Of Montreal's The Sunlandic Twins: Album of the Decade?

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THE DEATH OF ALL ART FOREVER OR AT LEAST UNTIL SOMEONE FORGETS (AGAIN)

Not out til April, but let the ILM discussion begin.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 22 February 2005 22:13 (twenty years ago)

They're still around?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 22 February 2005 22:17 (twenty years ago)

All I've heard of them is Aldhils Arboretum, which by pure coincidence, I am listening to now! How's this sound compared to that?

― Mickey (modestmickey), Tuesday, 22 February 2005 22:18 (twenty years ago)

I like to imagine how awesome this band would be if they had Eleanor Friedberger as their singer.

― o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 22 February 2005 22:25 (twenty years ago)

His singing on this album is VERY GOOD.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 22 February 2005 22:32 (twenty years ago)

Awesomeness is not a problem with this album.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 22 February 2005 22:33 (twenty years ago)

~~has it leaked~~ er, do you have a promo copy I can, um, borrow? (wink)

― poortheatre (poortheatre), Tuesday, 22 February 2005 22:44 (twenty years ago)

it will be great. i am not very pleased that everyone else will have heard it before me.

― keith m (keithmcl), Tuesday, 22 February 2005 23:31 (twenty years ago)

How does it compare with Satanic Panic In The Attic (sheesh, i really did like that album title).

I really enjoyed SPITA(!), but played it a couple times recently and it kind of bugged me with its non-stop twee poppiness. A bit...nasal and saccharine? I accept that what u see is what u get with Of Montreal, and don't mind a bit of this when the song writing and melodies are clearly so strong.

― -the-night-watch- (-the-night-watch-), Tuesday, 22 February 2005 23:42 (twenty years ago)

That kind of reads pretty harsh!

― -the-night-watch- (-the-night-watch-), Tuesday, 22 February 2005 23:42 (twenty years ago)

Kicks serious BUTT over the Jennifer Gentle album on Sub Pop which is itself VERY GOOD and which I had already proclaimed "this year's Blueberry Boat."

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 20:30 (twenty years ago)

No Meltzer fans out there to catch the gravitas of my reference? No believers? Just grumpy cynics like Ned?

I ask again: album of the decade?

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Sunday, 27 February 2005 20:51 (twenty years ago)

the cover is hideous, even more than normal.

― keith m (keithmcl), Monday, 28 February 2005 06:25 (twenty years ago)

I'm waiting until it's release to listen to it. Judging by impressions I've read, it's a disappointment in that it's very dancy and totally devoid of the 'sunny 60s chamber pop' vibe that I loved about Satanic Panic. Still, I'm excited about it.

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Monday, 28 February 2005 06:42 (twenty years ago)

Of Montreal continue doing what they've been doing since the beginning: mixing some really great, inventive songs with some incredibly annoying, inventive songs.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Monday, 28 February 2005 08:19 (twenty years ago)

I have this album and it's incredible. Absolutely great. I wasn't an Of Montreal fan before I heard this- found them too sugary-sounding for my taste- but after a friend convinced me to give it a listen, I'm now unable to stop.

This record is a bit of a departure from their previous stuff. The production is phenomenal. In-your-face harmonies have been toned down, and there's a fair amount of rhythms which are considerably more complex than their previous records.

Don't sleep on this one- easily the best record of the year so far...

― cdwill, Monday, 14 March 2005 00:01 (twenty years ago)

the last one wasn't as big of a departure as everyone said just that more indie rawkers jumped on the bandwagon. 'gay parade' is still the best one but then i haven't heard the album of the decade yet only just the three songs that are on the polyvinyl website and they were pretty good though two were streamed so i can't be sure.

― keith m (keithmcl), Monday, 14 March 2005 00:47 (twenty years ago)

HEY HOLD SARCASM TIL U HEAR PLZ!

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 14 March 2005 00:49 (twenty years ago)

Judging by impressions I've read, it's a disappointment in that it's very dancy and totally devoid of the 'sunny 60s chamber pop' vibe that I loved about Satanic Panic.

yeah that aspect of the album has been exaggerated in a lot of the advance press i've read. it does have quite a danceable/electro feel on many of the tracks, and that's a departure, but the psyched-out pop melodies are still there over the synths (and some of the album is pretty traditionally-instrumented)...

― swvl (vozick), Monday, 14 March 2005 01:29 (twenty years ago)

(that is to say, it may be more dancy than previous of montreal releases, but it's still recognizably elephant 6-affiliated stuff, to whatever extent that still means something)

― swvl (vozick), Monday, 14 March 2005 01:38 (twenty years ago)

I thought we'd decided that Big & Rich was the album of the decade. But I forget this stuff.

― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Monday, 14 March 2005 02:04 (twenty years ago)

"we"

― Mr. Harvey Weinstein (mr harvey weinstein), Monday, 14 March 2005 02:10 (twenty years ago)

yes I was being ultraserious there, thanks for noticing

― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Monday, 14 March 2005 02:11 (twenty years ago)

yes I was being ultraserious there as well, thanks for noticing

― Mr. Harvey Weinstein (mr harvey weinstein), Monday, 14 March 2005 02:13 (twenty years ago)

of course! :-)

― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Monday, 14 March 2005 02:14 (twenty years ago)

:-)

― Mr. Harvey Weinstein (mr harvey weinstein), Monday, 14 March 2005 02:47 (twenty years ago)

Drops April 12, I believe.

The question I have at this point with the album is the extent to which people will pay attention to it enough to realize how extraordinary it is. Of Montreal have their fanbase niche, of course, but what does it take for a band that's been around for seven years or so to be taken seriously outside their niche, especially when people have preconceived ideas regarding their supposed stylistic marginality?

Is there any way that someone standing out and saying, "Hey wait, this album might actually BE the album of the decade" can make any difference in this matter?

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Thursday, 24 March 2005 01:19 (twenty years ago)

If it makes you feel better, I really like the album and I currently exist in this decade.

― you make me feel like a tyrannosaurus rex (deangulberry), Thursday, 24 March 2005 01:23 (twenty years ago)

I actually own three (3) Of Montreal albums, which seems like more than I would ever need, but this thread has whetted my appetite to the point where I want to hear a song from this new album.

― o. nate (onate), Thursday, 24 March 2005 01:53 (twenty years ago)

There are two songs streamed, an mp3, and a video here. (Don't know if the quality of the streamed tracks is great, but...)

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Thursday, 24 March 2005 01:56 (twenty years ago)

Actually, it sounds fine.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Thursday, 24 March 2005 01:59 (twenty years ago)

seems i started in the wrong place. the first OM i had was the compilation LP on earworm, which is uniformly irritating, but hearing "satanic panic" and bits of this have made me interested again.

― shine headlights on me (electricsound), Thursday, 24 March 2005 02:00 (twenty years ago)

I'm somewhat embarrassed by this thread now, but to give you some idea of how fervently I was extolling the virtues of Of Montreal as recently as 2002:

Pitchfork travesties Of Montreal's latest - the obligatory response

So I do know what it's like to fall hard for an Of Montreal record. I'll give these new tracks a few more spins to see if I catch the bug for them.

― o. nate (onate), Thursday, 24 March 2005 02:01 (twenty years ago)

two weeks pass...

i've had it for a few days now and it certainly isn't the best of montreal record and not the album of the decade. it kinda meanders along, he makes a mess of things and then decides he should throw in an awkward chorus. i still rather like it but it's not as good as the last one and not as good as the early records either. it doesn't seem like much fun was had while recording it and it feels like a rawk record rather than a pop record. also he has a nice voice but it's kinda muddied here. maybe i need to listen more. i like the bonus cd, it's sunnier. maybe he's tired of being an escapist loon. he's one of my favorite bands though so i suppose i will always love him.

― keith m (keithmcl), Thursday, 7 April 2005 03:48 (twenty years ago)

Well, to respond to that I would have to say first that I don't see ANYTHING messy about the album. The compositions and arrangements are impeccable. Also don't know where his voice is muddied.

And I think it's better than the last album (which is great).

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Thursday, 7 April 2005 04:34 (twenty years ago)

Stylus' Album of the Week feature vs. Pitchfork's 6.4 rating review.

Pitchfork reviewer doesn't like the latter half of the album for an alleged lack of "songs," but doesn't mention the bonus EP -- a part of the album -- and it's four SONGS. Calls some songs "condescendingly aloof" without explaining self.

And I'm wondering what the following accusations add up to: a "frivolous use of drum machines," a "traffic jam of synths" on "The Party's Crashing Us." Is he implying that it's not a cool use of synths like on some minimal electroclash record or something? That this silly indie dork doesn't know how to use the stuff right? "Oh, we like you when you do that twee pop stuff that all us indie rockers wuv, but don't tread where you don't know what you're doing?"

Well, you can hear "The Party's Crashing Us" for yourselves streaming here. I think it's a song that transcends both new wave/electro dance music revivalism and indie pop music.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 18:33 (twenty years ago)

Sorry, here's the Stylus review.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 18:35 (twenty years ago)

The Pitchfork review of this record reads like someone describing what they've been told about it without actually having listened to it. Sounds like he's describing W.I.T.

― cdwill, Tuesday, 12 April 2005 19:09 (twenty years ago)

Tim's Voice review of the album:

http://www.villagevoice.com/music/0515,ellison,62936,22.html

― xhuxk, Tuesday, 12 April 2005 22:20 (twenty years ago)

nope, still missing something....I keep on trying with OM, but it always feel like more showing off than transcendence....and it does meander towards the end...I'm gonna go with Pitchfork on this one...his impressive array of sounds and impressive technical ability can only take him so far...better than average, will not make my Top 20 for the year

― Space Is the Place (Space Is the Place), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 22:28 (twenty years ago)

best review of this album i've read

Posted 04/11/2005 - 01:32:14 PM by hoboghost:
I love the older material and this is very different. Still, I'd certainly make love to it, were I a black wizard.

― a white wizard, Tuesday, 12 April 2005 22:42 (twenty years ago)

I want some DJ to start mixing the enormously stupidly titled "Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games" (why not just call it "Let's Pretend We Don't Exist," after the chorus, which everyone's just going to call it anyway?) with Justus Kohncke's "Timecode." It would totally work.

― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 22:40 (twenty years ago)

as someone who wasn't a huge fan before, I can say this album is blowing me away. thank god I decided to get it. def one of my favorites of 2005 thus far

― breezy, Friday, 29 April 2005 21:23 (twenty years ago)

two weeks pass...

This album is fucking incredible. Easily making my top ten this year.

― darin (darin), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 20:25 (twenty years ago)

So good.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 21:18 (twenty years ago)

three weeks pass...

wow, this IS so good!

― Susan Douglas (Susan Douglas), Thursday, 9 June 2005 16:14 (twenty years ago)

I am very much in love with this album.

― Hillary Brown (Hillary Brown), Thursday, 9 June 2005 17:14 (twenty years ago)

ya - nearly every track is strong. is this on the radio? i mean i have no idea, but its perfect pop for sure and should be.

― Susan Douglas (Susan Douglas), Thursday, 9 June 2005 17:47 (twenty years ago)

We tried to lobby our local alternative rock station to add a track for their recommended albums of the month feature, but this month they chose Spoon and the Dead '60s instead.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Thursday, 9 June 2005 17:51 (twenty years ago)

"the party's crashing us now" is soo good.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 9 June 2005 18:02 (twenty years ago)

Yes, this album IS great. I wasn't much of a fan before, but I'm fully converted. About the only new album this year that hasn't been disappointing.

― Roz (Roz), Thursday, 9 June 2005 18:25 (twenty years ago)

It's on college radio. I think it's pretty high up in the CMJ charts. But not regular radio, except for NPR, which did a piece on them this past weekend.

― Hillary Brown (Hillary Brown), Thursday, 9 June 2005 18:36 (twenty years ago)

i don't really like this one too much.
in my opinion the best of montreal is cherry peel.

― That One Guy (That One Guy), Thursday, 9 June 2005 19:51 (twenty years ago)

The songs on this that are really good are GREAT.

― Raymond Cummings (Raymond Cummings), Thursday, 9 June 2005 19:52 (twenty years ago)

I heard one song from this and it was MUCH better than their previous albums I had heard (adheil arbever and one i can't remember)

― a banana (alanbanana), Thursday, 9 June 2005 19:56 (twenty years ago)

My friend *loved* the album but she saw them at the Echo and said the show was so bad that it turned her off of them! (said something about multiple lame "costume" changes).

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 9 June 2005 19:58 (twenty years ago)

One of my friends said the exact same thing. I guess I'll just have to skip their live act to preserve the goodness.

― darin (darin), Thursday, 9 June 2005 21:31 (twenty years ago)

They were amazing live.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Thursday, 9 June 2005 21:33 (twenty years ago)

Yes. Your friends are insane. There is one costume change, and it is excellent. Also, all the percussiony stuff is that much louder live. One of the best shows I have ever ever seen.

― Hillary Brown (Hillary Brown), Friday, 10 June 2005 11:45 (twenty years ago)

I saw them play at the Knitting Factory between Coquelicot and Aldhil's and they were pretty good. They were fun and energetic and played well.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 10 June 2005 13:08 (twenty years ago)

xpost

My friend was very specific, *multiple* and *irritating* costume changes.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Friday, 10 June 2005 16:20 (twenty years ago)

Perhaps your friend was exaggerating. He goes backstage to put on a raincoat and a hat while another vocalist sings. My impression was that this had been the same at most if not all of their shows.

― Hillary Brown (Hillary Brown), Friday, 10 June 2005 16:23 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, exactly, he put on that outfit for "Oslo in the Summertime." The clothes he wore before and after were not "costumes."

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Friday, 10 June 2005 16:27 (twenty years ago)

xxpost. I told my friend "that sounds like fun" but she disagreed. Maybe I'll try and get her to post.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Friday, 10 June 2005 16:29 (twenty years ago)

And he did the "wave your hands in the air" gesture when he returned.

― Hillary Brown (Hillary Brown), Friday, 10 June 2005 16:29 (twenty years ago)

I guess his cape at the beginning of the show could be considered costumery. He comes out in a cape.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Friday, 10 June 2005 16:33 (twenty years ago)

I don't remember any costume changes when I saw them, but that was a few years ago.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 10 June 2005 16:36 (twenty years ago)

"he comes out in a cape" ....ahA NOW it comes out!

― Susan Douglas (Susan Douglas), Friday, 10 June 2005 17:14 (twenty years ago)

three weeks pass...

Skot Seward has not heard this album.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 23:48 (twenty years ago)

It isn't that good.

― gorge (gorge), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 00:33 (twenty years ago)

way better than bloc party, spoon and the new stephen malkmus combined

― breezy, Wednesday, 6 July 2005 01:37 (twenty years ago)

I like this album but "Satanic Panic for the Attic" is mucho better. but "The Gay Parade" takes the cake for Of Montreal albums, possibly Elephant 6 albums, too (but I doubt it).

― Michael Costello (MichaelCostello1), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 01:41 (twenty years ago)

It's a good album, but I doubt it will end up in my top ten this year. I still think "The Party's Crashing Us" is genius, though.

Matos, I tried mixing "Wraith Pinned to the Mist" with "Timecode," but it didn't quite gel. Maybe a better DJ could make it happen.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 03:49 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

Matos, I tried mixing "Wraith Pinned to the Mist" with "Timecode," but it didn't quite gel. Maybe a better DJ could make it happen.

Awww, too bad. But you can see my point.

― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Thursday, 11 August 2005 00:37 (twenty years ago)

three months pass...

Oh what the hell let's revive this one too.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Wednesday, 16 November 2005 20:20 (nineteen years ago)

three months pass...

I know it's a bit late for this, but does anyone know if this album made it into any published 2005 critics lists? I have yet to see it in any, and I figured it was good enough to place in at least a few.

― billstevejim (billstevejim), Monday, 13 March 2006 05:20 (nineteen years ago)

It doesn't seem like it has (outside of Tim Ellison's I presume). It's a shame. This album spins fucking circles around any other indie release of last year.

― darin (darin), Monday, 13 March 2006 08:30 (nineteen years ago)

It's like their sixth best album.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Monday, 13 March 2006 08:32 (nineteen years ago)

WRONG.

― darin (darin), Monday, 13 March 2006 08:40 (nineteen years ago)

I mean if you really think all of those Apple in Stereo rip-offs are really where it's at, sure. Otherwise, quit playing in your own sick and get with the program.

― darin (darin), Monday, 13 March 2006 09:28 (nineteen years ago)

I noticed that too, all the critics' lists omitted Of Montreal (and Ladytron, for the most part, who i also put out a stellar album in 05 imho).
Critics in shit for brains shocker!

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 13 March 2006 16:06 (nineteen years ago)

I like Of Montreal a good deal better than any other Elephant 6 band.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 13 March 2006 16:20 (nineteen years ago)

And yet it was maybe my 20th favorite record of last year.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 13 March 2006 16:20 (nineteen years ago)

Of Montreal made a few lists i think, at least the singles did (and very deservedly so)

http://search.villagevoice.com/search?site=PazzAndJop&output=xml_no_dtd&client=village_voice&proxystylesheet=village_voice&filter=0&numgm=5&q=of+montreal

― Raymond Cummings (Raymond Cummings), Monday, 13 March 2006 16:44 (nineteen years ago)

It topped my list...(posted on a forum frequented by around 10-15 people).

― Zach S, Tuesday, 14 March 2006 09:22 (nineteen years ago)

I mean if you really think all of those Apple in Stereo rip-offs are really where it's at, sure. Otherwise, quit playing in your own sick and get with the program.

I think you're wrong, so we'll have to agree to disagree. Thanks for keeping the debate classy though, champ!

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 09:46 (nineteen years ago)

Sorry Polyphonic - I was kind of speaking in jest and didn't mean for that to come off so ugly. The Sunlandic Twins is a hot button for me. I think deserved way more attention and I get all pissy when people write it off.

― darin (darin), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 19:30 (nineteen years ago)

one year passes...

Still in the CD changer two and a half years later. Barely been out.

No one touches this guy.

― Tim Ellison, Friday, 25 May 2007 15:55 (eighteen years ago)

― davedestroybox, Friday, 25 May 2007 19:20 (eighteen years ago)

Not near as good as Hissing Fauna fanksm8

― Mister Craig, Friday, 25 May 2007 19:53 (eighteen years ago)

satanic panic still the best. sunlandic and hissing fauna very very close though. can't fuck with georgie fruit, IMHO.

― Emily Bjurnhjam, Friday, 25 May 2007 21:32 (eighteen years ago)

I'm with Tim on this one, still.

Hissing Fauna second, Satanic Panic third.

― Z S, Saturday, 26 May 2007 02:28 (eighteen years ago)

six years pass...

I played some of the songs from this album on my bar this past weekend and the people were really into it, three different tables asked what was this.

― Moka, Tuesday, 30 July 2013 16:44 (twelve years ago)

Let's go to Outback tonight

― afriendlypioneer, Tuesday, 30 July 2013 17:54 (twelve years ago)

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