MGMT
Congratulations
Sony/Columbia

Stumbling awkwardly on the red carpet at the Grammys last January, the members of MGMT slid right into the unfortunate, disgruntled indie-band stereotype they seemed destined for since the day “Time to Pretend” began infiltrating deejay playlists. During the band’s interviews, lead singer Andrew VanWyngarden’s painful unease in the wake of the group’s sudden commercial success gave him the air of an electro-pop revival of Kurt Cobain.

And with the arrival of sophomore effort Congratulations, the band’s mole-like introversion has only gotten worse.

It’s as if MGMT decided to make the In Utero to their Nevermind. Unlike catchy debut Oracular Spectacular, the band’s latest is defiantly anti-commercial, strange and ultimately polarizing.

All those looking for a memorable hummer like 2008 blockbuster “Kids” can go home now. In fact, the group has abandoned the idea of singles altogether — because the art of the album should be appreciated as a whole, of course. The lovable poppiness that made MGMT famous has been chucked for the drones of psychedelic rock that were hinted at on Oracular.

On many tracks, though, the band’s new formula is oddly successful. Despite its disjointed nature, “Flash Delirium” is unusually catchy. The track begins in familiar tuneful territory, but evolves into moments of doo-wop and surf-rock, ending in a clattering and chaotic stream of nonsensical phrases and unintelligible ideas about spiders, freedom and commerce. Rad.

Other highlights include wonky homage “Brian Eno” and titular track “Congratulations.” Like a cut off David Bowie’s Heroes, the latter is a deconstructed power ballad — a sign that maybe there is more to MGMT than indie-radio hits and peculiar experimentation.

Less appealing are tracks like instrumental “Lady Dada’s Nightmare,” whose only vocals come in the form of a distant, terrifying scream.

Despite a scattering of failed experiments, Congratulations will likely grow in appeal over time, as many force enough listens to find something innovative and exciting within its trippy wails. Many more, however, will mope in memory of the synthy grooves that made the band’s first album so much fun. 6/10