mgmt

MGMT
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This article is about the music duo. For the human gene, see O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase.
MGMT

MGMT: Ben Goldwasser (left) and Andrew VanWyngarden at Oxegen 2008
Background information
Origin Middletown, Connecticut, U.S.
Genres neo-psychedelia, New Wave, synthpop
Years active 2002–present
Labels Columbia, Red Ink, Cantora
Website http://www.whoismgmt.com/
Members
Andrew VanWyngarden
Ben Martin Goldwasser
Matt Asti
James Richardson
Will Berman

MGMT (pronounced em-gee-em-tee /ɛm dʒiː ɛm ˈtiː/[1]) is an American band based in Brooklyn, New York, consisting of Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden. Formed at Wesleyan University and originally with Cantora records, they signed with Columbia Records and Red Ink in 2006.

On October 5, 2007, Spin.com named MGMT "Artist of the Day".[2] On November 14, 2007, Rolling Stone pegged MGMT as a top 10 "Artist to Watch" in 2008.[3] The band was named 9th in the BBC's Sound of 2008 top 10 poll.[4] They were also named as Last.fm's most played new artist of 2008 in their Best of 2008 lists.[5]

Their first album as MGMT, Oracular Spectacular, debuted at number 12 on the UK album chart and number six on the Australian ARIA Charts, and hit number one on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart. It has also been named the 18th best album of the decade by Rolling Stone magazine.[6] It was named the best album of 2008 by NME.[7] MGMT also appeared prominently in Australia's Triple J Hottest 100 2008, coming in 2nd with "Electric Feel", 5th with "Kids" and 18th with "Time to Pretend".[8]

MGMT was nominated for the 2010 Grammy Award for Best New Artist, and their track "Kids" was nominated for Best Pop Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals. [9] These are the first Grammy nominations for the band. At the 2009 Grammy Awards, the Justice remix of "Electric Feel" won the Grammy for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical[10]

Their newest album, Congratulations, was released on April 13, 2010. The album was leaked onto the web on March 19.[11] Because of this, the band put all of their new songs available as streams from the official MGMT website prior to the official release.
Contents
[hide]

* 1 History
o 1.1 Formation
o 1.2 Oracular Spectacular (2007–2008)
o 1.3 Congratulations (2010)
o 1.4 Legal proceedings
* 2 Media appearances
o 2.1 Television
o 2.2 Movies
o 2.3 Video Games
* 3 Collaborations
* 4 Band members
o 4.1 Principal members
o 4.2 Band
o 4.3 Former live members
* 5 Awards
o 5.1 Grammy Awards
o 5.2 NME Awards
o 5.3 URB Awards
o 5.4 Fuse Polldown
* 6 Discography
o 6.1 Albums
o 6.2 EPs
o 6.3 Singles
o 6.4 Collaborations
* 7 References
* 8 External links

[edit] History
[edit] Formation

Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden formed the band while attending Wesleyan University during their freshman year.[12] "We weren't trying to start a band", remarked Goldwasser. "We were just hanging out, showing each other music that we liked." They experimented with noise rock and electronica before settling on what David Marchese of Spin calls "their current brand of shape-shifting psychedelic pop."[13] They graduated in 2005 and toured extensively in support of the Time to Pretend EP, opening for indie rock band Of Montreal.[14]

The band first started with the name "The Management", but since this name was already being used by another band, they later changed it to MGMT. MGMT is an abbreviation for the word management.
[edit] Oracular Spectacular (2007–2008)
MGMT performing at Higher Ground in Burlington, Vermont, late 2005

In the autumn of 2006 Maureen Kenny signed the band to Columbia Records.[15][16] The duo recorded with Flaming Lips/Sleater-Kinney music producer Dave Fridmann in 2007 for their major label debut, Oracular Spectacular.[17] MGMT opened for Of Montreal on tour in autumn 2007 as a five piece touring band including Matthew Asti (bass), James Richardson (guitar), and Hank Sullivant (guitar).[18] In November 2007 they performed for the first time in Europe supporting Asobi Seksu and The Courteeners at Koko in London.[19] After March 2008, Hank Sullivant left the band to pursue his own band Kuroma. Will Berman joined as the new drummer, James Richardson switched from drums to guitar, and Matthew Asti remained on bass.

The band supported Radiohead on the Manchester date of their world tour[20] and went on a headline tour of the UK during November 2008, playing at venues such as Manchester Academy and Shepherd's Bush Empire.

MGMT opened for M.I.A. on the Vassar College date of her 2008 tour,[21] and also played several shows with Beck while he toured in 2008. They also toured Australia with a headlining spot on the Meredith Music Festival line-up. They played a show at the Virgin Vestival on Toronto Island on September 6, 2008, playing nine songs off their Oracular Spectacular album. They also played the 2008 Street Scene festival in San Diego. On February 27, 2009 MGMT performed alongside Spectrum at "The Dome" in Finsbury Park. MGMT also added another tour date in Australia at the Splendour in the Grass festival. MGMT is somewhat headlining this music festival with other well known bands, Bloc Party, The Flaming Lips, The Happy Mondays and Jane's Addiction.

MGMT played their first show of 2009 on June 9 in Little Rock, Arkansas. The band Chairlift opened the show. Caroline Polachek joined them for their encore for a cover of the Til Tuesday song "Voices Carry".

On June 11, 2009, MGMT played at Minglewood Hall in VanWyngarden's hometown of Memphis, Tennessee where the band played three songs from their forthcoming album, including the title track, "Congratulations". Later in the week, the band played a late-night gig at Bonnaroo, where they were once again joined by members of Chairlift.

On July 1, 2009 MGMT returned "home" to Brooklyn to play another show at Prospect Park. They played "Congratulations", "It's Working", and "Song for Dan Treacy" from their upcoming album.

On August 2, 2009 MGMT played at the third day of the All Points West Festival, an alternative-rock festival held in Liberty State Park.

MGMT opened for Paul McCartney, an admitted fan,[22] at Fenway Park in Boston August 5–6, 2009.

On August 15, 2009 MGMT played in Hamburg, Germany at the Dockville Festival and performed several songs from their upcoming album.

MGMT was one of the headlining bands for the Treasure Island Music Festival on Treasure Island in San Francisco, California on October 17, 2009.

MGMT was one of the headlining bands for the 2010 Coachella Festival in Southern California. The event draws nearly 120,000 attendees annually and is likely the band's largest live audience to date.
[edit] Congratulations (2010)

MGMT has been recently working on their new album, Congratulations, which was released on April 13, 2010. The band, including Matthew Asti, James Richardson and Will Berman from the live band, spent the summer of 2009 in Malibu recording the album with Pete Kember aka Sonic Boom, ex-Spacemen 3 and Spectrum, serving as producer/guru, and long-time friend, Billy Bennett as engineer. MGMT debuted three new songs titled "Congratulations", "It's Working", and "Song for Dan Treacy" at recent shows.

MGMT have suggested that they may not release any singles from the album.[23] The album cover art for Congratulations was created for MGMT by Anthony Ausgang and the overall design of the packaging is by Josh Cheuse of Sony Entertainment. On Tuesday March 9, 2010 MGMT released the song "Flash Delirium" for free download on their official website. On Saturday, March 20, the band allowed users to stream their new album from their website.

The band stated that they weren't trying to make an album about fame and success but realized it was inevitable as that's all they've been doing for over a year.[24] The album is expected to be much more commercially successful than the bands first album, having reached number 1 on the itunes top 10 albums in the UK as well as USA.

MGMT started their latest tour on April 12 2010, in San Francisco, California, at the Fillmore theater. They are scheduled to perform on Saturday Night Live on April 24 and Late Show With David Letterman on May 11 for the promotion of their new album. [25]
[edit] Legal proceedings

MGMT settled a legal dispute with the President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy in May 2009, receiving a settlement payment that they plan to donate to a charity to help musicians with similar legal battles. The song "Kids" was used on several occasions without permission (in 2008), at a party conference and in two online videos. The party paid a standard fee of €53 to the French music licensing party, but this license did not cover all uses of the song. The UMP, Sarkozy's political party, admitted that the song had been used without permission and offered a symbolic compensation of €1. The band rejected the offer, claiming it was "insulting".[26] The band's lawyer commented that "we are dealing with acts of counterfeiting, with infringements of intellectual property."[27][28]
[edit] Media appearances

All across with the Internet Movie Database.[29]
[edit] Television

* The Beautiful Life (Pilot episode, 2009) – "Time to Pretend"
* The Vampire Diaries (Pilot episode, 2009) – "Kids"
* 90210 ("We're Not in Kansas Anymore", 2008) – "Time to Pretend"
* Gossip Girl ("Much 'I Do' About Nothing", 2008) – "Time to Pretend", ("The Grandfather", 2009) – "Kids"
* Skins ("Everyone", 2008) – "Time to Pretend"
* National Heads-Up Poker Championship (2008) – "Time to Pretend"
* Top Gear (2002 TV series) (Audi RS6 Avant review) - "Time to Pretend"

[edit] Movies

* "Alice In Wonderland" (2010) ("Time to Pretend") - Tim Burton showed a teaser of the film at the 2009 Comic-Con featuring "Time to Pretend", citing that the song fit the film's theme.
* Whip It (2009) ("Kids")
* Double Decade (2009) ("Kids")
* Sex Drive (2008) ("Time to Pretend")
* 21 ("Time to Pretend")
* American Teen (2008) ("Kids")
* "That's It, That's All" (2008) ("Kids")
* How to Lose Friends and Alienate People (2008) ("Time to Pretend")

[edit] Video Games

* Midnight Club: Los Angeles (2008) ("Electric Feel (Justice Remix)")
* Tony Hawk: Ride (2009) ("Electric Feel")
* NBA 2K10 (2009) ("Electric Feel")
* FIFA 09 (2009) ("Kids")
* Shaun White Snowboarding (2009) ("Time to Pretend")("Of Moons, Birds, & Monsters")
* NHL 2K10 (2009) ("Time to Pretend")

[edit] Collaborations

They have recently collaborated with up-and-coming alternative rapper Kid Cudi, and are featured on one track – "Pursuit of Happiness" from his album Man on the Moon: The End of Day, as well as the track "Worm Mountain" on The Flaming Lips' Embryonic.


On September 4, 2009, Beck announced his second Record Club covers album, Songs of Leonard Cohen. MGMT contribute, alongside Devendra Banhart, Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother and Binki Shapiro of Little Joy. Andrew VanWyngarden chose the album.[30]
[edit] Band members
[edit] Principal members

* Andrew VanWyngarden – vocals, guitar, keyboards, drums (2002–present)
* Ben Goldwasser – vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, drums (2002–present)

[edit] Band

* Matthew Asti – bass (2006–present)
* James Richardson – guitar, backing vocals (2008–present); drums, backing vocals (2006–2008)
* Will Berman – drums, backing vocals (2005, 2008–present)

[edit] Former live members

* Hank Sullivant – guitar, backing vocals (2006–2008)

[edit] Awards
[edit] Grammy Awards

* 2009: Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical – "Electric Feel (Justice remix)" (Won)
* 2010: Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals – "Kids" (Nominated)[31]
* 2010: Best New Artist – MGMT (Nominated)[31]

[edit] NME Awards

* 2009: Award for Best New Band – MGMT (Won)
* 2009: Award for Best Track – "Time To Pretend" (Won)
* 2009: Award for Best Album of the 2000s - "Oracular Spectalular" (Won)

[edit] URB Awards

* 2010: Song of the Decade – "Kids" (Nominated)[32]

[edit] Fuse Polldown

* 2010: Best New Artists – MGMT (Nominated)[33]

[edit] Discography
Main article: MGMT discography
[edit] Albums

* Climbing to New Lows (2005) (as The Management)
* Oracular Spectacular (2007)
* Congratulations (2010)[34]

[edit] EPs

* We (Don't) Care (2004) (as The Management)
* Time to Pretend (2005)

[edit] Singles

* "Time to Pretend" (2008)
* "Electric Feel" (2008)
* "Kids" (2008)
* "Metanoia" (2008)
* "Flash Delirium" (2010)
* "Siberian Breaks" (2010)
* "It's Working" (2010)
* "Congratulations" (2010)

[edit] Collaborations

* Kid Cudi – Pursuit of Happiness (2009)
* Flaming Lips – Embryonic ("Worm Mountain") (2009)
* Chiddy Bang - Opposite of Adults 2010

[edit] References

1. ^ "Once and for All: How Do You Pronounce MGMT?". New York Magazine. http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2008/07/once_and_for_all_how_do_you_pr.html. Retrieved 2009-02-25.
2. ^ D'Amato, Anthony M.. "Artist of the Day: MGMT". Spin.com. http://www.spin.com/features/band_of_the_day/2007/10/071005_mgmt/. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
3. ^ O'Donnell, Kevin. "Artist to Watch: MGMT". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17323914/artist_to_watch_mgmt. Retrieved 2007-11-14.
4. ^ "Record of the Week". BBC Radio. 2008-01-04. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7163404.stm. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
5. ^ "Last.fm Best of 2008". Last.fm. 2008-12-14. http://www.last.fm/bestof/2008/artist/1. Retrieved 2008-12-14.
6. ^ "Top Heatseekers – Oracular Spectacular". billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=324&cfgn=Albums&cfn=Top+Heatseekers&ci=3093255&cdi=9723178&cid=04%2F12%2F2008. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
7. ^ New Musical Express, December 8, 2008 edition.
8. ^ "Sex on Fire tops triple j's hottest 100". Online News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 2009-01-26. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/26/2474630.htm.
9. ^ . http://www.nme.com/news/beyonce/48701.
10. ^ {{http://www.grammy.com/grammy_awards/51st_show/list.aspx The 51st Annual Grammy Awards Winners List]}}
11. ^ "Did it leak? - Music Album Leak Release Source - CD Advance". Leaks All Day. http://www.leaksallday.com. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
12. ^ Landerman, Jessie (2004-04-13). "Weekly Wes Celeb: The magmo". Wesleyan Argus. http://www.wesleyanargus.com/article.php?article_id=2053. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
13. ^ Marchese, David (2007-11-23). "Breaking Out: MGMT". Spin.com. Archived from the original on 2008-02-08. http://web.archive.org/web/20080208174302/http://www.spin.com/features/magazine/2007/11/0712_mgmt/. Retrieved 2007-11-23.
14. ^ "Of Montreal Plan Late Summer Tour". Pitchfork Media. 2005-07-13. http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/34897-of-montreal-plan-late-summer-tour. Retrieved 2007-03-24.
15. ^ Perry, Jonathan (2008-02-08). "MGMT once sang to annoy. Now they're winning acclaim.". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2008/02/08/year_of_the_brats. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
16. ^ Brydson, Nicole (2008-02-11). "'Psychic Pilgrims' MGMT Make It All Look So Easy". New York Observer. http://www.observer.com/2008/psychic-pilgrims-mgmt-make-it-all-look-so-easy. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
17. ^ "Dave Fridmann/Tarbox News/Notes". http://www.netsync.net/users/fridmann/news2.html. Retrieved 2007-03-24.
18. ^ "Mystic Future Pop Duo MGMT Heading Out On Major North American Tour With Of Montreal From October–November". PR Newswire. 2007-08-16. http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=ind_focus.story&STORY=/www/story/08-16-2007/0004646569&EDATE=THU+Aug+16+2007,+05:00+AM. Retrieved 2007-08-28.
19. ^ [1][dead link]
20. ^ "Radiohead Live — LCCC, Manchester". http://www.radiohead.com/tourdates/29jun_manchester.html. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
21. ^ Reeves, Jackson (2008-04-10). "M.I.A.-ViCE, students prep for year's biggest concert". The Miscellany News (Vassar College). http://misc.vassar.edu/archives/2008/04/mia_vice_studen.html. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
22. ^ "Paul McCartney: 'I want to work with MGMT' – video". NME. 2009-06-09. http://www.nme.com/news/nme/45209. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
23. ^ "MGMT: 'We're not releasing any singles from our new album' | News". Nme.Com. http://www.nme.com/news/mgmt/49280. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
24. ^ Posted 3/15/10. "MGMT didn't Mean To Make New Album About Fame | News Video". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/493129/mgmt-didnt-mean-to-make-new-album-about-fame.jhtml. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
25. ^ Up for DiscussionPost Comment (2009-09-14). "MGMT Takes A Risk With 'Congratulations' Album". Billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/features/mgmt-takes-a-risk-with-congratulations-album-1004077463.story?tag=hpfeed#/features/mgmt-takes-a-risk-with-congratulations-album-1004077463.story?page=2. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
26. ^ MGMT to sue Sarkozy for music use Feb 26, 2009
27. ^ "MGMT Grapple with the President of France". idiomag. 2009-02-26. http://www.idiomag.com/peek/67142/mgmt. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
28. ^ "MGMT Sues French President". idiomag. 2009-03-01. http://www.idiomag.com/peek/67558/mgmt. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
29. ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2889228/
30. ^ Lindsay, Andrew. "Beck, MGMT & Banhart cover Leonard Cohen". stereokill.net. http://stereokill.net/2009/09/04/beck-mgmt-banhart-cover-leonard-cohen/. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
31. ^ a b "Nominees". GRAMMY.com. http://www.grammy.com/nominees?category=All. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
32. ^ "Urb Best Of The Decade Survey (Vote Now)". Urb.Com. 2009-12-19. http://www.urb.com/2009/12/07/urb-best-of-the-decade-survey-vote-now. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
33. ^ "Vote for your favorite musicians in the Fuse Super Grammy Polldown". Fuse.tv. http://www.fuse.tv/ontv/shows/grammy-polldown/poll3.html. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
34. ^ ""Congratulations coming from MGMT"". Triple J music news. http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/musicnews/s2444086.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-11.

[edit] External links