MGMT

USA, 2002–now

Duo of Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser, formed at Wesleyan in 2002. Oracular Spectacular ('Kids', 'Time to Pretend', 'Electric Feel') paired psychedelic songwriting with synth-pop hooks; Congratulations turned toward deeper neo-psychedelia.

MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced MGMT and 1 artist MGMT influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced MGMT?

• Brian Eno — Brian Eno is a touchstone for MGMT — Congratulations includes a song titled 'Brian Eno' in tribute to his art-rock and production.
• Spacemen 3 — MGMT enlisted Spacemen 3's Sonic Boom to produce Congratulations, channelling that band's drone-psych into their sound.

Which artists did MGMT influence?

• Empire of the Sun — Empire of the Sun's lush, psychedelic electropop rode the same neo-psychedelic synth-pop wave MGMT crystallised with Oracular Spectacular.