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While, I tried to hold in my glee while the blogosphere went nuts in leaked tracks to Skeletal Lamping, I actually just waited until record release day to pick up the album. Yeah, it’s not a good blogging practice to review records after the hype has deflated but alas it is what it is.

The album, unfortunately is a disappointing one and may be the worst in the Of Montreal discography.

The album begins with Nonpareil of Favor, which starts with a typical Of Montreal style, progressing pace and catchy. Then all of sudden at 1:18 after a fun little bassline, it stalls. The music comes to a stand still and is a very different song. At times pausing a whole ton then going into grandiose mode for the last 3 minutes. Okay we’re not getting off on the good foot.

Another thing I’d like to mention before I go into a detailed review, some of the content of this album is a little embarrassing. It includes dirty talk which I believe are intended exactly as they are and metaphors that really don’t work well as metaphors. On this album, Barnes has lost his eloquence that makes him so admirable. A few examples “I’m so sick of sucking the dick of this cruel cruel city, I haven’t gotten what it takes to please a woman”, on St. Exquisite’s Confessions or “We can do it softcore if you want, but you should know I go both ways” on For Our Elegant Caste. Actually the last line is pretty catchy while “sucking the dick” isn’t much of a line that rolls off the tongue… “I you to be my pleasure puss, I want to know what it’s like to be inside of you”. Maybe I am listening to some kind of porn. In addition, I think Barnes is taking Georgie Fruit persona a little too far. Is it all that necessary? I don’t think another persona is much of reason to say you’re cross dressing (just say you do it rather then making your defenders come up with reasons, I’d rather be like I like Kevin Barnes cause he rocks and he also wears dresses…bitch!)

I think the underlying problems include having too long of an album. I did Of Montreal is amazingly good at a pop song, so to see multiple tracks around 5 minutes in length might be refreshing, there seems to be a lot of filler in those tracks and if compressed could really bring it out more. I also think the album is held back, I may eat flack for that line but musically it doesn’t seem more consistent enough to really highlight some stuff. The album experiments but ultimately falls flat on its face. An example is “Death is Not A Parallel Move”, I thought I was going to get some type of electronica track but it falters when it gives that up 1 minute into the track.

I think I’m done reviewing this album, I can’t get myself to like one “full” track.

Rating: 2.0 out of 5

Nonpareil of Favor by Of Montreal

Death Is Not A Parallel Move by Of Montreal

Tags: album