Of Montreal

VIMTV Album Review #440: Of Montreal – Paralytic Stalks

Jake: 60/100

Tom: 59/100

Verdict: Recommended only if you are a die-hard Of Montreal fan or looking for the latest in music considered to be “obscure.”

Overview: Paralytic Stalks shows Of Montreal taking their sound a little further into the realms of emotional meandering and ambience. There are still remnants of traditional Of Montreal songwriting on this record but they seem few and far between compared to False Priest or Hissing Fauna. Instead, Kevin Barnes directs you through stream-of-consciousness soundscapes by use of more aggressive vocals and emotive, desperate lyrics.

Jake’s Track Picks:

2. Spiteful Intervention
3. Dour Percentage
6. Ye, Renew the Plaintiff

Tom’s Track Picks:

3. Dour Percentage
4. We Will Commit Wolf Murder
9. Authentic Pyrrhic Remission

VIMTV Research Links:

Wintered Debts

Dour Percentage

VIMTV Album Review #348: Of Montreal – The Gay Parade

Jake: 96/100

Tom: 88/100

Verdict: Highly recommended to anyone who loves indie-pop, great storytelling lyrics, and doesn’t mind a little flamboyance.

Overview: The Gay Parade is a terrific collection of indie-pop tunes that take lyrics and concept to the next level. Each song works off the others to create a cast of characters that highlight the mundane, everyday, and sometimes depressing aspects of life. All this, of course, is set against the background of upbeat, sugary-sweet compositions, the contrast of which gives this album a depth that hardly any other record in its genre has achieved.

Jake’s Track Picks:

3. Tulip Baroo
9. The Autobiographical Grandpa
11. My Friend Will Be Me
15. Nickee Coco and the Invisible Tree

Tom’s Track Picks:

1. Old Familiar Way
2. Fun Loving Nun
6. Neat Little Domestic Life

VIMTV Research Links:

Old Familiar Way

A Collection Of Poems About Water

VIMTV Episode #193: Of Montreal – False Priest

Jake: Recommended, 87/100

Tom: Highly Recommended, 90/100

Overview: Of Montreal doesn’t take as much of a departure from their old sound on False Priest as you may initially think. The only change is that the style is even funkier than usual, and Kevin Barnes sings in his falsetto more than usual. Other than that, the instrumental chops are even better than ever (BASS AND DRUMS!!!) and Kevin Barnes’s vocals fit perfectly through pretty much the whole album. The only downside is that while the songs are all good, by the end of the album they haven’t worked into an “album” format as fluidly as we would have hoped. False Priest is just a little too long, which is odd for an album with so many good songs.

Recommended Similar Artists: The Apples in Stereo, The Decemberists, Phoenix, Janelle Monae, Parliament, Prince

Jake’s Track Picks:

3. Coquet Coquette
4. Godly Intersex
7. Like A Tourist
11. Casualty Of You

Tom’s Track Picks:

1. I Feel Ya Strutter
2. Our Riotous Defects
3. Coquet Coquette
9. Girl Named Hello

VIMTV Research Links:

“Like a Tourist” Live:

“Coquet Coquette” Music Video:

False Priest song sampler video:

VIMTV Episode #114: Of Montreal – Satanic Panic in the Attic

Jake: Highly Recommended, 98/100

Tom: Highly Recommended, 95/100

Overview: As the bridge between the two main branches of style regarding Of Montreal’s discography, Satanic Panic in the Attic defines fun, talented indie album. Playful lyrics wrapped in fantastic songwriting with great guitar and bass lines make this album a groovy summertime blast. Definitely a VIMTV favorite.

Recommended Similar Artists: The Apples in Stereo, The Decemberists, Phoenix

Jake’s Track Picks: