Fun Fun Fun Fest Preview: MGMT
Saturday, November 6
Waterloo Park (403 E. 15th)
8:45, Orange Stage
[info] | [tickets]
Every now and again, the mainstream decides to embrace a band that most would consider to be weird or left of center. In the Spring of 2008, “Time to Pretend” solidified MGMT in the pop lexicon. It's intro synth line was instantly recognizable, and it was just poppy enough to gain the duo of Andrew Van Wyngarden and Ben Goldwasser the approval of everyone from indie scensters to sorority sisters.
In the time since, the band has had several more hit singles off their 2007 gold selling debut Oracular Spectacular, expanded to a five piece outfit, and released Congratulations, their polarizing sophomore effort. Through it all, the band rode the coattails of their debut to superstar status, and have fought hard to stay as true to their style as they can.
Van Wyngarden and Goldwasser first started recording together while they were undergraduates at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. Originally, they were more of a performance art act than fully formed band, but that had changed by the time they reached graduation. After releasing the Time To Pretend EP in 2005 and nonstop touring, the duo caught the attention of an A&R representative for Columbia Records, earning them a deal to begin recording Oracular Spectacular.
The album, produced by David Fridmann of Flaming Lips fame, earned the band comparisons to everyone from Muse to The Bee Gees, and spawned the nearly ubiquitous “Kids,” “Electric Feel,” and the aforementioned “Time to Pretend.” While some critics were lukewarm, others saw the album as a masterstroke. NME named it their top album of 2008, and Rolling Stone named it #18 on their top albums of the 2000's.
For the follow-up, the group was given a great deal of creative control. They decided to go with a more progressive sound, almost intentionally avoiding the pop hooks and instant gratification that made their debut so beloved by listeners. According to a Billboard article, they handed the executives a completed copy of Congratulations and were simply asked if it was the album they wanted to put out.
It was a gamble that paid off, as the album sold well in its first couple of weeks and hit #2 on the Billboard charts in the US. However, talk to almost any fan of the group and they will tell you that it doesn't hold a candle to their debut. It will be interesting to see whether the band decides to return to their roots or ignore the whims of their fans and continue the sonic exploration of Congratulations on their next album. Regardless, MGMT's set on Saturday night will undoubtedly draw a diverse crowd that will be eager to hear the hits.
- Ryan Lester
MGMT: [official]
