Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping

What else can really be said when a highly anticipated album leaks other than, "It's about time!" Although I had high hopes all along for Of Montreal's long-awaited ninth full length, Skeletal Lamping, the surfacing of lead single, "Id Engager," did little to pique my interest. On its own, the track seemed one-dimensional and, well, boring. However, after listening to the album in full this weekend and putting the track into better context, it makes a bit more sense.

I admit, I was a bit worried when I saw that Skeletal Lamping was fifteen tracks long, and while Of Montreal could have trimmed the fat in a few places, the album works for the most part. "Nonpareil of Favor" is a great opener, starting the album off with finely-plucked strings and eventually reaching a wonderful climax that is packed with tightly wound guitars, crashing drums, and repeated psychedelic vocal harmonies. "Wicked Wisdom" follows and continues in the vein of Hissing Fauna's funky side (specifically tracks like "Faberge Falls for Shuggie" and "Labyrinthian Pomp") and also contains one of the best one-liners Of Montreal has ever written, "I'm a motherfucking headline / Bitch, you don't even know it." Speaking of one-liners, the next track, "For Our Elegant Caste," wakes the listener the hell up with its instantly quotable refrain: "We can do it softcore / But you should know I like it both ways." This Georgie Fruit-specific track is typical Of Montreal and, at just over two and a half minutes, doesn't overstay its welcome as it flits (and flirts) through your speakers.

From even the first listen, it's very obvious that Skeletal Lamping is a concept album. Each track flows directly into the next one without any breaks, which works well to continue the "storyline" behind the concept. There are not many bands that can pull off concept albums that artfully explore sexual story lines without ever coming off as pretentious or just plain ridiculous. Although Skeletal Lamping loses its way a bit in the middle of the album (too many same-y sounding tracks), its tough to write it off completely because it's still the most ambitious release in Of Montreal's lengthy discography; and, really, they deserve all the credit in the world for continuing to create fresh and exciting music over a decade after their formation.

DOWNLOAD: This link is everywhere, so Google it, or search my previous comments section.
Recommended Tracks: "Nonpareil of Favor," "Wicked Wisdom," "Gallery Piece," "Plastis Wafers," "Beware Our Nubile Miscreants."