what’s going on in the world and just wants to party, which I think we sort of belong to.” The band members emphasize responsibility and a conscientious attitude — when they matter. Otherwise, why take ourselves too seriously since life is short and should be enjoyed as much as possible?