Customer Reviews

The Sunlandic Twins

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

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!

Heard these guys on a live set podcast with Nic Harcourt from KCRW, and got hooked. This quirky album sounds fresh and brand new, yet vaguely familiar. I hear a mash of the Beatles (was that a REAL mellotron??), TRex, Disco, XTC, Heaven 17, 10cc, Wow! REALLY catchy tunes with great lyrics & harmonies, interesting, original arrangements and a cheekiness you gotta admire. They'll skillfully stretch your sonic sensibilities, then pull you back into a comfort zone. Such a relief from the formulaic crud out there! Oh, and my "skip button" finger got a welcome rest!

Update 10/02/06 What's up with selling out to the Outback Steakhouse?

Wraith Pinned to the Myst and What the hey who? where? That's Of Montreal, man, you never know what's going to happen. From song titles to chord changes to lyrical twists, this record will keep you on your toes and on the edge of your seat. You'll literally be balancing on your toes on the edge of your seat. Careful.

There's this beautiful energy on this album where it feels like the whole band is riding around on a fast motion kiddie-train. They have the friendly humour of The Kinks, the magical playground of Syd Barrett, the lyrical and melodical smiles of School for the Dead, the sound-scapes of Apples In Stereo, and the Beulah of Elf Power.

Have you seen the video for Wraith etc etc? Man, put on your headphones and close your eyes hard enough and you will.

I'm a hardcore Of montreal fan and have been for some time. I originally fell in love with them after hearing the whimsical tunes on "Gay Parade." Since then, Of Montreal's sound has changed a little, first heard in "Satanic Panic in the Attic." This album continues that trend.

For fans like me that loved the old whimsical "circus music" of "Gay Parade" and "Coquelicot...", there may be a little disappointment before all the nostalgia is knocked out of you by the sheer joy that this album will bring to you. The electronic side of Of Montreal that appeared on their last album is even more prevalent on "The Sunlandic Twins" as heard in "So Begins out Alabee," "The Party's Crashing Us," and "Oslo In The Summertime". Most of the whimsical lyrics and nature of Of Montreal's songs have been traded for an awesome indie pop sound, but never fear, the harmonies you've grown to love are still there and this album isn't going to stop you rom smiling.

The album, though different from previous OM albums, is the most listenable album yet. It's obvious that kevin Barnes' time spent in the studio was not wasted. (Amazing that he did it all in about a year.)

I will keep short and sweet. This is their best album to date. It'll be hard to beat.

There are plenty of obvious virtues to this album. The guitar rings of 60's pop, and every song has a fun, well formed melody which can't help but remind me of Piper At The Gates of Dawn era Floyd. On the whole, The Sunlandic Twins sounds like a more upbeat dance-pop take on psychadelia. It has a few huge drawbacks, though. Beyond a nice melody and a general fun sound, there isn't much depth to the album, and the songs are very homogeneous. With the exception of the last track, which has a lo-fi sound and is carried by it's bassline, there's little or no variation in this album's sound. Some people will like this album a lot, and others will be immediately underwhelmed. If the idea of retro-pop with a slightly higher tempo and lots of synthesizers intrigues you, maybe you should consider buying this album. Otherwise, skip it.

(My actual rating: 5.5/10)

These guys must have had a lot of fun putting this album together and I can only wish I had been a fly on the wall during the recording sessions. All the songs are delightfully and originally arranged with twisted lyris cleaverly intertwined through infectious melodies. Listening to The Sunlandic Twins is a little bit like sitting in the middle of a giant revolving 360-degree kaleidoscope with new colors and new shapes jumping at you relentlessly to leave you dazed and smiling...