Unless you were living under an internet-less rock, you’ve likely heard that MGMT dropped their new, unfocused-on-purpose, song “Flash Delirium” as a free download on Tuesday, a day in which we explored the fine line between “freak[ing] people out” — as Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone was the 4-part jam’s intended purpose — and just annoying them. MGMT confessed before the song even came out that “[s]ome will love it, some will hate it,” but for those in the “hate” camp, they’re now offering an apology (sorta).
“When we first wrote that song, we were laughing so hard,” Ben Goldwasser told Spinner today. “Andrew just reminded me of that, that we thought it was the funniest thing we’d ever heard. And then we got used to it, it started to sound more normal.”
Goldwasser emphasized that “Flash Delirium” is only a preview and not technically the first single off Congratulations. For those “who think it’s completely weird and not what they were expecting,” he added, “I’m sorry.”
As for my opinion, I’ll withhold judgment until the full album comes out, but his apology is graciously accepted with regard to that flute solo.