The Offspring

Popular Science (MGMT, Little Dark Age review)

Posted on by Tim Kuefler

We all have a little darkness inside of us, some of us embrace it, some of us run from it, and other find a way to little it simmer just under the surface. Adding some texture to life.

 

MGMT – Little Dark Age

released February 9, 2018
********* 9/10

MGMT is an American rock duo comprised of Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser. They’ve been playing together since 2002, well before you would’ve expected from a band that hit the big time back in 2007, I remember because it was at the apex of indie electronic music. The singles Kids, Electric Feel, and Time to Pretend were everywhere that year, in movies, on the radio, and at most of the clubs I attended.

Yeah, this was back when I went to clubs, looking for loves.

And TBH, that music perfectly fit with the beautiful nihilism of the day, but I didn’t want to be part of it, so I ignored them, even though Ornacular Spectacular was clearly an amazing album. Then they followed it up with Congratulations in 2010, and it was even more experimental, but I had moved on and wasn’t really into that kind of music anymore. Around the time that the self-titled MGMT landed, the duo weren’t even on my radar, as in, I just discovered that Little Dark Age is their fourth studio album, and not their third one.

And thus, the history lesson concludes, because the boys appear to have some full circle. Older and wiser, fortunately for us, because Little Dark Age is their best album to-date and the sythn-pop was always their strong suit anyway, that and a subtle darkness, which is not unappreciated in the album title.

She Works Out Too Much is a perfect opener, capturing the challenges of dating in a smartphone app era, and later accented by TSLAMP. Then comes the big kahuna, the title track (Little Dark Age) which has been on everyone’s mind since it dropped as a single back in October of 2017. If you listen hard enough, you’ll hear Gary Numan, The Cure, Depeche Mode, The Smiths, and a host of other emo progenitors. Geez, now that I think of it, I can even hear the Police in there – and that’s an incredible thing.

Me and Michael is perfect in it’s subject, a quant song about friendship. That pairs well with Days That Got Away and When You’re Small.

It’s the kind of album that I know will get better with repeated listens, and I can almost guarantee will find a place on my shelf in years to come. Dare I say it, this album might even have me aching for possession of their back catalogue.

And if you’re worried that the album slows down too much as you sink into it, One Thing Left to Try is just as upbeat as the opening songs.

I’m glad that we were able to get back on track with MGMT, and even though their third album should have been the point where they came back stronger and wiser, not every flower blooms at the same time, and we can’t fault a band which debuted on a high note, without understanding the intricacies of their relationship with music and popular culture.

Pros: Obviously the return to pop music is a welcome change. And inserting notes of psychedelic rock into the mix has proven to be a recipe for success.

Cons: I know that Ariel Pink had a hand in When You Die, but I find it difficult to separate his production from MGMT’s natural sound, and all it does is make me want to listen to his music instead.

Runtime: 44 minutes

Points of Interest: The record was conceived partly out of the election of Donald Trump as president of the US, and partly because of a desire to return back to their roots.

I guess all it took was some time for these two college friends to embrace their identity and make music which suits them. I’m personally thankful for the opportunity to revisit their music, and I truly do believe that they’ve matured into their sound finally.

theories Summarized

Do I think that you should give this album a listen? Absolutely. I didn’t really expect to like this record, as I had avoided MGMT for years, but as I sit in my office on a warm March evening, I can see fairly easily how this will become one of my favourite albums this year. Yes, I’m calling it a quarter of the way through.

And speaking of bands that got better with age. Brendon and I wanted to remind you of one of the greatest punk rock albums of the 1990s, The Offsprings SMASH. This is seriously one of my favourite albums ever, and if you’ve never heard it before, you are in for a treat. But if you have listened to it before, and you needed a reminder, give it solid listen, and appreciate their skillful guitar playing, choice lyrics, and exciting melodies.

Thanks for taking the time to read the review, watch the video review and hopefully you’ve left a comment or two. If you liked what you saw, click on the like button, and even better, subscribe to the channel! Come back tomorrow for a film review about Darkest Hour. There’ll be more theories!

Tim!

10 Tips For A Good Time (Concert Etiquette)

Posted on by Tim Kuefler

As is the fashion with Timely Thursdays, dear readers, today is going to be a shorter post.

This might be a little selfish on my part, but the reason I’m doing this is because I’m watching The Offspring and guests perform live at The Shaw Conference Centre this evening. In fact, while you are reading this post, and through the power of mobile phone technology, I am already at the building and in line buying my merchandise.

You see, I’ve loved The Offspring for many, many years, and their music is the kind of music which I can really appreciate – it has a combination of satire and sincerity, something which I’m sure we can all agree is difficult to pull off, whether in music or other art forms.

If you want a little back story on the lead up to tonight’s events, I’ve got the link right here for you.

And so today I wanted to write about what it’s like to go to a concert, for those who don’t attend them regularly or maybe don’t know realize what you can do at a concert.

I’ve come up with a short list of things you can do to ensure you see you favourite musical acts for a reasonable price AND have a good time.

  1. Signing up for online newsletters and Facebook pages of bands and local venues gets you mobile updates on concert dates and related info.
  2. Encourage friends to come along and buy from reliable sources (the venue, the band or an authorized ticket website). It’s safer and more fun.
  3. Select a method of delivery that makes sense (etickets, will call, hard copies) and avoid auctions to avoid fake tickets and high prices.
  4. Plan ahead – Check the weather forecast. Get a good nights sleep the night before. Organize your departure time with your friends to save gas, avoid traffic, and find parking.
  5. Only bring the appropriate supplies (tickets, ID, money, phone) and dress for the occasion (warm if outside, light if inside)
  6. Expect to be checked by security. Smaller bags are better for the process (and lighter over the course of the night) and no outside food or drinks. You’ll be asked to throw them away anyway.
  7. Exceptions – some bands prohibit phones (pictures), and smoking is usually prohibited. Observe the rules and listen to the security and staff on hand.
  8. Show up early if you want to buy merchandise and/or see the opening acts. This gives you the most options of merchandise too, buying late in the night probably won’t work, and the booths make close before the show ends.
  9. Enjoy the show, but understand your exit strategy. Some people leave early to avoid the crowds at the end of the night. It’s better to plan ahead and see it all IMHO.
  10. Finally, proceed from the venue carefully and consciously. Depending where you are the local police and security may have adjusted the traffic patterns.

And that’s all the theories I’ve got tonight friends! I’m gonna put my earplugs in, but I’ll catch you in a couple of days, with something rather stimulating.

Tim!

Feelings (The Offspring w/ GOB)

Posted on by Tim Kuefler

In what seems to be a week (or maybe weak) of nostalgia related thoughts, I decided to share more with you lovely readers and expand upon yesterday’s post. This is especially cool for the local Edmonton crowd, but I of course think it will be rather relevant for my larger group of loyal international readers too.

Remember your first love?

We’ve all been there.

We all had an album we listened to over and over again, where loved ones were driven nuts by the first sound on the record.

Funny-Memes-About-Love-2

But we were just kids, and we loved that artist or group so much it hurt.

They spoke to us personally. It was like they made the music just for us. Whether the songs were about fun, love, dancing, partying, breakups, anger, rebellion or general heartache. It was our music and we wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Hi Fidelity has this line I think of whenever I get nostalgic for the past, and especially when I think about lost love and my first musical experiences.

What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?

The music that sticks with you is the album you choose yourself for the first time. And there’s a power to it. A kind of power that can purify or corrupt, so it’s important to nurture that relationship with your favourite music so that it empowers you and keeps you on your life path.

Ever heard of the love myth? There are tons of articles/videos on the subject if you haven’t, but I’ll let you take a look at this one if you need some help getting started/. Essentially the myth goes like this – love needs to be irrational, unique, random and always passionate. This myth perpetuates western culture like a virus.

But what the heck does this have to do with music, Tim?

Well, my point is that in many cases we are drawn to some music for a season and a reason, but it isn’t true companion based love. And I think that a lot of first love musical interests end up this way, unless you nurture the relationship properly.

Which is how I feel about The Offspring!

I’ve been a fan ever since I was given my first CD at 13 years old.

At the time, Pretty Fly For A White Guy was popular on the radio and in my crowd of friends. Living in Canada, I’ve been fortunate to have a mixed ethnicity group of friends wherever I go and no matter what I do, and when I was in junior high, I was the odd man out in my social circle. Suddenly being a white kid was strange and foreign, so one my friends bought The Offspring’s Americana for me as a birthday gift, and to reinforce this humility in me.

Little did he know, he was providing me with an outlet to exercise my interest in music beyond my parents and the typical fare on TV and the radio. A band that represented subversion, political ideas, raw feelings, and general satire. All of this further building my identity and belief system.

And so I slowly collected their back catalogue and also bought new albums upon release, all the while listening to other music too. Some of my music library looks weird today, and the mix of it all doesn’t really match or appear to be influenced one way or the other, but I’ve always had a fondness for punk rock music because of The Offspring.

Now for the timely part – I found out yesterday morning, mere hours before the presale went online, that The Offspring would be touring this year and that Edmonton is one of their stops on the circuit in March! I have to give full credit to my girlfriend, because she knows how much I love this band, and she was the one who heard about the show on the radio.

So what else could I do but purchase a membership pass to a presale code website? So that I could buy the tickets ahead of the regular crowd, just in case.

I’ve missed seeing this band previously because I wasn’t paying attention and made excuses for why I couldn’t afford it. That is no longer a valid excuse, so I am going this spring. And it will be awesome! Musical heroes are important, and at the root of who we are as people. They hold a special place in our hearts and can reinvigorate when we are feeling lost.

It might be a theory, but try it yourself. Listen to your favourite music when you are feeling off, and see what happens. Who are your musical heroes?  Leave some comments, and I’ll see you on Sunday friends!

Tim!