Hear MGMT Break Down “Time To Pretend” On Song Exploder
Could you imagine being in a band and still talking about a song you wrote over 10 years ago? That’s the position MGMT find themselves in for their episode of the Song Exploder podcast: Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser trace their hit song “Time To Pretend” from its conception and inclusion on their 2005 debut EP through to their Oracular Spectacular version, which they worked on with Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Fridmann. (The re-recording was at the request of their eventual label Columbia Records, who wanted to own the rights to the song.) They break down the song into its individual parts, show how it borrows from and matches the tempo of ABBA’s “Dancing Queen,” and reminisce about their debut Letterman appearance. Listen below.