MGMT started as electroclash musical terrorists but quickly grew into an eclectic, brainy pop group with psychedelic overtones. MGMT first formed in 2002, during Ben Goldwasser and Andrew Van Wyngarden’s freshman year as art students at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. After graduating, MGMT released an electro-rock EP, 2005’s Time to Pretend. Good reviews and extensive touring brought the duo to the attention of British producer Steve Lillywhite in his role as an A&R executive for Columbia Records, which signed the band to a major long-term deal in 2006. Regrouping in Brooklyn, the duo partnered with another producer, Dave Fridmann, and recorded Oracular Spectacular, a far more musically expansive album that was released digitally in late 2007. A traditional CD release followed in January 2008, and Oracular Spectacular ultimately enjoyed both critical approval and commercial success, with the album selling over 500,000 copies in the U.S. and going platinum in Australia, the U.K., and Ireland. MGMT served as Of Montreal’s opening act for their extensive 2007 tour. In 2009, MGMT began working with producer Sonic Boom on their second album, Congratulations, which was released in the spring of 2010. In 2013, MGMT released a self-titled album. They continue to tour the world.
