Of Montreal

First round in my set. It starts amazing!

Gonna see them in SF soon. Should be wild

ugh, fuck me.
if anyone wants a ticket to their sold out show this tuesday (Music Hall of Williamsburg in NYC), let me know and we'll try to work something out.

my boyfriend woke me up with this bullshit this morning. sounds like guys in sunglasses on coke.

They were an E6 band so probably weed and...like...a pastel trombone.

Been totally bingeing on these guys. Not much of it is sinking in, but it's kinda groovy inna superficial kaleidoscope way. Best material seems to be on the later (last two) records.

totally. last two are two of my favorite albums this decade, but a lot of their earlier stuff hints at the greatness that was to come.

no way. best one is sunlandic twins. last two are afterglow

i dunno, i still think aldhils is the best

is it the first one you heard?

not by a long shot

me either. first one i heard was the gay parade. they're dynamic enough though that i can imagine first one heard remains the favorite

omg the track-titles for their 'early four-track recordings'

It really is all about the second half (Triphallus onward) of Skeletal Lamping, although interestingly I still can't pick a standout track. It's all about the journey, not the stop-offs.

what's odd about skeletal lamping is that is does seem genuinely self-indulgent in about three different ways, none of which really maps onto what people usually mean in calling music self-indulgent

it is a somewhat monomaniacal exorcism of self in sound, but it traverses quite a lot of interesting territory in an effort to splatter every tortured psychosexual aspect of him and his weird shemale alter-egos into our consciousness

^^^i hope this conveys the record's self-indulgence

i dunno, i still think aldhils is the best

― do not read if you meatus (electricsound), Wednesday, 17 June 2009 04:26 (7 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

is it the first one you heard?

― kamerad, Wednesday, 17 June 2009 04:34 (7 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

not by a long shot

― do not read if you meatus (electricsound), Wednesday, 17 June 2009 04:35 (7 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Aldhils is the only thing by these guys that has really resonated with and it was the first one I heard... what does this mean kamerad do you think

resonated with *me* obv

i think maybe i just don't find his 'psychosexual hangups' very interesting, amounting to, as it does:

i. i like having sex
ii. i like the intimacy of romantic relationships
iii. sometimes i wonder if the primacy of (ii) over immediate, hedonistic (i) is not a big lie
iv. sometimes i think queers/women (delete as apt.) have it easier

^ in every straight person ever

the standout track on skeletal lamping is "eluardian instance" for that bit where it goes "noooow iiii'm view-ing my me-mo-ry reel in reve-er-erse". the single version included an edit that made it a lot more palatable to those who don't get that whole mishmash steez they do.,

& the more he worries at it, the more glaring becomes his inability to actually write, perform and record dirty mind

(xpots.)

Quite a lot of interesting MUSICAL territory. I don't really listen to the lyrics as much more than a stream of fairly loosely-linked horndog imagery.

the standout track on skeletal lamping is "eluardian instance" for that bit where it goes "noooow iiii'm view-ing my me-mo-ry reel in reve-er-erse". the single version included an edit that made it a lot more palatable to those who don't get that whole mishmash steez they do.,

― dog latin, Wednesday, June 17, 2009 8:13 AM (3 hours ago)

oh man you're so right, after about the thirtieth time i'd listened to this track it was defnitiely my favorite part too.

also i'm not usually a big 'lyrics' guy (in music i like them to be serviceable and not get in the way), but of montreal's lyrics are pretty special to me. the last album especially which is about exploring oft-subverted facets of your personality and the fantasies which accompany them is really resonant with me, though sadly not on a completely literal level ;)

the last minute of "an eluardian instance" is awesome and does not go on for long enough but I suppose that is the point

the whole thing is really an outlier - sonically and structurally, at least - on the album. very straightforward and a classic of montreal tune in every sense. my favorite on skeletal lamping has got to be "nonpareil of favor" though. they played it when i saw them a few months ago and your mans kk was like ^______^

^^^that opening track is stone classic, especially because after 2 mins of classic schiz-pop-ness it gets *stuck* in some noise groove and *cannot* escape it despite blatantly trying to...it's such a cool experiment in tension

my favorite from "hissing fauna" is "we were born mutants again with leafling". they're actually really similar songs, and i like listening to one after the other

& the more he worries at it, the more glaring becomes his inability to actually write, perform and record dirty mind

(xpots.)

― thomp, Wednesday, 17 June 2009 13:15 (4 hours ago) Bookmark

^^^this otm now I think about it.

I kind of didn't like Hissing Fauna, maybe I should try again. (Loved Skeletal Lamping, couldn't be bothered with the others.)

I prefer the moments to the songs, as I've said. The exchange about "you don't think I've got caller ID?" into that chorus in Triphallus is one of the most perfect pop moments this decade

Hissing Fauna seems quite good, but The Past Is A Grotesque Animal and maybe the two tracks after it kinda tower over everything else

i love love hissing fauna. sam, maybe you should try the final track ("we were mutants...") first, then "the past is a grotesque animal", then maybe the singles ("heimdalsgate", "a sentence of sorts").

especially "a sentence of sorts in kongsvinger". goddamn that goes over incredibly live

listening, first time, to skeletal lamping, when the DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN tchk tchk do do tchk tchk groove comes in, i had this horrible feeling of 'i am going to spend my next x listens to this trying to convince myself that this moment succeeds musically in what it is trying to do'

this is common to me when listening to follow-ups by indie bands who have managed to make something that succeeds fantastically on its own terms

the sorts of craft being displayed on hissing fauna seem more sympa to kevin barnes than those he attempts to put on show in skeletal lamping: also, the former's grounding in real events help lend perspective and/or meaning to the georgie fruit shenanigans

i mean 'real events' as in "the narrator of a song is referring to something that actually happened in context of the song" rather than "stuff that actually happened to kevin barnes": although, probably, the latter too

I have listened to Skeletal Lamping so much that I've kind of forgotten that Hissing Fauna existed. (This might be because my CD drive plays the former and rejects the latter)

He writes so absolutely clinically *on* about depression that I'm prepared to forgive him his occasional missteps about sexuality - except, honestly, most of the time, they don't feel like missteps, more like brutal honesty. The songs, lyrically, work for me, even without knowing whether he's singing them from a Personna or not. (I tend to ignore artists when they sing in "Personas" - because, honestly, every aspect of songwriting and performance is done from a stance or personna anyway. I have never understood why songwriting is always supposed to only be written in the first person experiential, like musicians are unable to have imaginations in the way that novelists or painters do?)

(It's all about Plastis Wafers -> Death Is Not A Parallel Move for me)

dan what i think i meant was that i've always felt they're a weird kind of love-hate band: people tend to love the first record they hear by them and then not care as much for the rest of their stuff. they're like a really smart but way too hyper-active friend you're charmed by at first but then get sick of after a while. except the first one i heard (gay parade) i couldn't stand, and the next one i heard, sunlandic twins, i still love, so my portrayal here isn't exactly airtight

Aldhils Arboretum is such a goddamn sad album :/ Never really noticed when playing it in the background because it sounds so upbeat/goofy.

'kissing in the grass' is probably their most perfect pop song ever.

free show in Toronto tomorrow night. I got boys' clubbed out of the poker game my husband's going to, so I might go dance around at Yonge-Dundas square!

Riiiight. Busy weekend this weekend.

I saw Iggy Pop last year(?) and the crowd was insane.. hoping the OM crowd will be a bit smaller, but I think the Flaming Lips are playing later so maybe not.. at least I'm tall. :P

If you're not at work you should go to this show (not of Montreal but seeing as we're talking about NxNE shit) it's happening right now

I can't go I have a cold and am also at work

http://justshows.com/toronto/2012/06/15/nxne-nxnexperiment-ii/1671/

Just got off work but have a hair appointment on Queen west in 15 minutes. :(
Feel better!

I realize this is such an obvious statement that it was incorporated into the Hipster Olympics sketch that came out years ago, however:

They jumped the shark after the Outback Steakhouse commercial. It's one thing to license your music to advertise a steakhouse; it's quite another to take one of your popular songs, add a digeridoo and change the lyrics to be about steak.

Everything was downhill from there. Hissing Fauna was totally overdone and self-indulgent. I gave the next album one listen, and all I remember about it was that it sucked and that he got Janelle Monae to awkwardly sing the word 'nigger' on one of the track. And that it was canned and underproduced -- like Kevin Barnes' band is slowly quitting and now it's just him and his laptop singing along to the sound of his own multitracked voice.

Satanic Panic in the Attic deserves more love on this thread, though. Sunlandic Twins was their breakthrough, but the previous album is just one pop gem after another, from start to finish -- and there are a lot of tracks on that album.

Also their debut album is very good.

The show was insane. So many weirdly becostumed dancers, crowd surfing and Kevin Barnes eyeliner. High energy. Much of the crowd just standing, waiting for the Flaming Lips but I felt like I floated out of there. Dance party in my front room now.

"it's like we weren't made for this world..but I wouldn't wanna meet someone who was"

And free! And I was back home exactly two hours after I'd left. Perfect dose of badass music!

Really like the two new acoustic songs in this. (Don't know the story behind "Feminine Effects," the first song on it. It's on the outtakes/rarities album that came out last year.)

http://www.npr.org/event/music/169709211/of-montreal-tiny-desk-concert

"Feminine Effects" has been floating around for years - the version I have is Barnes solo on piano. First came out circa Hissing Fauna iirc.

What do people think of Daughter of Cloud, the out-takes album? For me I think it's okay but OM's last album has so totally ruined that band for me, I find it hard to even go back to things I used to love by the band.

Band sounds fantastic.

http://www.cc.com/video-clips/v5opug/the-opposition-with-jordan-klepper-of-montreal----soft-music-juno-portraits-of-the-jovian-sky-

wow that's an great performance -- need to hear this now

enjoying this album, looking forward to living with it a little. "sophie" is probably the most conventional song for them on the record, can totally see it as a skeletal lamping B-side

whoa last song is amazing

really into "writing the circles..." and "plateau phase..." now -- the latter almost strikes me as an erykah badu attempt

Kevin Barnes is a genius. He should release albums more frequently

plateau phase is the best

The bass playing on "Forecast Fascist Future."

love that tune. this band is coming to Honolulu this month and i think i'm going to see them. kevin fired the whole lineup and got a new band together since they last were here, from what i've heard, which is a shame. i wonder what happened

satanic panic in the attic is straight gas from front to back, cant believe how little it was discussed in this thread. perfect summertime pop music, so much fun and strikingly beautiful in its sincerity

of Montreal should release an album...

in seriousness, while I fell out lof love with this band a looong time ago, I'm revisiting some of their better work and putting a playlist together. Despite being familiar with a good chunk of their output, there's still a lot of stuff I don't know, especially the early and more recent albums.

I've made this list collaborative, so fans: feel free to add your personal faves. I'm sure even the recent stuff has at least one good song on each album.

https://open.spotify.com/user/1153731601/playlist/0niIJHexTQ6bah96EhXTJa?si=DIu-W5TDQ365EAzkp3d0NA

i feel the same as you, going to try out your playlist. thanks for taking the time and sharing it.

Due feb/march I think. There was a bunch of Instagram stories containing previews recently. Sounded poppy and good!

thanks for the playlist DL, most of your faves are mine too. Forgot how great "No Conclusion" is.

Their early years were pretty nauseatingly saccharine/twee, but there were a couple of decent gems in there. I'll try to add some later.

their imperial phase managed to balance the early tweeness and the later navel-gazing just about enough. Sadly Barnes succumbs to both way too easily, to the point where often it's hard to tell if he's as serious as he appears to be trying to be...

turning point was whenever he fired his band (~2013?)

Well, what are you asserting occurred at that turning point?

he recruited a new live band who were possibly even better, is what happened. witness 'snare lustrous doomings'. we saw them on that tour and they were absolutely fucking incredible. end of story

I should go next time they come. Have not seen them in a long while.

Added a few faves to the playlist.

xp first time I saw em was in 2014 and they were amazing, the new band is great but the 2013 record was awful... nothing since has grabbed me. white is relic has its moments

lousy with sylvianbriar wasn't so strong but it has gained something in retrospect and is worth a return

since then his albums have gone amazing-> bad -> pretty good so he's still got it afaic

innocence reaches wasn't even that bad, just much less good with some highlights, like false priest before it

There was a Tiny Desk Concert performance where he did a couple of really amazing solo guitar versions of Sylvianbriar songs!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-H9Vf2Wa1c

Ur Fun
of Montreal
Alternative
Expected Jan 17, 2020

1. Peace To All Freaks
2. Polyaneurism
3. Get God's Attention By Being an Atheist
4. Gypsy That Remains
5. You've Had Me Everywhere
6. Carmillas of Love
7. Don't Let Me Die In America
8. St. Sebastian
9. Deliberate Self-harm Ha Ha
10. 20th Century Schizofriendic Revengoid-man

Hey my birthday. Not like I’ve kept up with their recent releases though.

based on the preview track, seems like a bad one! that's okay he does this. maybe it's going to strictly alternate from here on. the problemawoke sexpop/insane progge dialectic played out without resolution. maybe you cannot have one without the other. maybe I'm being reductive and spotting patterns which aren't there. maybe it's all different shades of insane problemawoke sexproggepop

I like the new logo :)

lmao at "20th Century Schizofriendic Revengoid-man"

I don't hate the single!

new anthem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3mOomxq-ec&list=OLAK5uy_k47gvF-4g2GKfl6Mddw85tqRt_fqmOa7g&index=7

shit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3mOomxq-ec&list=OLAK5uy_k47gvF-4g2GKfl6Mddw85tqRt_fqmOa7g

I love UR Fun. Best album since Hissing Fauna...?

it's like the 6th best since then

first 3 or 4 tracks good, never really recovers that level, decent album overall

new one is pleasingly all over the shop, and Kcrraanggaanngg!! is an anthem

WHO NEEDS A HEART WHEN A HEART DOES MURDER
PISSING ON ITSELF IN HEAVEN'S GARBAGE

so good. where r u ilm. is kevin yesterday's news already

i got around to listening to this today. it did make an impression on me and will have to play again to see if i like it.

this album is pearls before fuckin swine tbh

enjoyed this, looking forward to going on a walk tomorrow to it

thank god lol

deffo stood out more than anything ive listened to since hissing, don't think i've repeated any of them albums

Lousy With Sylvianbriar stood out like crazy whether you enjoyed it or not. I thought it was fantastic, but it was a big departure from their established sound.

so good. where r u ilm. is kevin yesterday's news already

― imago, Friday, 19 March 2021 13:18 (one year ago) bookmarkflaglink

oh no, someone who torched their popularity ten years ago surely can't be making some of the most cutting-edge pop now, they must be really old and bad or something

listen to the new album you fools

Okay fine I will

getting a White Is Relic twinned with a less obnoxious I Feel Safe With You, Trash vibe. No bangers. Good album

https://media.brooklynvegan.com/xxrzsfjkyw/uploads/2026/04/02/of-montreal-aethermead.jpg

1. Already Dreaming
2. Wanting on Air
3. Listen to Music and Cry
4. My Zhe Zhe
5. Take the Form
6. When 02:32
7. Hack it Up
8. Lacan in the Family
9. Having a Moment
10. From the Font of You
11. To Nothing’s Reward
12. Now We Cringe at the Thought
13. Dismissal Mosaics

of Montreal have announced aethermead, their 20th studio album, which will be out June 5, 2026 via Polyvinyl.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trVKLS4GafY

"Already Dreaming" is super nice. Out today.

Sound like a lost Icons, Abstract Thee track