MUSIC REVIEW: OF MONTREAL - 'PARALYTIC STALKS'

A Departure Into Dark Fun Shooting Up From Alt-Pop Favorites

By: Jess Gronewold

February 6, 2012

(Polyvinyl Records) Sometimes a little madness is the perfect thing in an album. And this is exactly the case with of Montreal’s eleventh album, Paralytic Stalks. of Montreal is a band that pushes boundaries and makes experimentalists turn their heads to listen. With every album, they take you even further into new and old styles of music. They have a flare for the dramatic and will take you dancing along with them through strange worlds and times. They are truly experts at merging a plethora of instruments and musical genres without it seeming like overkill.

With a playful and almost carnival-esque beginning, “Spiteful Intervention” turns quickly into a pure display of the darker side of Barnes’ psyche, once the vocals enter the song. “I spend my waking hours haunting my own life / I made the one I love start crying tonight / And it felt good.” Barnes isn’t pulling any stops. It’s raw and honest, and still relatable. Each of us has experienced utter despair, and this is despair put to music. Yet, for as dark as the lyrics go, the music is still tantalizing and upbeat. It’s slightly all over the place, in a very controlled way. Tempos and styles bounce back and forth to enhance the feeling that you are actually in someone’s inner thoughts. It still holds all of the drama and almost operatic sound that of Montreal is known for, while continuing down the rabbit hole of experimentation you would expect from this band.

“We Will Commit Wolf Murder” gives you a slightly more subdued darkness. It feels more like a rock song with heavy pianos and soaring vocals throughout the song, but this doesn’t last long. A little more than halfway through the song, of Montreal throws an evil dance party, chanting “There’s blood in my hair.” You’re creeped out, but you are still jumping up and down and screaming along. Then it gets a little weirder with a massive slow-down, and moans and groans to end the track. This five-minute ride takes you through streets and caverns and right into your own thoughts. The sound is layered and wavering and completely captivating.

Even though Paralytic Stalks is angrier than past albums, it still hits hard with songs that rock and make you move along with them. “Yes, Renew the Plaintiff” is one of them. It showcases a heavier rock side of of Montreal. The guitars really are the leader, with the rest of the sounds, instruments, and vocals adding to their massive effect. It is still in line with the rest of the album, including time changes and focusing on the piano during slower parts. And it is still very of Montreal with its urging you to dance and Barnes’ unmistakable vocal styling. And at almost nine minutes long, they have time to rock out for a time and then switch gears to a more relaxed feeling. It, like many of the songs on this album, seems to have multiple songs within a song, but it always works.

“Wintered Debts” begins sounding more like Elliot Smith than of Montreal. It’s a slower tune with many moving sections. From the beginning, they transition into an alt-country riff and then into more experimental sounds and vocals. This track really takes you in and out of genres and tempos and feelings throughout its seven-and-a-half minutes. It could be the soundtrack for a very strange movie, and that is what makes it great.

Paralytic Stalks is definitely a progression for of Montreal. They try new things and mesh them with sounds long past. It may take a few listens to really understand what they are doing in this album, but it is worth it. This band is unlike any other band out right now. They fuse so many genres of music and take risks. If you are looking for an album that refuses to be simple and forces you to take time to get to know it, this is that album. If you are an of Montreal fan already, Paralytic Stalks falls in line with previous of Montreal albums and then takes your much further. This album is not for the weak of heart but is worth the time to get to know it. You will hear new layers every time you listen. Don’t be afraid.

Standout Tracks: “Spiteful Intervention,” “We Will Commit Wolf Murder,” “Yes, Renew the Plaintiff,” “Wintered Debts”

For Fans Of: Janelle Monae, David Bowie, Queen