Sunlandic Twins

of Montreal | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 12, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polyvinyl Records
• ASIN: B0007X9TUW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,180 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Requiem For O.M.M.2

2. I Was Never Young

3. Wraith Pinned To The Mist And Other Games

4. Forecast Fascist Future

5. So Begins Our Alabee

6. Our Spring Is Sweet Not Fleeting

7. The Party's Crashing Us

8. Knight Rider

9. I Was A Landscape In Your Dream

10. Death Of A Shade Of A Hue

See all 13 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Art Snob Solutions

2. The Actor's Opprobrium

3. Keep Sending Me Black Fireworks

4. Everyday Feels Like Sunday

Editorial Reviews

Hailing from Athens, Of Montreal have carved their own niche in the indie-pop world, establishing themselves as a uniquely twisted band that thrills fans with compelling live performances, delights critics with their constant innovations and refinements, and continually showcases their musical evolution that culls together influences as varied as Brian Eno, Television, Prince, and The Shins. "The Sunlandic Twins" is their most cohesive and adventurous record to date. It plays out like an electro pop opera. Beginning buoyant and opalescent, traversing a labyrinthine Neptune, and climaxing in blackout darkness one only discovers in warm solitude.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sunlandic shines, April 13, 2005

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sunlandic Twins (Audio CD)

Hear ye, hear ye -- "The Sunlandic Twins" is the best album that Of Montreal has made in ages. In past years they've dipped more into electro-dancepop. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it just didn't seem as good as the old days, when Kevin Barnes and Co. performed folky, innocent indiepop.

But in this charming concept album, the band's early twee music is married to the more recent electropop. The result: what Barnes calls an electropop opera. "Sunlandic Twins" opens on a strong instrumental note, but hits its groove with songs like "Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games," a fun little poppy tune given a few electronic flourishes.

That trippy twee trend continues throughout the album, broken by a few vivid dance tracks, sunny jangle-pop, a charming ballad or two, and some experimental numbers. Even a few songs that boldly go where Of Montreal hasn't gone before: "The Repudiated Immortals" seamlessly blends piano with electronic beats and vocal harmonies. Cow bells, catchy riffs, electronic flourishes and some very odd strings add quirk value.

"The Sunlandic Twins" is a bit different from previous Of Montreal albums, though. This time around, Kevin Barnes played most of the instruments, sang in his Beatlesy voice, wrote the songs, and produced the album too. The only thing he didn't do seems to be the quirky cover art. In other words, Of Montreal basically IS Barnes.

One thing about Of Montreal that never changes is their abstract acid-poetry. Even the titles are glorious weird: "Death of a Shade of a Hue," "Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games" and "The Repudiated Immortals." Not to mention the lyrics, which will sprain your brain if you try to decipher them. Just enjoy the nonsensical prettiness of them: "Let's pretend we don't exist; let's pretend we're in Antarctica..."

There's also a four-song EP accompanying the album proper. There's nothing too different about this EP, with its catchy pop melodies and weird lyrics; it merely sounds like an extension of "Sunlandic Twins." Maybe all these songs wouldn't fit on one disc.

"The Sunlandic Twins" continues the trend of trippy, sunny psych-pop for listeners who don't mind a spoonful of sugar (or two, or three) with their music.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHOA., December 7, 2005

By 

E. A. Ramsey "preen feathershift" (austin, tx, usa) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sunlandic Twins (Audio CD)

okay, I'm sure my review will hold no water/weight/whatever here, but this is probably the most fantastic album of 2005 and certainly my favorite of Of Montreal's. it has been literally stuck in my head/ears/cd player for over a month, and that's just special.

pee.ess. it makes me dance and I HATE DANCING... therefore if an album can make me enjoy dancing, it MUST be good.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptionallly Tastefullll, December 1, 2006

By 

Kyle Wilson "Kye Kye" (Norwalk, CT United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sunlandic Twins (Audio CD)

I would absolutely reccomend such a brilliant masterpiece of an album. The first of the band's albums I've listened to all the way through and fell in love with. To this day it is still my favorite album. It mixes the pshychadelic feel of the 60's with the feel good dance beats in the 70's and incorporates many 80's new wave synths in such a brilliant way all wrapped in a very modern hip innovative sound. All aspects are wonderful. The lyrics are so catchy and thoughtful and just a joy to hear. I would strongly urge you to buy this album now! Disregard the reviews on here putting the album down because THE ALBUM ROCKS.

No more explaining and reading reviews go and purchase it and see for yourself...you will fall in love!