Diplo Remix Proves The Ineffable, Unquestionable Suckiness Of That MGMT Band
We have been silent on this topic for far too long: That band MGMT annoys the living hell out of us. Why? Hard to say. Too Hot Topic, maybe. Too BlogRockBuster, perhaps — our age’s equivalent of the Blockbuster approach to music, like Boston in the 1970s, if Boston actually sucked and did not, as it turned out, rule. So yeah, we winced when we copped the mp3 of Diplo’s remix of the MGMT hit single, “Time To Pretend.” Which is arguably the only MGMT song we’ve ever heard that is worth a damn. And it’s here that we must give Diplodicus a kind of backhanded compliment: While it is usually the remixer’s job to take a single, boil it down to its basic ingredients and then rebuild — thereby proving the track’s unquestionable hook-i-ness — in this case, Diplo’s services reveal that, when boiled down, MGMT remixes prove the unquestionable suckiness of everything this band touches. And, so we are understood, this is not about Diplo’s remixing talents, which are well-established and totally bangin’. This is about MGMT becoming a totem for everything that is unfortunate and wrong about music right at this moment. You don’t believe me? Well, listen:
[STREAM REMOVED AT ARTIST'S REQUEST]
We thank you, Diplo. You have settled this argument once and for all.
Right-click here to download.
January 8th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
unbearable. the whole MGMT thing is crazy to me (kind of like vampire weekend). Not a whole lot for Diplo to work with…but even so, this remix is bad.
January 8th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
I don’t know about their suckiness, but their website does look like Windows 95 threw up on it in a Rave store sort of way.
January 8th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
No matter how I try, it’s difficult to find a spot to play MGMT at a dance party.
Probably ’cause it just isn’t danceable.
January 8th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Say what you will about MGMT, but Hot Topic?
In a post-Marilyn Manson world I think the listening habits of their shoppers trends more towards the current rosters of Trustkill and Victory.
January 8th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
You like Boston?
January 8th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
1. I’ll cop to kind of sort of liking a couple MGMT songs, but mostly just find them to be slipshod grave robbers of the ghosts of great music past and present. As for the ghosts of great music to come, these fuckers have no chance of lasting past six months from now.
2. Boston rocks the socks.
January 8th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Classic rock radio has ruined Boston for me forever more. I have to switch stations the moment I hear any of their overly familiar songs.
January 8th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Marnie Stern has made me like Journey (or at least Don’t Stop Believing). Maybe she needs to do some Boston covers.
January 8th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
It wouldn’t hurt.
January 8th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Are we really siding with monolithic, banal baby boomer tripe against some college kids’ debut pop album, on the grounds that they borrow from previous bands? Regardless of how you feel or even care about MGMT, are you sure you’re on the right side, here?
Boston? Journey? What’s next guys, Loverboy? Toto? Asia? No dammit–they their ilk cannot be allowed to slip back through the front door slathered in your irony grease. Let the anthemeers for the dickheads of yore eat their dinners on the back porch, where they belong.
January 8th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
I’ve known these guys through friends for about five years–since their famous synth-pop sounds didn’t reach beyond the campus of their Connecticut school.
I don’t defend their decisions or pretend to like the music they make now, but I will tell you that they tried so hard at every oppurtunity to make a music career NOT work, until they basically had a Columbia deal thrown at them. These guys never gave a shit, and never had a sincere bone in their body, for what that’s worth.
January 8th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
@Lord_Whimsy: I like Boston in an entirely irony-free way. They were in my dad’s constant rotation of music growing up, so I developed a deep affinity myself.
As for MGMT, it’s not that I’m knocking a pair of young upstarts for trying. It’s just that I hear their music and think, “Wow, a lot of other bands have done this, are still doing it, and they do it better.” I like a few of their songs, but I’ll pick Daft Punk or Justice or some other techno/indie rock band if it’s a choice of actually being a “fan” of their music.
But truth be told, MGMT is the new Vampire Weekend, who were themselves the new Arctic Monkeys, who were themselves the new Franz Ferdinand, who were themselves the new Strokes. Just the latest band that the industry and press have all conspired and made the hottest shit of the moment, and six months from now we’ll forget they existed. I wish them long and storied careers, but I don’t see it considering the way the music industry works right now.
January 9th, 2009 at 12:38 am
i couldn’t dissagree with you(all) more. MGMT is awesome. there are lots of good songs on the album. The remix aint all that, and I do love Diplo. MGMT is derivative as all hell, but I still think it works. They steal from the flaming lips and beck and jesus jones. Vampire weekend steal from Paul Simon, the police and the clash. So Fuckin What?!?
January 9th, 2009 at 11:39 am
That album came out a year ago! Why rag on it now? I thought you would have moved on to disliking other good bands.
January 9th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
@drtheopolis: That Diplo remix is brand spankin’ new, that’s why we’re commenting on it now. And before you go any further, yes, Fleet Foxes suck a giant donkey dick, too.
January 9th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
I don’t think they’re really “too Hot Topic” so much as “Ritten House Square chumps who love Of Montreal.” Whatevskies though. I thought two songs off thier debut album were summer jam worthy, but I think the song Diplo picked to remix was bad news, and I’m glad he drove the point home. Bless his heart.
January 9th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
I realize the relevance of your timely post just wondering why anyone would care about a shitty remix of a band that apparently no one likes, then or now.
January 9th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Also, please let me know when the Diplo/Fleet Foxes remix drops. Thanks.
January 9th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
here we go again…
what is with the trend of talking shit on anybody who becomes relatively famous in the music world. especially if they used to be poor and “legit”. im sure it doesnt hurt that they live in williamsburg too.
they make good music > columbia likes them > they get checks for lotsa money. id bet that if comcast offered Philebrity $4million dollars to buy the site, you wouldn’t even finish jerking off to your own reflection before saying YES.
truth be told, if MGMT lived in philly, you’d be allover their shit. kinda like you are with local doucheband ‘clap your hands say yeah’.
January 9th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Bold first comment, lightonfire.
January 9th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
i do what i can ;)
January 9th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
“MGMT becoming a totem for everything that is unfortunate and wrong about music right at this moment” WRONG
Music is fine right at this moment! Everyone trying to be a critic is the problem with everything right now.
You spend more time talking shit on what you don’t like than you do enjoying the things that you do like. But that’s your meme… so whatever.
MGMT two thumbs up!
January 12th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
MGMT is ok. Eric Wareheim (sp?) directed their ‘Youth’ Video. Pretty much ALL DJs are a scourge on this planet… especially Diplo, S. Ronson, Steve Aoki, and DJ AM (sorry about your face). How is playing other people’s music considered a talent? The only thing a person needs to start DJing is lots of money to buy records and ironic clothing. LAME.
January 14th, 2009 at 12:31 am
is powpowpow powpow?
is that you c.p?