Of Montreal: Aldhils Arboretum : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Kevin Barnes has finally hit musical paydirt. The loosely structured "group" that he fronts is the most prolific of the Elephant 6 Collective, having released six albums of increasingly interesting prog pop since 1997, culminating with Aldhils Arboretum, the most coherent. Coherence does not, however, mean that Barnes has found stasis, even if the disc's opening track is literally about sitting around, "Doing Nothing." There's a childlike wonderment to Barnes' stunted voice, when he sings about "Pancakes for One," which are no fun. Or when he tells the tale of his alcoholic neighbor Larry in "Isn't It Nice": "One thing I've learned is that you never buy Larry beer or else he'll bug you everyday." The cast of characters that peppers Barnes' musically simple songs are all flawed at some level. But in his own way, the man of Of Montreal compels you to discover the beauty in these flaws, and in his music. It's not difficult. It's also kind of fun.

ANDREW STRICKMAN
(October 28, 2002)