MGMT felt ‘uncomfortable’ at the 2010 Grammy Awards. It’s no surprise then that the Brooklyn duo’s newest release Congratulations marks a shift away from the sounds of their immensely popular debut Oracular Spectacular.

The result of this shift might ostracize some MGMT fans who loved the pop hits of Oracular Spectacular’s A-side. While the two piece group from Brooklyn, New York  shot to indie rock stardom in the summer of 2008 with their radio-friendly singles ‘Kids’ and ‘Time to Pretend,’ its hard to imagine that any of the nine tracks on their 2010 release will make a dent in the Billboard singles chart.

The second LP from the pop rockers is limited in its appeal. However, while there are no catchy rhythms or pop hooks on Congratulations that may allow for the album to replicate the popularity of Oracular, MGMT’s second release on the Columbia Records label sees the duo exploring their psychedelic roots. “Flash Delirium,” the first single from the release is lush and layered and finishes with a cathartic blast, shaking off any trepidations of being pigeonholed by their previous releases.

MGMT are not pretending anymore, and while Congratulations may not prove as lucrative for their label, MGMT seem more comfortable sitting next to bands like Of Montreal, creating dense soundscapes instead of pop hits.