Eccentric indie popsters deliver latest album
James Marin
Issue date: 1/25/07 Section: Lifestyles
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Though most people attribute the award for "most lengthy and ridiculous song titles" to popular young emo-esque acts such as Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco or Hawthorne Heights, they prove mere cheap pretenders to that illustrious throne. I nominate Of Montreal, a band no stranger to the whimsical and creatively outrageous, as their past track names include "The Hopeless Opus or the Great Battle of the Unfriendly Ridiculous" among other equally strange titles. But onto the topic of current discussion; Of Montreal's excellent latest album "Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?" hit stores Jan. 23. This record sent synthesizers a-blazing, continuing the Georgian quintet's foray into the psychedelic pop landscape. In keeping with tradition, the album includes cryptic track titles such as "Heimdalsgate like a Promethean Curse," "Labyrinthian Pomp," and "Fabrege Falls for Shuggie." Hopefully the inability to decipher half the words on the back of the CD case will not be a turn-off to potential purchasers, as contained therein is a superb album.
Hailing from the green valleys of Athens, Ga., Of Montreal represents one of the many offshoots of the celebrated Elephant 6 Collective, standing alongside sterling indie acts such as Apples in Stereo, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Elf Power. Previously dwelling in whimsical folk-pop obscurity, Of Montreal appeared on the radar thanks to 2004's "Satanic Panic in the Attic." Before "Satanic Panic," their work seemed to be characterized by a conflict between concept and function, as frontman Kevin Barnes seemed to have trouble conveying his simplistic jaunty whimsy into an accessible and non-indulgent form capable of being enjoyed by listeners. "Satanic Panic" left behind the capriciousness, scant instrumentation, and jarring chord changes that dominated their previous work in favor of a more cohesive and full electronic sound. 2005's solid follow-up, "The Sunlandic Twins," received some airplay on MTV2 and other alternative media outlets, boosting Of Montreal's fanbase and raising expectations for "Hissing Fauna."
Hailing from the green valleys of Athens, Ga., Of Montreal represents one of the many offshoots of the celebrated Elephant 6 Collective, standing alongside sterling indie acts such as Apples in Stereo, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Elf Power. Previously dwelling in whimsical folk-pop obscurity, Of Montreal appeared on the radar thanks to 2004's "Satanic Panic in the Attic." Before "Satanic Panic," their work seemed to be characterized by a conflict between concept and function, as frontman Kevin Barnes seemed to have trouble conveying his simplistic jaunty whimsy into an accessible and non-indulgent form capable of being enjoyed by listeners. "Satanic Panic" left behind the capriciousness, scant instrumentation, and jarring chord changes that dominated their previous work in favor of a more cohesive and full electronic sound. 2005's solid follow-up, "The Sunlandic Twins," received some airplay on MTV2 and other alternative media outlets, boosting Of Montreal's fanbase and raising expectations for "Hissing Fauna."
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