Concert Review: Of Montreal at Union Transfer (May 12, 2014)

By Matt Rotello

The show opened with Dream Tiger, a keyboard-heavy group that reminded me, at least atmospherically, a little of the Warpaint show I saw a month or two ago at the same venue. Their setup consisted of two interchangeable keyboards, a female vocalist with her own big pedestal of sampling pedals and vocal filters and whatever else, and a drummer who pounded away far more enthusiastically than anyone else in the band. I appreciate his energy despite the simplicity of his parts–it’s always nice when drummers aren’t bored. Their music was atmospheric; dark synths and ambience from the keyboardists, simple but powerful drum patterns, all overlaid with ethereal female vocals (which were occasionally downpitched to sound menacing). All their songs kind of blurred together, and they all felt more or less the same, but that’s not necessarily a complaint. The muted red lighting lent the whole affair a shadowy, almost ominous air, despite the relative gentleness of the music, and the songs flowed into each other pretty well. Overall I enjoyed their set. It didn’t blow my mind, but they were a solid opening act and their performance intrigued me enough to make me check out their recordings, which is really all you can ask for.

And then there was of Montreal, bizarre troubadours from some fantastic land no one’s been to. They were introduced by some weird hybrid of a masked wrestler and a power ranger, who threatened to kill us in the audience, then changed his mind and told us we were all beautiful. I like him. As far as the actual performance, I don’t know if I can really describe it. It was too fantastic, in every sense of the word. Of Montreal’s eclectic blend of whatever they feel like playing at the moment sounds fantastic live, every song far richer and fuller than on record, and they augment the performance with the most bizarre backdrops and stage antics I’ve ever seen. At various points, there were the aforementioned masked wrestling rangers, people carrying huge cutout trees with swirling light projections dancing across them, and a two person high bird with reflective wings that flapped slowly behind Kevin Barnes. The music itself ranged from peaceful indie-folk to psychedelia to the immense, jam-driven finale of flickering strobes and noise. I admit to being less familiar with them than I should be, so I can’t tell you how their choice of setlist was from a diehard perspective, but every song was excellent, and I didn’t see a single person not having a good time in the room, whether dancing or simply nodding their head and smiling. Anyone who hasn’t seen of Montreal yet should really get on that, because it was a fantastic experience all around.

Top Played Artists 1/7-1/13

1 DUCKTAILS – Wish Hotel
2 TENNIS – Small Sound
3 CULTS – Static
4 WOODEN SHJIPS – Back To Land
5 LOS CAMPESINOS! – No Blues
6 YUCK – Glow And Behold
7 GRIZZLY BEAR – Shields: Expanded
8 GRINGO STAR – Floating Out To See
9 PARQUET COURTS – Tally All The Things That You Broke
10 OF MONTREAL – Lousy With Sylvianbriar
11 DALE EARNHARDT JR. JR. – The Speed Of Things
12 MARIJUANA DEATHSQUADS – Oh My Sexy Lord
13 WHITE FENCE – Live In San Francisco
14 BLOOD ORANGE – Cupid Deluxe
15 HEAD AND THE HEART – Let’s Be Still
16 GRISWOLDS – Heart Of A Lion
17 ANTHONY GREEN – Young Legs
18 WHITE DENIM – Corsicana Lemonade
19 CUT COPY – Free Your Mind
20 TITLE FIGHT – Spring Songs
21 DARKSIDE – Psychic
22 THEE OH SEES – Singles Collection, Volume 3
23 SHY GIRLS – Timeshare
24 SALLIE FORD AND THE SOUND OUTSIDE – Summer
25 GROSS GHOST – Public Housing
26 PIXIES – EP-1
27 ALBERT HAMMOND JR. – AHJ
28 POLICA – Shulamith
29 LA LUZ – It’s Alive
30 CHEAP TIME – Exit Smiles

Top Played Artists 12/31-1/6

1 CULTS – Static
2 TENNIS – Small Sound
3 WOODEN SHJIPS – Back To Land
4 DUCKTAILS – Wish Hotel
5 OF MONTREAL – Lousy With Sylvianbriar
6 LOS CAMPESINOS! – No Blues
7 ANTHONY GREEN – Young Legs
8 DARKSIDE – Psychic
9 YUCK – Glow And Behold
10 BLOOD ORANGE – Cupid Deluxe
11 PHANTOGRAM – Phantogram
12 RADICAL FACE – The Family Tree: The Branches
13 CUT COPY – Free Your Mind
14 POLICA – Shulamith
15 HEAD AND THE HEART – Let’s Be Still
16 KRAAK AND SMAAK – Chrome Waves
17 GRISWOLDS – Heart Of A Lion
18 ST. LUCIA – When The Night
19 NO JOY – Pastel And Pass Out
20 FUZZ – Fuzz
21 NOBUNNY – Secret Songs: Reflections From The Ear Mirror
22 DESTROYER – Five Spanish Songs
23 GRIZZLY BEAR – Shields: Expanded
24 DANNY BROWN – Old
25 HIGH HIGHS – Open Season
26 BLACK BOOKS – Black Books
27 DIANE COFFEE – My Friend Fish
28 WHITE DENIM – Corsicana Lemonade
29 GRINGO STAR – Floating Out To See
30 DR. DOG – B-Room

Top 50 Albums of 2013 (according to Liquid Courage Media)

Our lovely Assistant Editor-in-Chief, Shannen Gaffney, also writes for Liquid Courage Media. This is their list of the top albums of 2013, co-written with Isabel Imperatore (in alphabetical order).

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Allison Weiss – Say What You Mean
Allison Weiss’ No Sleep Records release, Say What You Mean, was an uplifting take on the more depressing moments of being a teenager-to-twenty-something. The first track, “Making It Up,” outlined the uncertainties of defining a relationship. Our favorite is the breakup pop tune “How to Be Alone”.

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Beyoncé – BEYONCÉ
BEYONCE released a self-titled “exclusive visual album” on iTunes in the middle of the night without any previous announcement or promotion. Do I need to say anything else? Videos/tracks to check out: ”XO” and “Blue” (and the entire album).

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Blood Orange – Cupid Deluxe
If we can use the word ‘groovy,’ Blood Orange released one of the grooviest records this year. “You’re Not Good Enough” encompasses everything you’ve ever wanted to say to your ex, and has been stuck in our heads ever since its recent release.

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Brick + Mortar – Bangs
It’s hard to categorize and describe Brick + Mortar, which is a duo comprised of Brandon Asraf and John Tacon. They combine elements of alternative, electronic, indie, drum and bass, noise-pop, hip-hop, and punk. It’s aggressive, anthemic and catchy. The intense drum and bass parts are overlapped with Brandon’s distinct vocals and instrumentation like synths and guitar.  Listen to “Bangs” and “Locked In A Cage” and you’ll understand.

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Charli XCX – True Romance
Charli XCX was definitely a breakout artist of 2013, and True Romance was one of the best dance pop albums of the year. Her obvious best track was “You – Ha Ha Ha,” but “Take My Hand” and “What I Like” were also equally addictive pop gems.

Continue reading “Top 50 Albums of 2013 (according to Liquid Courage Media)”

Last Official Chart of 2013, 12/2 – 12/9

1 LOS CAMPESINOS! – No Blues
2 DUCKTAILS – Wish Hotel [EP]
3 TENNIS – Small Sound [EP]
4 CULTS – Static
5 ANTHONY GREEN – Young Legs
6 YUCK – Glow And Behold
7 OF MONTREAL – Lousy With Sylvianbriar
8 KING KRULE – 6 Feet Beneath The Moon
9 WOODEN SHJIPS – Back To Land
10 BLOOD ORANGE – Cupid Deluxe
11 DR. DOG – B-Room
12 GRINGO STAR – Floating Out To See
13 POLICA – Shulamith
14 WHITE DENIM – Corsicana Lemonade
15 DIANE COFFEE – My Friend Fish
16 HEAD AND THE HEART – Let’s Be Still
17 MARIJUANA DEATHSQUADS – Oh My Sexy Lord
18 MINOR ALPS – Get There
19 PHANTOGRAM – Phantogram [EP]
20 NOBUNNY – Secret Songs: Reflections From The Ear Mirror
21 CASS MCCOMBS – Big Wheel And Others
22 FUZZ – Live In San Francisco
23 SLEIGH BELLS – Bitter Rivals
24 COURTNEY BARNETT – The Double EP: A Sea Of Split Peas
25 KEVIN DEVINE – Bubblegum
26 NOAH AND THE WHALE – Heart Of Nowhere
27 DALE EARNHARDT JR. JR. – The Speed Of Things
28 MOONFACE – Julia With Blue Jeans On
29 HAIM – Days Are Gone
30 RED FANG – Whales And Leeches

Top Played Artists 11/26 – 12/2

1    DUCKTAILS:    Wish Hotel [EP]
2    LOS CAMPESINOS!:    No Blues
3    DR. DOG:    B-Room
4    TENNIS:    Small Sound [EP]
5    KEVIN DEVINE:    Bubblegum
6    OF MONTREAL:    Lousy With Sylvianbriar
7    WHITE DENIM:    Corsicana Lemonade
8    YUCK:    Glow And Behold
9    CULTS:    Static
10    FUZZ:    Fuzz
11    POLICA:    Shulamith
12    WOODEN SHJIPS:    Back To Land
13    DIANE COFFEE:    My Friend Fish
14    COURTNEY BARNETT:   The Double EP: A Sea Of Split Peas
15    SLEIGH BELLS:    Bitter Rivals
16    NOAH AND THE WHALE:    Heart Of Nowhere
17    BLOOD ORANGE:    Cupid Deluxe
18    PURLING HISS:    Paisley Montage
19    MARIJUANA DEATHSQUADS:    Oh My Sexy Lord
20    NOBUNNY:    Secret Songs: Reflections From The Ear Mirror
21    HEAD AND THE HEART:    Let’s Be Still
22    FLATLINERS:    Dead Language
23    JUANA MOLINA:    Wed 21
24    DALE EARNHARDT JR. JR.:   The Speed Of Things
25    JESSE WOODS:    Get Your Burdens Lifted
26    THOSE DARLINS:    Blur The Line
27    PHANTOGRAM    Phantogram [EP]
28    PARQUET COURTS:    Tally All The Things That You Broke [EP]
29    FRANKIE ROSE:    Herein Wild
30    RED FANG:    Whales And Leeches

Top Played Artists 10/28/2013 – 11/4/2013

1 OF MONTREAL Lousy With Sylvianbriar
2 DR. DOG B-Room
3 DEER TICK Negativity
4 YUCK Glow And Behold
5 KING KRULE 6 Feet Beneath The Moon
6 PARQUET COURTS Tally All The Things That You Broke [EP]
7 KEVIN DEVINE Bubblegum
8 BELLE AND SEBASTIAN The Third Eye Centre
9 THOSE DARLINS Blur The Line
10 FUZZ Fuzz
11 SLEIGH BELLS Bitter Rivals
12 POLICA Shulamith
13 DALE EARNHARDT JR. JR. The Speed Of Things
14 HAIM Days Are Gone
15 MAN MAN On Oni Pond
16 FRANKIE ROSE Herein Wild
17 PHANTOGRAM Phantogram [EP]
18 THE BLOW The Blow
19 BEST COAST Fade Away
20 UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA Blue Record [EP]
21 CHVRCHES The Bones Of What You Believe
22 HEAD AND THE HEART Let’s Be Still
23 RUBBLEBUCKET Save Charlie [EP]
24 OBITS Bed And Bugs
25 MAZZY STAR Seasons Of Your Day
26 CHELSEA WOLFE Pain Is Beauty
27 DISMEMBERMENT PLAN Uncanney Valley
28 COURTNEY BARNETT The Double EP: A Sea Of Split Peas
29 ALBERT HAMMOND JR. AHJ
30 VOLCANO CHOIR Repave