The Sunlandic Twins

of Montreal

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 12, 2005)
• Original Release Date: April 12, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polyvinyl Records
• ASIN: B0007X9TUW
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #14,573 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description
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

46 of 46 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 (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tasty, April 19, 2005

By	B. M. Kunz (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

For most other bands The Sunlandic Twins would be a great album, but for Of Montreal it is simply a good one. It does not quite live up to the promise and fulfillment of Satanic Panic In the Attic, nor does it delight and marvel as Of Montreal's epic pop masterpiece Coquelicot Asleep In the Poppies does. Nevertheless, The Sunlandic Twins is a singular effort, and not exactly like any of the other releases in the band's ever growing catalogue of pop gems. As with Satanic... Kevin Barnes is a one man band on this release, and he packs the Sunlandic Twins with enough sugar coated synthesized goodies to give any dentist cause for alarm. From the infectious breakdown in Forecast Fascist Future (May we never go, go mental. May we always stay, stay gentle) which will linger on your lips like a jumbo jawbreaker, to the surprising dark pop of Oslo In the Summertime, The Sunlandic Twins is one tasty treat.

6 of 6 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 (REAL NAME)

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.