Customer Reviews

Gay Parade

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Of Montreal are not a novelty act. They are musical visionaries. With "The Gay Parade", they have crafted what is easily one of the best "concept" albums since Jethro Tull's "A Passion Play". It's just a mark of how times have changed to realize that 30 years ago, "Passion Play" was a #1 record and "The Gay Parade" will probably only be heard by a few thousand people. Frustratiing, huh?

Anyway, be glad that you are one of the few that cares enough to discover this record. Is it odd? you bet. Quirky, weird, psychedelic. Probably. Cute? No. That does it a disservice. It is a brillinatly conceived song-cycle of character sketches. The characters are, of course, an eccentric lot. A guy obsessed with a certain mean boxer, a widower with his "dogs for friends" awaiting death, a French firemen pining for heroism, an ecstatic dude waxing poetic about mowing the lawn while his wife knits. While the vocals approach giddy and cartoonish, the songs themselves can range for hilarious to rather disturbing--- often with one turn-of-phrase. There is indeed a intangible saddness looming over this private world, despite the Crayola surroundings.

The sound of the record is fascinating. The best thing about bands like Of Montreal, Olivia Tremor Control, etc. is that they know exactly the sonic landscape they wish to create and accomplish it with minimalist recording technology. The result is a sonic juggernaut of an album that sounds at once high-concept and low-fidelity... hiss, tape saturation, drops-outs--- all part of the sound. And it's damn near brilliant. Horns, tape manipulations, choirs of mice, saws, kazoos, plastic guitars--- many of the instruments barely in tune.

To my ear, it sounds like a benediction.

At the end of the record Kevin Barnes advises his listeners that they now know the way into the world of "The Gay Parade" and can return any time they like.... Can't I just set up camp and *stay*, Kev?

Of Montreal has built a career on exuberant, sweet concept albums that bounce with life and love. "The Gay Parade" is a snapshot of them at their best -- it has the strangeness of "Cocquelicot," but is more accessable. These songs cheery oddball pop, but it sounds so uncalculated that it never quite sounds twee.

The acoustic/piano-ballad "Old Familiar Way" starts off the album, but it mostly focuses on how "It's amazing the wonders you can find/Just by stepping outside." Only at the end does Kevin Barnes greet listeners with "Welcome to the Gay Parade!" The album then switches to a bunch of songs about the glorious people, such as the bouncy dancey "Fun-Loving Nun," singsong "Tulip Baroo," and "The Miniature Philosopher."

While describing boxers, grandfathers and stuttering organ grinders, Barnes and Co. don't stray away from their typical little sweet songs: there's a carnival sound to "March of the Gay Parade," a goofy little sweet song. Elsewhere Barnes sings eagerly about the "Domestic Life," longs for special friends, and chronicles the story of Niki Coco, before finally bidding farewell in "The Gay Parade Outro."

The entire album more or less revolves around the Gay Parade, and how much happier the people in it (and near it) are. The general feeling is that it's not so much a real gathering as a state of mind -- enjoying the little things, "making friends with trees and animals," and seeing the magic of the world.

The songs rely heavily on Barnes' acoustic guitar, and the sweet piano pop that comes into the intro and outro. Little chimes and psychedelic swooshes give it an even more whimsical feel. And an electric organ gives a sort of dancey fun feel to "Fun Loving Nun," to the point where it's hard to notice Barnes' weird lyrics.

Kevin Barnes has that sort of likably offbeat voice that really sounds good in oddball pop. Sort of like Jeff Mangum, but a bit less nasal. And the songwriting is either goofy ("I'd be a yellow feathered loon for you baby/Be a German shepherd on the moon for you baby") or brilliant ("He would suddenly appear at Meg's door/He'd rent a mariachi band and respectfully demand/His dear Meg to take his hand/And to be his forever more"). You make the call -- often they're both.

Somehow the most enjoyable part of the whole thing is where where Barnes solemnly informs us, "Now that you know the way/And perhaps someday/You'll be able to stay with us/Forever inside the gay parade." In other words, hit repeat.

When I first bought this album, I was a little annoyed by it. It is EXTREMELY cute, and very fast, a little like Barney on amphetamines. But then I gave it a chance, and I absolutely, 100%, love this album.

THE GAY PARADE is not as silly or shallow as it sounds at first. It really deals with a lot of issues of issues we all deal with, such as feelings of inferiority (on "Hector Comacho"), or else just figuring out what is really meaningful in your life (on the opening track.) Yes, I know, when you hear the album you'll think I may have read way too much into what sounds like an out-of-control carnival. But there is definitely a dark side to this album. This dark side is subtle, but if it weren't, it really would have ruined the album's overall innocent and gleeful tone.

Plus, Of Montreal are great musicians and singers. Their harmonies are perfect, and Kevin Barnes's voice is just loaded with charm. And the guitars, drums, and all the other jillion instruments are all perfectly produced; there's a lot of sound here, but it's not at all extraneous. It is really a great album just on the musical level.

If I still haven't convinced you to buy THE GAY PARADE, then I just have to say "Nickee Coco and the Invisible Tree" is one of the most joyful and hilarious songs around. It alone would be a great album!

You don't hear much joy and happiness in music these days, and THE GAY PARADE is a great place to start.

The first few times you listen to this album, it's hard not to compare it to some of the psychadelic/pop bands of the 60's. This in itself makes it a good album from the get go. However, after repeated listens, you start to realize and hear all of the concepts and experimentation behind the songs that make just about all of them great. Some of the highlights include "Old Familiar Way", "Fun Loving Nun", "Tulip Baroo", "The Autobiographical Grandpa", and "Advice From A Divorced Gentleman." They're all great songs.

Of course, I like ALL the songs (I did give it a PERFECT score after all). "Nickee Coco" is a stunning fairy tale-esque story told half in dialogue and half through singing. It makes the song hard to sing to, but a pleasure to listen to (it's also a bit humorous at times: listen for a part about an owl).

"My Favorite Boxer" is a nice guitar based pop tune about a boy's favorite boxer. What makes it so great is the sudden tempo changes, along with the beautiful harmonies.

"The March of the Gay Parade" (Kevin Barnes is trying to disregard the common misconceptions about the word) is a very experimental piece with very high pitched voices squeeking out the melody while fuzz and static are present in the background. It's weirdness makes it very fun to listen to, especially when Barnes finally begins to sing near the end (with a muffled voice echoing his own in the background).

All in all, it's the way the pop tunes, the concept of a character's story in every song, and the experimentation with instruments come together that makes this album so great. Kevin Barnes, along with everyone who helped him, has great talent for not only creating pop, but also molding his songs into something more than the term can describe. He combined 60's experimentation with 90's sensibilities. Let it be said, however, his latest works took a mighty turn away from this approach, making "The Gay Parade" all the more important. it's the pinnacle of Kevin Barnes' career, and although he has made some decent albums lately, he never catches the humor and simple charm that he does with "The Gay Parade" (with the exception of "Coquelicot"). A must buy.

When I first heard Gay Parade I was a bit unsure what to think. They were songs that I quite enjoyed immediately (My Favorite Boxer, Old Familiar Way) and some that made me feel like pushing the Skip Track button (The March of the Gay Parade). The second time I started to enjoy every song more and more, until now, where I love every song on this album completely. The mixture of simple and complex songs, the voice of Kevin Barnes, the theme, everything, it's all pure musical gold.

This album isn't for everyone, it definitely has a children story like quality in many places, but don't let it bother you. If you can learn to get to used to such a theme, it'll make you appreciate this musical masterpiece even more.

This CD isn't something you'd want to listen to more than once. It's a concept CD with an idea. The music is basically here to serve the idea and not be music made up of songs that stand alone or are even "songs" in the traditional sense. I guess you need to know the band going in. I heard one song from this CD on the radio that I found interesting so I bought the CD and now I will sell the CD and not miss it at all.

Athens, Georgia's lovable pop ruffians, Of Montreal, mine more of the same quirky, bouncy pop on their third full length record, The Gay Parade. With almost every instrument imaginable at their disposable and songs that tell stories so childlike they give Sharon, Lois and Bram a run for their money, Of Montreal know how to make a FUN record, which is exactly what they do here. Songs such as "Fun Loving Nun", "Neat Little Domestic Life" and, particularly the album closer, "Nickee Coco and the Invisible Tree" will make you laugh, sometimes cry and definitly send chills of glee down your spine. A wonderful record for fans of Beach Boys, The Beatles and the Elepahant Six collective!

This is the closest thing to the Beach Boys 'Smile' I have ever heard, yet it's something totally original and exciting. This is fantastic music, well creafted pop with catchy melodies. The songs feature characters similar to those that fill most loved songs of Paul McCartney. 'Gay Parade' is a great record. Do not live another minute without it. It will brighten your days. Thank you Of Montreal!

Yes, I'm sure mentioning Mr. Wilson above caught your eye, as everyone these days seems to be using him as a commercial entity to sell records. BUT, in this case I don't feel it's a cheap ploy as much as an accurate description. All of the music, the words and general feel of the album reminds me of the music found on the unfinished and infamous album by Brian Wilson, though mixed with Saturday morning cartoon shows. Finally, here is music that is not negative or "angst ridden," but rather celebrates life with a child's simplicity and an innocent worldview. Comparisons to Apples (in stereo) are inevitable, but again, a fair comparison. In short, I was very, very pleased with this purchase. Enjoy!

i love of montreal for a multitude of reasons, beginning with the quirky melodic storylines. they're the only band i've heard pull off 'cute' without 'irritating', and make narrative and fun pop so youthful but smart. hands down the best driving album i own, unfortunately i have to turn it down everytime 'it's the march of the gay parade! how nice!' is yelled -- i've been honked at for that one before. but the album is catchy, brilliant, and hilarious. their live performance is even better. for a more retro/early-beatles sounding version of of montreal, check out 'cherry peel', and if you're not quoting 'tim wish you were born a girl' for weeks - well, then something's wrong with you.