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'Skeletal Lamping' is, for the most part, a great example of Of Montreal's talents

Date published: 10/2/2008

BY BEN GREGSON

Close your eyes, take a deep breath and just relax--that is exactly what you want to do after listening to about 10 minutes of Athens, Ga.-based Of Montreal's newest album, "Skeletal Lamping."

The hypnotic beats and serene lyrics that Of Montreal has become known for are back, and it's really a treat to listen to.

The way this music affects your mind is really well stated in the last line of track seven, "Women's Studies Victims," in which the music dies down and they say (not sing), "They wanna destroy us, I know--it's time to penetrate their fantasies."

Previous Of Montreal albums have had a main topic, around which all the songs revolved. This time, the topic is, as stated by band member Kevin Barnes, an "attempt to bring all the puzzling, contradicting, disturbing, humorous fantasies, ruminations and observations to the surface."

The twisted and dark humor in Barnes' mind is shown even in the title of the album. "Lamping" is a particularly cruel form of hunting, where a group of hunters goes into the woods in the dead of night, turn on extremely bright lights and then shoot the animals while they're stunned and blinded.

The highlight of the album is the way the songs are put together--usually transitioning so smoothly you don't even notice the track change. The level of thought put into the placement of the music is the mark of a great band.

The downside of the album is that--particularly near the beginning--there will be 30-second stretches of a grating tone that is just unpleasant to hear.

The one thing that really got to me while I was listening to the album, though, is how blunt some of the lyrics are. Of Montreal has always had racy lyrics. But the way they're presented this time is "dumbed down." Once again, this problem is prevalent in the beginning. But after you get past the first few tracks, it sounds like the Of Montreal we have known for years.

If they can overlook a few irritating parts at the beginning, then "Skeletal Lamping" is a great album for returning Of Montreal fans, as well as those who have yet to experience their unique brand of pop.

Ben Gregson is a sophomore at James Monroe High School.

Date published: 10/2/2008