Month: November 2013

Seven Awesome Of Montreal songs.

Of Montreal’s “Lousy with Sylvianbriar” is the band’s 12th studio album and the best received  of their last few efforts.

However, even in the releases between the nearly flawless “Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?” and Of Montreal’s latest record there have been gems among the aggro-feedback-psych-freakouts.

For more than a decade Of Montreal have been responsible for some incredible songs ranging from stereotypical indie pop to Bowie-esque glam rock. This is a career-spanning list of some of their absolute best work.

1. “It’s Just So”

A sweet, gentle piano ballad which sounds equally influenced by Jiminy Cricket and Brian Wilson.

2. “My British Tour Diary”

This song is bouncy, funny and strange in the way some of the best Of Montreal songs are. It also features unexpected dalliances into bloozey guitar riffs complete with backing cowbell.

3.”Eros’ Entropic Tundra”

As great as funny, quirky Of Montreal songs can be, Kevin Barnes has a penchant for writing songs that perfectly express darker, cynical emotions.”Eros’ Entropic Tundra” is the catchiest representation of the frustrations of unrequited love and the sense of being slowly left behind imaginable.

4. “So Begins Our Alabee”

A self-loathing space-operatic welcoming Barnes’ daughter into the world. The lyrics dedicated to Alabee are saccharine while those concerning Barns are cutting. He just wants to be her, “friendly little abject failure.”

5. “Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?” the entire album.

This album is amazing. Pain induced from marital hardships inspired the most poignant, self-aware, well-crafted material in all of Of Montreal’s discography. It is also the introduction of Barnes’ alter-ego Georgie Fruit. The entire album flows together as a cohesive piece. Anyone with a spare hour should give it a listen.

6. “Our Riotous Defects”

Fittingly, this song is riotously funny. It chronicles a romance started at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting doomed by insanity.

7. “We Will Commit Wolf Murder”

As tuneful as a jumble of funk, psych-rock and harmonic vocals could possibly be.

Dead Gaze- “Yuppies Are Flowers”

The first song off of Dead Gaze’s recent  and pretty good album “Brain Holiday”  previews all the best tricks in the band’s arsenal. The tight, tuneful song structure and decidedly outsider view point recall vintage Weezer in the best possible way.

A power pop song with lyrics that gleefully subvert yuppie culture might not be the most novel concept, but Dead Gaze execute it to perfection. An ear worm synthesizer hook is offset by crunchy guitars, completely sincere hand claps help keep time and the vocals have just the right amount of  whine. create a slice of guitar-driven pop heaven.

For fans of power pop this is a song that demands to be put on repeat.

A deep cut from Wilco

Before they were the American Radiohead or supposedly Dad Rock cliches Wilco were an alternative country band. Their debut album “A.M.” even allowed Wilco the opportunity to dip their toes into the waters of the Bluegrass swimmin’ hole.

The track is all frolicking strings and wistful lyrics. Although Jeff Tweedy never tries any high, lonesome pining, and instead opts for a modern take on the fatal maladies affecting a modern relationship “That’s Not the Issue” is an unmistakably Bluegrass-inspired song. 

It’s also one of the highlights of an important band’s first album.