"Disconnect the Dots"

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Polyvinyl is releasing Of Montreal's new album in April, and they say: "The sound of Satanic Panic is a little bit of a departure from Of Montreal's previous releases. The influence of 1970s Afro beat and '80s new wave can be clearly heard, and the songs are full [of] downright danceable electro-hooks" (as quoted on Pitchfork (maybe you saw it too)).

Now, this a record label talking about a newly signed band -- the kind of statement I'm disinclined to take seriously. But I've always hoped that Kevin Barnes would get more mileage out of his considerable songwriting chops and, you know, cut back on the cleverness a bit and just focus.

So with hope in my heart (and the question, "What is '1970s Afrobeat' anyway?" in my head), I chased down the new album's lead-off track and Holy Shit!!! It's fantastic!!!

I mean it's just a simple pop song, but this is what Barnes always needed to do. The production sounds GREAT. The instrumental outro (guitar riff plus a catchy new synth hook, the whole thing repeating on a three-bar cycle) is the best part. Gently remixed this could truly fill dancefloors.

Of course it's just one track, so I could be setting myself up for a big disappointment. But woohoo! I haven't been this excited about a forthcoming album in a long time!!! Plus Elf Power's latest is due out the same day! I have never used so many exclamation points in one post!!!

(Has anyone heard the rest of the album?)

― Paul in Santa Cruz (Paul in Santa Cruz), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 08:32 (twenty-two years ago)

could you please tell me the name of the track you downloaded?

― D Aziz (esquire1983), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 09:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, yeah it's the thread title (Disconnect the Dots).

― Paul in Santa Cruz (Paul in Santa Cruz), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 09:22 (twenty-two years ago)

there's a link to it at http://www.ofmontreal.net/

― Paul in Santa Cruz (Paul in Santa Cruz), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 09:38 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought this thread would be about some really complicated music trivia game. But I'm dissapointed, since Of Montreal do, after all, suck.

― Sym (shmuel), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 09:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Well sorry to disappoint you! I'm sure this track won't change the minds of those just hate the band. And conversely, it's probably enough of a change in direction that some die-hard fans will cry foul.

But I was decidedly in between these camps and, well, see above!

(It occurs to me the track would fit in rather inconspicuously on Welcome Interstate Messengers...)

― Paul in Santa Cruz (Paul in Santa Cruz), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 09:56 (twenty-two years ago)

one month passes...

I'm with you Paul. I've only heard the record once but it seems MUCH more palatable than the stuff I've heard by them before (i.e. less frantic). Eager to give it a few more spins.

― 57 7th (calstars), Monday, 12 April 2004 19:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Only heard the song on the web site, but it's really good.

― Tim Ellison, Monday, 12 April 2004 20:16 (twenty-two years ago)

A sequel to my thread-starting post. The new album is out now in the U.S., and I had it on a longish list of things I might buy, so to help with he decision I went back and listened straight through the three previous releases on my shelf (Gay Parade, Cocilequot, Aldhills). Large doses seem to magnify all the annoying aspects of this band at the expense of its good side. I ended up trading in all three albums to help fund the purchase of a significant portion of that want-list.

And I didn't buy Satanic Panic. I still might, especially if I find it used. I'll probably like it better than the new Elf Power, which I did buy but have already traded in. Hmm.

― Paul in Santa Cruz (Paul in Santa Cruz), Monday, 12 April 2004 23:17 (twenty-two years ago)

just download "Lysergic Bliss" if that doesn't make you wanna buy the album than nothing will.
It's a Very "Bodacious" Album. Are the kids still saying that?....Bodacious?

― Dude (The Yellow Dart), Monday, 12 April 2004 23:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Can't stand Elf Power. Every 2 years I find myself giving them another chance, but their stuff always seems so mediocre to me ... retreads of those G-C-D progressions, nothing new or clever. And the singer doesn't really have a voice. Kinda get the feeling he's just singing 'cause no one else can either.

― Tadpole (calstars), Tuesday, 13 April 2004 16:57 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah lysergic bliss is great, like a psychedelic andrews sisters' song. it's more frantic than the last one, well maybe it is just more odd and for that it's more of a sequel to coquelicot than the last one was. i love the album but i love everything by of montreal. it's not much of an 'electronic' record as it sounds just the same as all of his other records except for when he's sounding like apples in stereo. i am hoping he does an album of more tender songs to just showcase his lovely voice sometime.

― keith m (keithmcl), Tuesday, 13 April 2004 23:40 (twenty-one years ago)

I think having a song called "Lysergic Bliss" is lame. Seeing that song title turned me off of the album, even though I liked "Disconnect the Dots" when I downloaded it.

― Tim Ellison, Wednesday, 14 April 2004 01:43 (twenty-one years ago)

most of the titles are lame.

― keith m (keithmcl), Wednesday, 14 April 2004 02:07 (twenty-one years ago)

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