Of Montreal, are you sent by God?
Published Jan. 19, 2007
In these freezing Missouri winter days, it's hard to feel giddy. But the moment Of Montreal pops up on my iPod's playlist, I dance in the icy streets.
I became introduced to Of Montreal my freshman year when I stumbled upon Cherry Peel, the band's debut album. I quickly downloaded more of frontman and founder Kevin Barnes' music.
The opening track for Of Montreal's latest release, Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?, sets the perfect mood for the album. As I awkwardly sit in my first class of the semester and wait for the professor to arrive, "Suffer for Fashion" gets me pumped.
I'm surprised I didn't get on the table and dance with joy. The track flows seamlessly into the slow and smooth "Sink the Seine."
Even this down-tempo number has its surprises and an amazing beat.
But don't think this album is more of the same happy-go-lucky tunes. "Cato as a Pun" is slow and moody, featuring amazing use of electronic music.
"Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse" is one of the album's standouts, with Barnes begging his chemicals to come on and pleading "Come on mood shift / Shift back to good again." The song is dedicated to the chemicals that make him feel good and should now be required on all bender playlists.
"The Past Is a Grotesque Animal" is a change-of-pace track that lacks the upbeat electronic sounds and instead features a slower, moodier beat with low tones and dissonance. The singing is a very dry monotone and right on the beat. It all feels very industrial and less joyous but is still enjoyable.
The tracks transition effortlessly without dropping a beat. The record flows so well, I was shocked at times to look down and see the song had changed.
One song that jumped off my iPod and into my heart, "She's a Rejecter," is not only a top-notch lyrical track, but also an amazing musical piece. The song belongs on every dance mix, happy-fun-time soundtrack and any list of top songs of 2007 so far. From the first line, "My my you busted me like a Robocop" to the almost a capella lines "There's that girl that left me bitter/ Want to pay some other girl to just walk up to her and hit her/ But I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't," the song is full of remarkable expression.
No song on this album feels like a letdown or a dumbed-down version of the band. Each is true to a form and style that rings throughout the album, even though each song has its own personality. It is perfectly cohesive, yet unique.
This album sets the bar high for 2007 indie releases. With albums by The Shins, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Artic Monkeys and more in the works, Of Montreal has certainly set the pace.
