AWmusic

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

It got rave reviews but otherwise a lot of people weren’t too excited to see it. I went to see it as my friend leaves town for university (boo school is starting already). Anyway the movie itself isn’t what you expect it, at least the concept is given away with the trailers adding an increased level of hilarity.

The movie does have stupid humor but it pulls it off well though it is very offensive. I heard quite a lot about CNN saying something about the racial matter of this movie which there is none. However it is quite offensive towards the mental challenged or “retards – such as Ben Stiller’s character Tugg Speedman in the fake film “Simple Jack”. Now I must say I laughed but it crossed the line… if there is one downside to the film, it’s that.

Tom Cruise’s role in the film is downright hilarious. I hadn’t known he was in the film as he didn’t do any of the promotion and my friend didn’t even notice him in the film. He pulls off the fat, balding movie executive. You don’t really know it’s him unless you notice his eyes even then I still had my doubts until the final credits were rolling.

Pineapple Express was admittedly not as good as this film by a big margin as this movie actually had you laughing out loud, whether or not you tried to hold it in during those offensive moments. That’s the real importance of it, it makes you laugh hysterically without being too ridiculous. The concept of the movie saves it from being just your average comedy.

Rating: 4.25/5

As for the soundtrack, it was a very mainstream soundtrack and I guess it wasn’t too bad, the use of Flo Rida’s Low was hilarious but I’m too lazy to download that track. Click for the soundtrack here.

The playlist is after the jump (I’m evil)
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Skeletal Lamping is set for a later release this year and I’m pretty pumped. Kevin Barnes is simply my hero and I love Of Montreal to death. He’s a little bit too eccentric for me at times though. They changed my life though.

The song is more simplistic then anything I believe I heard on Hissing Fauna…Are You Are The Destroyer? and it takes a more popppy fun style that I love on their older albums. I’m not sure how much I love the song yet but Kevin Barnes tends to be as crazy as he’s always been and that’s good to see. Besides more Of Montreal in my life or yours couldn’t hurt.

This song doesn’t blow me away but it’s still decent overall. Some weird sections, Barnes sounds like a monkey at one point, use of the word ninja (was thinking he might’ve busted out in a go ninja go ninja go, Vanilla Ice style hehe).

Id Engager by Of Montreal

P.S. I’m not looking for traffic gains by posting on an MP3 (expect these types of posts to stay rare), anything Of Montreal is MANDATORY for me.

As far as expectations go, I think the only expectation was that it had to be funny and anything extra was a bonus. I guess I guage how funny a movie is with the type of laughter I usually give off. In the case of movies if it’s able to get me laughing like a girl…it has done its job. I will say that some jokes were way too silly that it got unnecessary though the racial jokes and debunking of stereotypes was definitely a highlight. The storyline was a bit cheesy and the jokes make the movie worthwhile. One character also had me annoyed and being overthetop stupid (forget his name but he’s the guy in the trailer making the North Korea + Al Quaeda joke). However the movie knew how to be cute/romantic yet funny at the same time so it wasn’t all drug-filled silliness.

Overall, you got what you paid for which was lots of laughs and stupid storyline or not, it had its moments. 4 out of 5.

As for the soundtrack, it wasn’t too bad with the song that stuck out the most was Mickey Avalon’s My Dick as it played after the “bottomless” party. I think the soundtrack was alright, the hip-hop tied well into the movie the only thing I hated was the use of Boyz II Men It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye. I just didn’t think it tied into the movie and the movie doesn’t need serious “sad” moments.

Anyway here’s my playlist for the movie:
(for you Googlers, the actual soundtrack list can be found here)

1. My Dick by Mickey Avalon
2. Amsterdam by Peter, Bjorn and John
3. I Gotta Run by Everybody Else
4. It Could Have Been A Brilliant Career by Belle & Sebastian
5. Stupid and Shallow by The Futureheads
6. A Better Son/Daughter by Rilo Kiley
7. Kissing In The Grass by Of Montreal
8. Because I Got High by Afroman
9. Banking On A Myth by Andrew Bird
10. Southern Comfort by Arrah and The Ferns
11. Vanished by Crystal Castles
12. Stoned Again by The Evangelicals
13. People You Meet by Bishop Allen

I could explain the meaning of each song if you don’t get why I put them in, just leave a comment and I’ll gladly respond.

I’m pretty excited and I hope MMA finally gets approved in the province of Ontario so we can get a event here in Toronto. Either way, I hope UFC comes back soon. I’ll be making picks in addition to having a tribute mp3 to the main card fighters.

Georges St. Pierre vs. Matt Serra

1. Midnight Surprise by Lightspeed Champion
-Can Matt Serra pull off the 2nd upset?
2. Frenchy’s By Holy Fuck
-Calling GSP Frenchy insulted him big time
3. Home Field Advantage by Drive-by Truckers
4. If I Faltered Slightly Twice by Of Montreal
-Georges is too good, everyone or almost everyone has St. Pierre taking this one easily. When the pressure is on GSP performs.

Winner: Georges St. Pierre in 5 round round war. I love Matt Serra as well to be honest and he has world class skill and will frustrate St. Pierre at times. It may be boring….

Michael Bisping vs. Charles McCarthy
5. Sing! Captain by The Handsome Furs
- For Charles “Captain Miserable” McCarthy
6.Everything is Average Nowadays by the Kaiser Chiefs
-For Michael Bisping getting mad that McCarthy called him average, such a huge insult.

Winner: Bisping by 2nd round TKO. Rooting for McCarthy though.

Rich Franklin vs Travis Lutter
7. Don’t Weigh Me Down by Broadcast 2000
- Lutter better make weight, he didn’t against Anderson Silva when he had a title shot on the line.
8. Can’t Lose by We Are Scientists
Franklin’s career can probably take only one more loss.

Winner: Travis Lutter by Armbar in Round 3. Picking an upset here.

A pretty weak card but I’m going to see this one anyway because it’s in Canada. The Montreal crowd should make this an event to watch (I envy their atmosphere).