HANNAH LUTEREK AND MATT TURNER
Special to The Leader
Hannah’s Choice: “Little Dark Age” by MGMT
Matt’s Take:
Without much exposure to MGMT, outside of “Oracular Spectacular,” I was cautiously optimistic to dig into their latest album. The album, which was released back in 2018, hadn’t really popped up on my radar due to little to no talk about it from friends and my trusted music outlets.
I knew none of the tracks presented on the album, which came as a very welcome surprise. I was transported to my early days of high school where I would listen to songs like “Time to Pretend,” “Kids,” and “Pursuit of Happiness,” endlessly while writing papers.
This sense of nostalgia came at a bittersweet cost, however as I myself, and MGMT, seem to have changed a lot since those days. I craved more of the out-there style that was provided on “Oracular Spectacular,” but instead, I was treated to a rather consistently mellowed style of modern alt-rock.
Overall, “Little Dark Age” is a bittersweet treat for fans of MGMT and fans of alt-rock alike serving as a serviceably good rock album that is more than easy on the ears and mind.
Three Standout Tracks: “Me and Michael,” “Days That Got Away,” and “Hand It Over.”
Score: 7.4/10
Hannah’s Take:
On a cold day, over breakfast he made for us, I was introduced to this album by a friend in March 2018.
Little did he know, this album would spark my deeper dive into the alternative genre and revolutionize the music I now listen to every day.
“Little Dark Age” is interesting in that it stays true to MGMT’s “Oracular Spectacular roots,” while still straying away to something a little darker. The electronic feel of the album as a whole, combined with goth sounds and edgy lyrics, makes you feel like an angsty outcast in the ‘80s.
The album loses its sparkle in the later moments of the album, in my opinion. The songs slowed and began to blend too comfortably into each other. With that being said, the first half of the record remains novel to me, in that MGMT experimented with more nostalgic sounds and elements.
If you’re really seeking a trip, I highly recommend watching the “Little Dark Age” music vid. It brings the song to life in a new, twisted and freaky way.
Three Standout Tracks: “Little Dark Age,” “When You Die,” and “She Works Out Too Much.”
Score: 8.5/10
Matt’s Choice: “Bossanova” by The Pixies
Matt’s Take:
As a big fan of The Pixies, revisiting “Bossanova” is always a treat for me.
With this album and “Doolittle,” The Pixies have influenced my taste in rock music on a massive scale that is hard to match.
The dreamy guitar stylings of Joey Santiago, the banging bass by the legendary Kim Deal, the pounding and varietal drumming from David Lovering, and last but certainly not least, the insane vocal work by Black Francis never cease to take my breath away.
From the legendary opener “Cecelia Ann” to the absolutely angelic closing track “Havalina,” the album is as fresh as ever and deserves to be listened to at least once by every rock music fan. Surf rockers, alt rockers, classic rockers, and indie rockers will no doubt find something to enjoy and appreciate with “Bossanova. ”
Influences from The Pixies are still felt in today’s music, most notably through Radiohead, and it is not hard at all to see why.
Three Standout Tracks: “Velouria,” “Ana” and “Havalina.”
Score: 9.1/10
Hannah’s Take:
To preface my review, I have to mention that The Pixies are a group whose discography I haven’t yet had a chance to thoroughly explore. Of course I’m familiar with their everlasting hits (“Where Is My Mind?”), but outside of that, I never really took it upon myself to give them a fair shot.
I’m happy that Matt chose this record to listen to this week, because my angsty side is satisfied, and I have a better idea of who The Pixies truly are.
I appreciate any album that begins with an instrumental track like “Bossanova” did, so I was hooked right from the start.
What I appreciated about “Bossanova” was its ability to take me elsewhere, calling memories of shows in grungy basements to the front of my mind. This sector of music is not what I listen to most often, I will admit that, but the way it was able to bring back such good memories and feelings tells me that I should incorporate it into my daily listening habits.
Three Standout Tracks: “Is She Weird,” “Down to the Well,” and “Havalina.”
Score: 7/10