Review: Of Montreal

Of Montreal
“Satanic Panic in the Attic”
(Polyvinyl Records)

Of Montreal have consistently delivered their own brand of new wave indie rock for seven years. “Satanic Panic in the Attic” is no different. As soon as “Disconnect the Dots” opens the album the listener is whisked away to the land of bright flowers, pink school buses and candy cane mailboxes. Blending lo-fi with neo-psychedelia and then putting it all through the indie meat grinder leaves Of Montreal in a world of their own. The environment created by their songs brings the post-drugs Beatles to mind. “Satanic Panic in the Attic” could be the soundtrack to “The Magical Mystery Tour.”

The word most often used to describe this sound is quirky. It is probably the best word out there to give an accurate description of Of Montreal. This is music for record geeks and the friends who live vicariously through them. Aside from the constant delusions of smiling bunny rabbits and red balloons, listening to “Satanic Panic in the Attic” from one end to the other is a sure fire way to cure a nasty case of anything. I can’t help sitting here nodding my head up and down while these pop gods from Athens, GA, massage the stress out of me. For the Of Montreal lovers or the music geek haters, “Satanic Panic in the Attic” should have a place in your heart whether you want it there or not.