Photo: Press
Needless to say, MGMT's career hasn't quite followed the path we all expected when we first heard tracks such as 'Time To Pretend' and 'Kids' way back in 2007 on debut album, Oracular Spectacular. Instead of becoming stadium superstars and chart-topping pop sensations, the band threw a massive curveball with second album Congratulations, delving into dark, psychedelic territory and scoring a grand total of zero hit singles from their sophomore release.
It was something of a surprise, that's for sure. The band return this week with their third, self-titled album, and US duo Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser are adamant that this time around, the experimental sounds of their music won't leave fans scratching their heads and wondering what the hell is going on.
"We've gone a long way to establish ourselves as a band that people can't really nail down in one style or genre, or predict exactly what's going to happen next," Wyngarden tells Gigwise, as we discuss the band's hugely ambitious, uncompromsing new album. "That's maybe one of our biggest goals as artists - to get to a point where what we're known for is a band who is able to try something new and test out different things."
"Given what happened with the second album and the critical backlash against, and that a few years later people are talking about it and saying it was influential and reached a lot of people," adds Goldwasser. "This time around people will be more prepared and expect what's coming next."
The band's new album is a largely improvised record, mixing sixties psychedelic influences with heavy rock sounds, and the band confess they ditched the more methodical songwriting practices they employed on their previous releases. The band claim more artists should follow their approach and record what seems 'natural', instead of seeking approval from fans and peers in the music industry.
"Above all, artists should just do what feels natural to them," says Goldwasser adamantly. "I don't like it when I can tell someone is putting something out they don't feel genuine about. It's not what they like, it's what they think other people will like, I don't think we would ever do that. I think it's great people are making pop music and I think it's great others are pushing the envelope. It's great that can happen at the same time."
"That's the essence of behaving like an artist," adds WynGarden. "The fun is in the challenge of trying to do new things and expose people to new things, while keeping this connection with the audience and the fans. It's a noble cause!"
MGMT return to the UK in October 2013 for five UK shows, giving fans a chance to experience tracks from the band's three vastly different releases. Having moved from electronic sounds to a heavier sound during their career, the duo admit fans will see their rock side at their live shows - and a little experimentation as well.
"It's pretty guitar heavy at the moment. We have the goal of having a set up on stage that changes the way the songs sound every night," says WynGarden of their current live show. "When you consider a lot of the songs on the album came from improvisation, it's hard to recreate those sounds. The songs are going to need to change from night to night."
Below: watch the video for 'Your Life Is A Lie'
It's not exactly radio friendly, but the band's current release 'Your Life Is A Lie' has proven the band haven't lost their knack for crafting unique and brilliant singles. However, the duo are fully aware that there plenty of fans out there still waiting for another easy pop smash, which continues to mystify Goldwasser.
"I think it's strange when people put expectations on a band they like," he shrugs. "Myself, the reason I like an artist is because the make creative things and do something different every time and they're not going to do the same thing again."
WynGarden, on the otherhand, is more comfortable knowing there will always be fans at the shows waiting for the hits
"We will always be grateful and happy to have any kind of fan who appreciates our songs," he says. "There's plenty of bands I like who I only like one or two of their songs.
"I think it's healthy to have that combination of fans who like one side of the band, and others who are into the idea of us being a chameleon, experimental group. I'm just excited to see how people react to the new album in general."
