AN EXCERPT:

MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
March 23, 2025

My worst fear was once that I would totally lose my love. For life, for development, for expression, for exploration, for growth, for art, for music. My daily schedules, my internal monologue, my perception of the world around me was filtered through the lens of becoming a better person, artist, businessman, and engineer, in that order. This school year in comparison has been much lighter than the last. I’ve grown to appreciate the present moment more (to a degree), tried my best to maintain the skills that I earned and gained last year, and for the most part, been on relative cruise control. I don’t want that life either. One could argue the obsession that enthralled me last year was unhealthy; maybe it was a coping mechanism in response to the busy academic schedule, self-inflicted pressures for consistent achievement, and overall lack of confidence that I was making the right choices in life. But things got done. Chance Encounters were found. I’m glad it’s set a great foundation. I’m glad I’m realizing it now. It’s time to work, time to immerse, time to transcend

I even approach music differently these days. I haven’t been visiting my favourite artists as often, both because I've memorized each note and second so clearly that my mind automatically sets it on the backburner, and because many of them have shown serious decline in recent years. I have learned more about what I believe is great and impressive, but only between long periods of checking global daily charts and listening to uninspiring tracks that neither move nor challenge me. Even when deciding on albums, I'm not the same as I once was. I’ve built this foundation, and rightfully so, I have chosen to shift my focus from reading and learning and opening my eyes to creating and expressing. But I have failed on that second part. Take your trips out to Toronto. Build worlds. Speak to the crowds. The potential is all still in there. Keep your eyes open, and schedule in your work. I like it that way. I love that fulfillment. I love the people, and I want to help. I want great things to come, and they shall. A short break from the art. But we have another summer before us, and a long life ahead. Enough fucking around. Do you want to be great

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Be not afraid of failure

Enrich the lives of those you encounter

Judge your work only on metrics that account for the individual experience and human touch. That is both to your advantage as a fallible human, and with your goals of having a meaningful impact

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Great album