Of Montreal: An Incomplete Conversion

I wanted to like Of Montreal. Their MacCarren Pool show last summer failed to provide convincing results. With about six band members, they collectively produced the sound of two -maybe two and a half- individuals. In July I wrote that my ears and eyes debated this discrepancy while a drum machine mechanically spat out it's beats.

Then came the new album.

Well, first the Steakhouse commercials, then the new album. "Hissing Fauna, Are you Dan Bejar?" leaked a full four months in advance as I boldly proclaimed: "I don't outright hate it." Since then, the release has been met with so much acclaim that I couldn't dismiss it so easily any longer. I attempted a second listen and, still, I failed. True, I didn't outright hate it, but it couldn't seemed to stick.

After more than two months, it was last night, shortly after we dominated at trivia [largely thanks to Central Village] that I heard the opening track at Lolita Bar coming from "Del's" turntables. Maybe it was the thrill of recognizing a familiar song for the first time, but suddenly I kind of liked it.

It didn't stop there. After I got home I checked in with my favorite Seattlite satellites, United State of Electronica, when I saw a remix of Of [of of of of!] Montreal on U.S.E.'s myspace. And -hey- I kind of liked it too. Twice in one night I found myself enjoying this Atlanta troupe for the first time. Here are the two tracks:

Of Montreal - Suffer For Fashion [mp3] from Hissing Fauna...
Of Montreal - Requiem for O.M.M.2 [United State of Electronica Remix][mp3] from Satanic Twins