In the autumn of 2006, Maureen Kenny signed the band to Columbia Records. When they got a phone call from the A&R department of Columbia Records saying they were interested in their music, they thought it was a joke.The duo recorded with Dave Fridmann in 2007 for their major label debut Oracular Spectacular, which is the first major label studio album by MGMT, released digitally October 2, 2007 on Columbia Records, available in CD & LP formats from January 22, 2008 by Red Ink Records. The album, which has sold over 1 million copies worldwide, was nominated for best international album, and best international group in the 2009 BRIT Awards. It features new versions of both "Kids" and "Time to Pretend", songs from their previous release, Time to Pretend EP (2005), the opening track serving as a "mission statement" and theme continued through the proceeding tracks. Though Oracular Spectacular never sold more than 17,000 in a week, it has been a consistent seller since January 2008, selling at least 2,000 copies per week.

Best New Band goes to MGMT at Shockwaves NME Awards

Brooklyn duo take one of this year's most hotly-contested categories.

MGMT have won Best New Band at the Shockwaves NME Awards tonight (February 25 2009).

The Brooklyn duo were presented with their prize at the O2 Brixton Academy by members of the cast of Channel 4 series 'Skins'.

"Here's my speech, its a gummy spider," the band's Andrew VanWyngarden declared as he took the stage, referencing the free sweets given out to guests, before adding: "Fuck yeah!"

A better view of the gummy spider. Haha

The duo then swiftly headed back stage. Watch exclusive video interviews with them now:

The album debuted at #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.

MGMT also appeared prominently in Australia's Tripple J Hottest 100 in 2008, coming in 2nd with "Electric Feel", 5th with "Kids" and 18th with "Time To Pretend" At the 2009 Grammy Awards, the Justice remix of "Electric Feel" won the Grammy for Best Remixed Recording, Non Classical. The music video for "Electric Feel" was also nominated for Best Art Direction in a Video.

MGMT opened for of Montreal on tour in autumn 2007 as a five-piece touring band including Matthew Asti (bass), James Richardson (drums), and Hank Sullivant (guitar).In November 2007, they performed for the first time in Europe, supporting the band Samantha and The Courtneeners at Koko in London.

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.

They played at Hovefestivalen in Norway June 2008.

They went on a headline tour of the UK during November 2008, playing at venues such as Manchester Academy and Shepard's Bush Empire.

They appeared at the 2008 and 2009 editions of the Bonnaroo Music Festival. Bruce Springsteen was in attendance during their 2009 Bonnaroo late-night set, which followed his headlining appearance on What Stage.

They also played a show at the Virgin Music Festival on the Toronto Islands on September 6, 2008, playing nine songs off their Oracular Spectacular album. Also in 2008 they played the Street Scene Festival in San Francisco. They were also one of the headlining bands for the Treasure Island Music Festival on Treasure Island in San Francisco, California, on October 17, 2009.

In January 2008, MGMT played 'Time To Pretend' on The Late Show With David Letterman. As a result, the track shot to number 19 in the American Alternative chart.

"Time to Pretend" has featured in a number of TV shows, including HBO's show "Pacquiao-Hatton 24/7", Episode 2, which originally aired on April 18, 2009, the Season 1 finale of Gossip Girl on May 19, 2008, it featured prominently at the end of the second series finale of popular UK teen drama Skins but was later omitted from the DVD release of the series due to issues acquiring the rights. and in the series premiere of 90210on September 2, 2008.

As for films, "Time to Pretend" has been used in the 2008 films (or for its trailer) Sex Drive, How to Lose Friends& Alienate People, and Eagle Eye, an early trailer for the Tim Burton film Alice In Wonderland and the 2011 film Warrior.
"Time to Pretend" was also used on the Exitosos Pells (Argentine) in Chapter 100, showing bloopers from the series

"Kids" was chosen to feature in a snowboarding movie entitled That's It, That's All, as well as the sixth episode of Survivors on the BBC in 2008.

Also in 2008, MGMT opened for Radiohead in Manchester as part of Radiohead's world tour. In November of that year, MGMT undertook their first headline tour of the UK. They were also selected to play at the highly influential SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas. In the summer of 2008, MGMT played a number of festivals, including Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds, Coachella and T In The Park. When they played at the Oxegen festival in Ireland, their performance had to be halted for 20 minutes because their fans began to climb the rigging structure inside the tent. This, however, did not stop the organizers from asking the band to play again in 2009.

MIA also selected MGMT to support her when she played Vasser College as part of her 2008 tour and they also opened for Beck on several dates of his tour. They also toured Australia with a headlining spot on the Meredeth Music Festival line-up.

On February 27, 2009, MGMT performed alongside Spectrum at The Dome in Finsbury Park, MGMT also played another show in Australia at the 2009 Splendour In The Grass Festival. MGMT headlined this music festival along with other well known bands such as Bloc Party, The Flaming Lips, Happy Mondays, and Jane's Addiction.

MGMT opened for Paul McCartney, an admitted fan,at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, on August 5 and 6, 2009.

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

Legal proceedings:
In January 2009, MGMT demanded compensation from theUnion For A Popular Movement(UMP) Party, headed by thePresident of France, Nicolas Sarkozy. The song "Kids" was used on several occasions without permission (in 2008) at a party conference and in two online videos. At first, a 1 Euro compensation was offered to the band by the UMP, but MGMT refused that offer. Finally, in April 2009, an amicable settlement was decided and the UMP agreed to pay MGMT around 2,500 Euros for legal fees and 30,000 Euros for copyright piracy, which were donated to an organization that supports copyright law.

Chart (2008)

Peak Position Certification Sales

Australian ARIA Albums Chart 6 Platinum 70,000+

Belgian (Flanders) Albums Chart 10 Gold 15,000+

Belgian (Wallonia) Albums Chart 55

Canadian Albums Chart 24 Gold 50,000+

Croatian International Album Chart 34

Dutch Albums Chart 45

French Albums Chart 22 Silver 65,480

Irish Albums Chart 5 2× Platinum 30,000+

Italian Albums Chart 85

Japanese Oricon Albums Chart 161

Mexican Albums Chart 74

New Zealand Albums Chart 13 Gold 7,500+

Swiss Albums Chart 68

UK Albums Chart 8 Platinum 567,696

US Billboard 200 38 Gold 596,000+

Year-end chart (2008) Position

Australian Albums Chart 16

French Albums Chart 77

UK Albums Chart 65

Track List:

All songs written and composed by Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Golwasser, except where noted.
No.    Title                                                                                    Length
1.    "Time to Pretend"                                                                  4:21
2.    "Weekend Wars"                             4:12
3.    "The Youth"                                3:48
4.    "Electric Feel" (VanWyngarden, Goldwasser, Will Berman)    3:49
5.    "Kids"                                    5:02
6.    "4th Dimensional Transition"                        3:58
7.    "Pieces of What"                             2:43
8.    "Of Moons, Birds & Monsters"                     4:46
9.    "The Handshake"                                3:39
10.    "Future Reflections"                            4:02
Total length: 40:30

Album Covers: