of Montreal Album: “The Early Four Track Recordings”

Every one is amazing, mind you, but this one is incredible because he delves incredibly deep into territory only slightly perused on "The Bedside Drama": sadness, all-encompassing and honest. The untitled tracks here represent perhaps the last of a truly sad bunch of songs. I, for one, love sad songs. I revel in them. Kevin Barnes is happy now, which is by no means a good thing. But, in my math textbook, Kevin Barnes + crestfallen = teary-eyed bliss. Listen to tracks 3 and 5 and pretend like you're not the saddest you've ever been in your life.

You can't find this cd hardly anywhere, so if you can get it get it now. Supplies will run out shortly. You can't find this cd in your regular record / music store and is one of the best cd's I have bought all year. I usually spend around 1,000.00 to 2,000.00 a year on music and frankly this is one of the best cd's I have purchsed in 2006.

Take my word for it, this will be the best cd - of, Of Montreal that you will buy.

Dustin Hoffman. Dustin Hoffman. Dustin Hoffman. Why did Kevin Barnes name every song on "The Early Four Track Recordings" after Dustin Hoffman? Be that as it may, this collection of Of Montreal's early work seems a bit cobbled together and dusty, but the band's charm shines through in some of the songs.

As I said before, each song is named after Dustin Hoffman supposedly doing something, usually connected with bathing. (The weirdest title is "Dustin Hoffman's Wife Makes A Sarcastic Remark, Cuts The Head Off A Duck, Places It Where The Tub Was And Begins To Growl").

What follows is mostly a collection of guitar pop and ballads, with piano and some muffled percussion in the background -- there's a country flavor to "Dustin Hoffman Quits Bathroom And Climbs A Tree," and an experimental flavor to "Dustin Hoffman's Wife Makes...", where a kazoo plays half the song to a carnival tune.

The title "Early Four Track Recordings" seems almost like an apology for the lesser quality of these songs. They were recorded before Of Montreal became the semi-big indie band that they are today, and it shows. The quality of the tape-to-CD transfer isn't that great, for one thing -- "Dustin Hoffman Feigns Ignorance Of Missing Bathtub" sounds like Barnes is singing with his head inside a bag.

For another, this CD simply doesn't have a great deal of the whimsical joy and sorrow that their later songs have. That isn't surprising, since the band was still getting its footing. But in some songs you can hear bells, kazoos, and a carnival tune that sounds like a circus gone amuck. In songs like this, Kevin Barnes' poppy madness is in full swing.

Beneath the slightly fuzzy sound is some really solid instrumentation, pairing two of Barnes' favorite instruments -- guitar and piano -- together, although don't expect too many experimental flourishes. All the strangeness can be found in the songwriting. "Let's make a pact/allow me to dream," he says, sounding sincere.

A rough and raw collection of ultra-early work, Of Montreal's "Early Four Track Recordings" is a very flawed but also enjoyable little collection. Worth checking out, if you're a fan.

Of the many Of Montreal albumns I own, I find myself listening to this one the most. The songs hear are raw and unadorned, made minimal studio equipment (read: a four track) and simple instrumentation. It's this quality I like most about these pieces because they convey so much emotion in this fuzzy and crackly state. Kevin Barnes has a very passionate voice that is often hidden by the layers of psychedelic instrumentation and vocal harmony we see on his other albums. Here, his voice and kitschy lyrics take front and center. Here we have simplistic but beautiful guitar melodies and supporting instruments that sound suspiciously DIY. If you like this sort of thing or just really like Kevin Barnes and his whimsical and dreamy music, then definitely check this out. My favorite track is "Dustin Hoffman becomes indignant and wets himself" for its romantic melancholy: "I know this kid with really long hair that likes to kiss you in public places... I'm not like him, I don't speak well... " he sings with this lazy voice that is touchingly genuine. His jealous lyrics are followed by odd guitar experimentation, a brief piper at the gates of dawn moment, which comes across as some sort of storm from inside of him he had to unleash.

It's funny because the song titles tell a very bizarre story about Dustin Hoffman. It makes me think of "I heart huckabees" which I have no doubt Barnes must've enjoyed. Like Huckabees, Of Montreal is very whimsical and cerebral. Here we see a young, passionate, and romantic Barnes, more of an early Brian Wilson just getting into the psychedlic.