MGMT – Siberian Breaks (2014 Remaster)

In 2014, MGMT released a vinyl reissue of their sophomore album Congratulations for Record Store Day. The recordings were newly remastered from the original analog tapes.

A Pop Surf Opera, after the storm, the loss of Ego. Breakers on the Beach. Hangin Ten with the Hodads. Distraction. Then Sandy Smiles as the Sun Squints its way. A new day. Cleansed. Ready. Surf's Up! Piss or pass the Pot.

Produced by MGMT and Sonic Boom
Written by Andrew VanWyngarden & Ben Goldwasser
Lyrics by Andrew VanWyngarden

Engineered by Billy Bennett in High Falls NY, Malibu, CA, and in Vacation Island Recording (Brooklyn, NY) and Blanker Unsinn (Brooklyn, NY)

Additional Engineering by Matt Boynton at Vacation Island Recording (Brooklyn, NY), Dave Fridmann at Tarbox Road Studios (Cassadaga, NY) and MGMT

Assistant Engineered in Malibu by Daniel Johnson

Mixing and Additional Engineering by Dave Fridmann at Tarbox Road Studios (Cassadaga, NY)

Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound (New York, NY)

Art Direction, Design and Photography by Josh Cheuse
Cover painting by Anthony Ausgang

The people who played on this album are:

Andrew VanWyngarden:
vocals / guitar / drums 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 / bass 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9 / synths 2, 3, 6, 8 / casio guitar 7 / piano 2 / fake flute 4 / harmonica 6 / electric sitar 3, 6 / percussion

Ben Goldwasser:
synths & samples 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 / organ 2, 4, 5, 7, 8 / piano 4, 8 / omnichord 1, 2, 5 / numerology 6 / additional vocals 2, 4, 7 / percussion

James Richardson:
guitar 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 / synths 2 / casio guitar 7 / synth drums 8 / glockenspiel 2 / sax 5 / pan pipes 6 / additional vocals 7 / percussion

Matt Asti:
guitars 1, 4 , 6 / bass 4, 5, 6, 7 / piano 5 / additional vocals 7 / field recordings and treatments / percussion

Will Berman:
drums 1, 2, 4 / guitars 4, 6 / bass 4 / additional vocals, percussion and synths

Sonic Boom:
master of ceremonies / modular synth 2 / harmonica and percussion treatments 5 / first documented use of the EMT 250 reverb glitch* 6 / gakken sx-150 7

Britta Phillips:
additional vocals 1

Jennifer Herrema:
additional vocals 2, 4

Gillian Rivers:
strings 1, 5, 6, 8, 9

Dave Kadden:
oboes and sundries 6

© 2010, 2014 & ℗ Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment / Distributed by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

Sleep as the oger
the bridge that watches the light speed thru
and cries while the spirit stumbles
the inside missile for the protection of you

maybe it's silent
the voice can't bear anymore strain
but speak without even knowing
and streams outside in the direction of truth

there's no reason there's no secret to decode
if you can't save it, leave it dying on the road
wide open arms can feel so cold
so cold
feel so cold

balance the books, the ledges, the loons
the dissapointed look on the faces that squint at the moon
let's see it with shadows enhanced
and then vote to decide who'll advance
silver jet plane, making a turn
exciting the brain that expects it to crash and then burn
it's no the life lesson I'd've guessed
if you're conscious you must be depressed
or at least cynucal
but someone might still eat the steaks
even if they're tough
spending the day
chewing the fat
floating away isn't rough but it's not enough
oh Marianne, pass me the joint
the sandpaper's tan
go-getters are surfing the point
and London a scratch on the lens
it's over before it begins
silk 'round her neck falls down to her shoulders
the older I get, the more I suspect there's a trick
but really there's no trip at all
that doesn't result in a fall
or a faltering
but something could spit out the bait
even if it's real
rolling away
missing a spoke
close to the ground like a wheel but it's not a joke
holding the line
clutching the phone
nobly wasting the night, but it isn't right
it's not right
smelling for blood
praying for rain
running away isn't rough, but it's not enough

the low tide is telling me, when it's over,
to breathe in everything exposed
and comes back to cover me in a blanket
being here's always changing tunes
the empty sky surrounds me but I can't see at all
wide open arms can feel so cold
and you can sit beside me
and tell me what it's worth
but I hope I die before I get sold
I hope I die before I get sold
I'd rather die before I get sold

if you find the soul that you lost
frozen in a starry void
take it within and hope the sight of blood
can will signs of life of return
back to the way that it was
long before it made a noise
to keep on quietly reminding you
what's never created or destroyed

wake as the swell peaks
the close-outs drowning the birds with roars
and howls scare the new unkindness
that picks and laughs at the carrion scene

forces you see breath can always go into hiding
and wait 'til it passes over
or stay far gone for all eternity