Cover version of MGMT's Electric Feel

David Porteous – Electric Feel (MGMT)

Another unusual cover: here, Canadian songwriter David Porteous makesthe MGMT hit into something slow and serious, using just a grungey blues guitar sound a la The Black Keys. Although the lyrics don’t really stand up without MGMT’s falsetto, this works surprisingly well.

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Photo by jrbrubaker, licensed under Creative Commons

[audio http://www.filefreak.com/pfiles/50153/04%20Electric%20Feel.mp3]

MGMT – ‘Electric Feel’ 

It’s not everyday that my choice of gig overlaps with that of screaming teenage girls, but this was not the only surprise that MGMT’s live show offered. Having recently ditched the two-guys-and-an-iPod setup, Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden now lead a rather sharp five-piece band, giving the the songs’ complexion a total makeover in the process.

The glam-pop sheen that has drawn comparisons to the Scissor Sisters has been greatly toned down in favour of a more straight-ahead stadium rock sound befitting the great ‘hair’ bands of the ’70s. Not only do the new arrangements represent a startlingly smooth transition, but in this guise I dare say the material holds a far wider appear than the exuberant (and occasionally brash) electro stylings of Oracular Spectacular.

Having signed a six-figure record deal with Columbia, topping the tip-lists for 2008 and making the all-important appearances on Jools Holland and David Letterman, their impending ascent into the mainstream seems all but guaranteed by the sight of an exceptionally young and enthusiastic crowd at La Maroquinerie.

But if that wasn’t enough, a group of airhead American students push towards the front mid-way through the set with all the tact and stealth of a deranged rhino. They are here for one thing and one thing only: to hear the song ‘Kids’ (which, I now suspect, will be the band’s breakthrough single). This becomes painfully clear, not because of some gut instinct it stirs within me, but because they rather inconspicuously shout: “Kids! Kids! Kids!” over and over – that is, when they’re not busy taking pictures of themselves or piercing the ears of those around with mind-numbing chatter at volumes that can compete with the band’s PA.

Naturally, the moment they’ve been waiting for comes with the encore. Giving ‘Kids’ the backing track treatment, the band take a break as Goldwasser and Van Wyngarden enact something akin to Hanson at a drunken karaoke session. It’s a far, far cry from everything that has come before but, somewhat surprisingly, it goes down just as well if not better. Nevertheless, there is enough in the songs themselves to guarantee the aforementioned inevitable success no matter what format they choose; but after this performance, I know which one I’d prefer more of and I just hope someone will nail them down for a live session but before they’re just too big. Daytrotter, I hope you’re listening!

Set list:

• Weekend Wars
• Time to Pretend
• The Handshake
• Future Reflections
• Fourth Dimensional Transition
• Pieces of What
• Electric Feel
• Metanoia
• Of Moons, Birds, And…
• Kids (sung w/ backing track)

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Previous posts: Song of the Day: MGMT – ‘The Handshake’ (Demo)

Live on Later with Jools Holland:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkRI1oeca50]

Make sure to catch MGMT live at Whelan’s, Dublin on March 8th!

[audio http://www.seewhatyouhear.com/the Handshake.mp3]

MGMT – The Handshake (demo)

Few bands have enjoyed a wildfire of hype in 2008 to the same degree as MGMT (a pair of music students from Wesleyan University formerly known as “The Management”) and their colourful new album Oracular Spectacular. At this point it may seem as if Brooklyn’s capable of producing an infinite number of dynamic, spaced-out indie group, but to see what all the buzz is about, these two tracks might be a good jumping off point. I prefer the demo version of ‘The Handshake’ as it seems a bit more focused and distilled…and there’s a little less ‘Ziggy-ness’ about it.

[audio http://www.seewhatyouhear.com/02 Weekend Wars.mp3]

MGMT – Weekend Wars

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