Spring Break
"of Montreal" album weird, songs good and bad
"Skeletal Lamping?" is musical genius , each song is a hit and a miss.
By: Web Master
Issue date: 11/13/08 Section: Features
What is the main thing to say about the new album by "of Montreal", "Skeletal Lamping?" This CD is all sorts of weird. Most of the CDs released by "of Montreal" are divided by hits and songs that should be skipped. On the new CD, this is not the case.
Instead of making individual songs either a hit or miss, singer Kevin Barnes has made every song a hit and a miss. Each song has good and bad parts, so you can't really skip around the CD to the songs you really enjoy. This is pure musical genius
at work.
The opening song, "Nonpareil of Favor," starts with an upbeat piano-pop love song that transitions into a slower, calmer
lyrical part, which once more transitions into a barrage of guitar riffs in succession to drum clashing. The song's title literally
means "an individual of unequaled excellence," which is what you can expect from the lyrics. The song "For Our Elegant
Caste" is a fun song about social standings and things done to be socially accepted, such as doing it "softcore."
The songs change to a creepier sound found in "Women's Studies Victims," which describes the way females act negatively
towards men after taking classes on women's studies. The song "Gallery Piece" is a list of things the singer wants to do to an individual. This list ranges from braiding hair to stealing. It is a song about pure possession and being allowed to do whatever
he pleases with the person since that person is his "gallery piece."
Barnes sings about taking enough from everyone in "St. Exquisite's Confessions," in which he transitions through his feelings and becomes more confident.
The lyrics are hard to interpret unless you understand Barnes' background. This whole CD is sung from the perspective of
his alterego, Georgie Fruit, a black man in his late forties who has gone through multiple sex changes.
This type of alter ego was seen before such as David Bowie's
Ziggy Stardust who also was a man confused about his sexuality. Once this mental image is instilled into the brain, it
is easier to listen and understand the CD. The only unfortunate thing about the album is that it should be listened through
entirely - which could be an overdose for some people.
CD release
The ninth album "Skeletal Lamping?" was released October 21.
Instead of making individual songs either a hit or miss, singer Kevin Barnes has made every song a hit and a miss. Each song has good and bad parts, so you can't really skip around the CD to the songs you really enjoy. This is pure musical genius
at work.
The opening song, "Nonpareil of Favor," starts with an upbeat piano-pop love song that transitions into a slower, calmer
lyrical part, which once more transitions into a barrage of guitar riffs in succession to drum clashing. The song's title literally
means "an individual of unequaled excellence," which is what you can expect from the lyrics. The song "For Our Elegant
Caste" is a fun song about social standings and things done to be socially accepted, such as doing it "softcore."
The songs change to a creepier sound found in "Women's Studies Victims," which describes the way females act negatively
towards men after taking classes on women's studies. The song "Gallery Piece" is a list of things the singer wants to do to an individual. This list ranges from braiding hair to stealing. It is a song about pure possession and being allowed to do whatever
he pleases with the person since that person is his "gallery piece."
Barnes sings about taking enough from everyone in "St. Exquisite's Confessions," in which he transitions through his feelings and becomes more confident.
The lyrics are hard to interpret unless you understand Barnes' background. This whole CD is sung from the perspective of
his alterego, Georgie Fruit, a black man in his late forties who has gone through multiple sex changes.
This type of alter ego was seen before such as David Bowie's
Ziggy Stardust who also was a man confused about his sexuality. Once this mental image is instilled into the brain, it
is easier to listen and understand the CD. The only unfortunate thing about the album is that it should be listened through
entirely - which could be an overdose for some people.
CD release
The ninth album "Skeletal Lamping?" was released October 21.
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