It seems to be happening more and more nowadays: albums get leaked online weeks before they’re slated for official release. It’s happened to some of the most anticipated albums of the past year: The Blueprint 3, Blakroc, Contra, Man on the Moon, the list goes on. MGMT’s latest album Congratulations is no exception; the followup to 2008’s smash hit Oracular Spectacular wasn’t supposed to be released until mid-April, yet copies of the album are floating around the web.

Instead of trying to fight the leak though, the guys have seemed to embrace it.

From their site:

Hey everybody, the album leaked, and we wanted you to be able to hear it from us. We wanted to offer it as a free download but that didn’t make sense to anyone but us
My take on the album? They definitely have a different sound. Whether that’s good or bad, I can’t say after only 2 listens through the album. I’m definitely noticing much more use of the guitar and less keyboard though. The songs seem rather slow and bland compared to such gems as “Time to Pretend,” “Electric Feel,” and “Kids.”

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Those of you who reside in the Boston area take note: this Friday is the opening of 4D, a kick-ass art show being held at Lot F Gallery. There will be a group show featuring custom toys, paintings, glass sculpture, and more. The list of artists include Will Long, Todd Robertson, Dan Sherman, Sinh Duo, and KDONZ. For more info, check out LotFGallery.com.

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Look what the cat dragged in.

I was delighted to see an unfamiliar track by MGMT on the front page of The Hype Machine today only to find out it was one of TWO leaked tracks from MGMT’s newest creation Congratulations.

Congratulations drops April 8th, but these tracks make for a satisfactory preview. Now that everyone in their mothers know the first nine or ten do-do-dos of ‘Kids,’ it’s time to hear a new sound from these boys. And I have to say I like what I hear.

‘Flash Delirium’ has a nice, matured sound that is reminiscent of Of Montreal and Hot Chip. It seems they’ve taken more driving elements from Oracular Spectacular (i.e. ‘4th Dimension Transition’ and ‘Of Moons, Birds & Monsters’) and refined them a bit with this breezy, mystical feel.

‘Congratulations’ is a little slower, a ballad if you will, but there’s something simultaneously soothing and psychedelic about it.

I dig, how about you?

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Just came across the video for “Pursuit of Happiness” by Kid Cudi feat. MGMT & Ratatat. This is off of Cudi’s Man on the Moon, which dropped last year. If you notice, that’s Drake standing next to Cudi. Why he’s in the video and MGMT/Ratatat aren’t I have no idea. I guess since Drake owned 2009, he gets to to whatever he wants.

Anyway, it’s a decent video, even though I’m not a big fan of the song. Check it out.

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Seems like ever since I bought my Nikon DSLR, I’ve been able to appreciate photography much, much more. I think it has something to do with the fact that I’m now cognizant of how difficult taking good pictures actually is. Case in point: this couples photo shoot / photo set by Madrid-based photographer Reclarkgable. It’s the same couple in every photo. Hard to believe at first, isn’t it?

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