“Loss of Life”

If you are looking for an album with ‘80s-inspired production, lullabies and Welsh poetry, look no further than MGMT’s “Loss of Life.” 

The indie pop duo, Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden, is back six years after their last album release. 

With very limited prior exposure to MGMT’s music other than their brief moment of TikTok fame, I went into this album not knowing what to expect. 

The album ends with the title track, which sums up the album’s general themes about both anxiety and hope. It says, “When thе world is born and life is ending / Then you lеarn to love your loss of life / When the morning comes and life is over / Anyone can love, anyone can love.” 

Despite the bleak sounding title, some of the tracks explore endearing and uplifting themes. 

My favorite track, “Phradie’s Song,” is a beautiful lullaby that says, “I can sing to you / Every night, if you want mе to.” 

I liked this song upon first listen, but liked it even more after reading what VanWyngarden said about the song. 

“My daughter is two years old and her name is Phradie,” VanWyngarden told The Sun. “It’s a song for her!”

In terms of production, the album hits notes of ‘80s alternative, Beatles era psychedelics and indie folk without losing a cohesive sound. While each song feels distinct, all of them sound like they could be played during a dramatic moment of your favorite coming-of-age movie. 

There are some interesting moments in the album, but they do not add very much to the overall artistry. 

For instance, the album opens with “Loss of Life, Pt. 2,” which is a spoken word poem with music behind it from The Book of Taliesin, a manuscript of Welsh poems from the 1300s. This track could be deleted from the album and nothing would be lost. 

As someone who values lyrics over sound, my major qualm with the album is it focuses on style and production more than the words. However, the production was so excellent, it made up for it. 

Upon first listen, I did not have much to say about this album. However, each time I relistened to a song, I found myself liking it more and more. 

Official Score: 8/10

Categories: Arts & Entertainment