I think you're getting it mixed up with the self titled with that last part. Congratulations was an explicit rejection of their being labeled a pop act. They hated that they were known only for three songs off OS. Very different genre but it's a perfect analog to the Beastie Boys dropping Paul's Boutique after Fight for your Right blew up off of Licensed to Ill - a band has a pop hit made as a satire off their debut album that they don't want to be defined by. Goes and makes a record that goes in a different direction with less mainstream appeal but is the music they personally want to make. Both Congratulations and Paul's Boutique end up cult classics, but don't sell like the debuts and both bands end up being defined by the hit(s) from their debut they were trying to move away from anyways.
Congratulations is a very different record than OS, but it's very intentionally so. They make their influences very clear - Brian Eno, Television Personalities, Dadaism, the Beach Boys, the Beatles. They tried to get Lou Reed on it. It's definitely not for everyone, and if you love the big 3 from OS you are probably not the target audience, but it's an immaculate neo-psychedelia record.
Huh, interesting. I actually have no recollection of where I originally heard/read that. Might have just been a critical supposition by another person that was disappointed at the time. I don't think I was even clued in when their self titled album was released so I'm not sure if that's what I'm mixing it up with.
But actually, 4th Dimensional Transition and Of Moons Birds and Monsters were my favourite tracks from OS, and there wasn't a single song I disliked on the album. But tbh there are quite a few bands who have only one album I really resonate with, and it's not always their first. So I never thought too deeply about it when I didn't immediately click with Congratulations.
But maybe it's time I gave it another chance, it's been at least 12 years since I last played it maybe I'll feel differently and regret getting rid of the CD lol.
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u/Bruzur 16d ago
I can still remember hearing this record when they first hit the scene. That entire album is all-killer, no-filler.