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I have to admit: I was scared of this album at first. As Of Montreal ringleader Kevin Barnes was working on it, reports were slipping out that it was veering towards "electronica". I thought, "WHA?!" I got scared. I ate a cookie. But then I remembered how much I flipped for earlier albums like Cherry Peel and The Gay Parade, and so we bought it.
And lemme be the first to reassure you: it's GOOD! Kevin's quirky psychedelic songwriting is still in tact; he's just using different mediums to get it out. Instead of the overly-orchestrated sounds of earlier efforts, this is a little more stripped down and uses some synthesizers --- but it's not electronica! It's just as breezy 60's-poppy as anything he's ever done.
One thing that kinda struck me as odd was I noticed in the liner notes that all the instruments on this release were done by Kevin alone, aside from a few supporting roles here and there. Kevin, dear, what happened to your band? I guess I'll find out tonight when I see them live... ;) (janice.05.04)
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horse and elephant eatery • bar none records • 2000
Here's a compilation of "singles and songles" from the Georgian wonderkids of Of Montreal. These six amazing musicians, led by the sweet storyteller Kevin Barnes, create quirky, fanciful retro-tinged pop songs that mix big band sounds with Beach Boys-esque harmonies to create a sound that is so uniquely theirs.
The charming "The Problem With April" (from the Japanese release of The Gay Parade) and the delicate "Scenes From My Funeral" (from the 100 Guitar Mania 7") are real stand-outs for me on this disc. Sadly, their unreleased tracks don't excite me as much which breaks my heart to say, but as a writer, I have to be truthful right? (HA! Since when have professional writers been truthful? Not when their pages are being payed for by advertisers...which is why I don't want to run ads in copacetic...uh, but I digress...) Anyhoo, many of the unreleased tracks just seem so unpolished and neglected. "Was Your Face In The Pillow Case" is a 54 second track that sounds like they were just playing around in the studio for a lark. And the recording quality on "Buried With Me" just sounds so raw. And "Ira's Brief Life As A Spider" re-visits the song within a story style that was used in The Gay Parade's "Nickee Coco and the Invisible Tree" but unlike "Nickee...", this is not a happy song despite it's sprightly banjo accompaniment and eventual bizarre denouement.
But still, I think it's nice that the band has put their hard-to-find tracks on one beautifully packaged disc, and I'm sure hardcore fans will delight at a peek at some rawer material! (janice.11.00)
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the gay parade • bar none records • 1999
Okay, I may receive accusations of blasphemy here, but I can't help but liken the latest release from Of Montreal to "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band." Before you send me nasty hate e-mail about how no band will ever be as great as The Beatles, you just have to listen to this album. God only knows, I can't stop! Mike is probably regretting letting me borrow this disc.
I don't know a lot about this band, but it seems to be the project of a guy named Kevin Barnes who enlists his friends (and he has a lot of 'em) to help him out. Much like Sgt. Pepper's, the album is themed. The songs are about the different people who make up "the gay parade" and is bookended with the songs "The March of the Gay Parade" and "The Gay Parade Outro." Also, like Sgt. Pepper, the cover is a colorful array of people who you may end up studying for a while. (The liner notes state that every character from the songs is represented in the paintings!) Also, like that classic Beatles album, the songs are well-crafted, well-performed and utilize a wide array of instruments, like penny whistles, bells, banjos, violins and more. Some of the songs are lovely McCartney-esque ballads, like "Neat Little Domestic Life" (which makes me cry because it is so sweet) and the old-fashion sounding "Old Familiar Way." Other songs are more upbeat like "Fun Loving Nun" and the sad "My Favorite Boxer." One thing about Of Montreal: despite all their silliness, there's an underlying sweetness and innocence to each and every of their songs that has undeniably won my heart. This album is lovely, sweet and refreshingly honest! I just love it! (janice.99)
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cherry peel • bar none records • 1997
The earlier Of Montreal album is still drenched with sweetness, but the album is not as textured and wacky as "The Gay Parade." The "band" consists of three guys on this recording, and the songs are composed in the standard guitar/drums sort-of rock way. Don't get me wrong: the songs are still wonderful, fun and poppy! But there aren't as many instruments implemented.
Aside from that, the lyrics are still gorgeous. Favorite songs include the sweet "You've Got A Gift" (about someone who makes the world a better place "just by being around") and "Tim I Wish You Were Born A Girl." Also, there's the charming "Springtime Is The Season" which never fails to make me glow with its bouncy keyboards and sprightly brushed drums. There's even a bit of sadness in the song "Montreal," where Kevin wails plaintively. But most of the songs are sweet, especially with Kevin's endearing voice at the forefront, and the lyrics seem more heartfelt and personal on this release (i.e. the lyrics use the pronoun "I" more than on "The Gay Parade"). This is lovely! Please buy it. (janice.99)
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