Of Montreal
The Gay Parade
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Of Montreal
The Gay Parade
Bar None, 1999
RiYL: Jellyfish, Olivia Tremor Control, Papas Fritas, Smile-era Beach Boys |
The record shares many features with those of E6 mates Neutral Milk Hotel and Olivia Tremor Control. For starters, The Gay Parade utilizes the junk-orchestra assemblage of instruments often found on those band's albums, and of course the recording features guest appearances from E6 notaries (NMH's Jeff Mangum is credited with "holding hands while jumping on the furnace"). The mere appearance of "The Marching Theme For The Gay Parade" should seem familiar to fans of E6 records.
Of Montreal revels in more straightforward pop than some of its compatriots, though it has its moments of confusing noise collages. Songwriter and principal musician Kevin Barnes' voice controls the record, much like Mangum's holds NMH's records together, providing a consistent theme for the melodic lines, even though scores of different instruments might pop up on any given song.
Characters proliferate in The Gay Parade. It's as if Of Montreal has created a town of crazy characters, all of whom appear at the fair on the cover and participate in the parade. Throughout the course of the album, we get to meet all sorts of strange folk, some as evidenced in the song titles -- "The Autobiographical Grandpa," "The Miniature Philosopher" and "Advice From A Divorced Gentleman to His Bachelor Friend Considering Marriage" come to mind.
In track four, we meet Jacques Lamure, "a foreman at a clock factory / He wishes he were boss / so he could fire that scoundrel William Moss / who always puts him down / when Megan Planchet is around." On "My Favorite Boxer," the protagonist gets beat up by his studly idol, but "Hector Omano's my favorite boxer / even though he was mean to me," is the accepting, if not somewhat wimpish resolution.
The album comes to a head with the wannabe epic "Nickee Coco And The Invisible Tree."The musical tale is told in three parts (the disappearance of Nickee Coco, a town-wide search, and the miraculous recovery of Coco from the invisible tree, thanks to the help of a kind Owl), each with its own tune. Though the effort is admirable, and it makes a dandy closer for the record, methinks the tune is played up a little too much by the narrator and chorus of supporting vocals. Also, the overall concept is just a little too cutesy. But hey, it's pop music!
TROY CARPENTER | Troy Carpenter founded NATN from a Chicago apartment during the ambitious winter of 1998 with co-conspirators Ben French and Jonathan Cohen. After a five-year stint in New York, he and wife Lourdes have recently relocated to Indianapolis, where he spends days listening to music and nights in the kitchen at Elements restaurant. Musical heroes: Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Super Furry Animals. What else makes life worth living: Sushi, Phucty, runs in the park, and the Atlanta Braves.