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| Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? | 
 enlarge | Artist: Of Montreal
Label: Polyvinyl Records
Category: Music
List Price: $15.98
Buy New: $11.26
You Save: $4.72 (30%)
New (41) Used (8) from $7.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  40 reviews
Sales Rank: 2270
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 124
UPC: 644110012425
EAN: 0644110012425
ASIN: B000KWZ94U
Release Date: January 23, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Suffer For Fashion | | • | Sink The Seine | | • | Cato As A Pun | | • | Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse | | • | Gronlandic Edit | | • | Sentence Of Sorts In Kongsvinger, A | | • | Past Is A Grotesque Animal, The | | • | Bunny Ain't No Kind Of Rider | | • | Faberge Falls For Shuggie | | • | Labyrinthian Pomp | | • | She's A Rejecter | | • | We Were Born The Mutants Again With Leafling |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
At first they were very twee. Then they were disco-punk, sort of. And now they are one. Kevin Barnes, this enigmatic band's prolific singer-songwriter, wrote and recorded much of this album alone, though he did enlist the help of a few friends (Alabee Blonde, the Late B.P. Helium and Heather McIntosh). Programmed handclaps, looped semi-funky bass and synth washes are the main ingredient on the Athens-based dude's Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?. Thankfully, he's still intent on mixing and matching disparate genres at whim, throwing Beach Boys' harmonies atop songs that sound more than a little like a Bowie-Eno collaboration. Lyrically, these might be the most personal songs Barnes has written. Sonically it's solid, but not as fully realized as the band's prior albums. As with any "growing pains" record, Destroyer might not make many new fans, but old ones will be pleased. The real breakthrough number, the song that hopefully hints at the band's next direction, is the twelve minute "Past Is a Grotesque Animal," a lovely and percolating New Wave motorik number that recalls the neon splendor of La Dusseldorf while referencing Georges Bataille. It's really good, and makes the listener fondly yearn for one's college days. --Mike McGonigal
Album Description
During the last three years of Montreal have been on a tear: releasing 2004's Satanic Panic in the Attic and 2005's The Sunlandic Twins and spreading their dance party-inducing live shows to the masses. Now, of Montreal have created their masterpiece with Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? It's an irresistible and remarkable album, sounding like a logical extension of the erratic indie-disco sounds of The Sunlandic Twins. However, Hissing Fauna is also the most personal of Montreal album to date, with Kevin Barnes, lead of Montreal songwriter, pouring tremendous amounts of emotion, heartbreak, frustration and elation into its twelve tracks. Written and recorded primarily during what he calls "an insane year," Hissing Fauna sees Barnes adopt a new writing style. It's an unabashedly autobiographical attempt from a songwriter whose early material tended towards characters and story-songs. Barnes continues down the whimsical pop funk path, while changing up its lyrical scope; and Hissing Fauna balances its poppy nature while showcasing brutal and unflinching honesty.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 35 more reviews...
 "At least I author my own disaster." November 1, 2008
I can't tell how good of a place this is to start listening to Of Montreal. It was a very highly acclaimed album, but was written and recorded almost entirely by Kevin Barnes without the band's help, and is a bit of a departure thematically. In any case, it's a damn good album. It's a bit hard to describe the sound, sort of indie pop with a lot of electronic and psychedelic elements. Barnes' high voice and the catchy choruses belie the dark lyrics, written during a bad time in his life. He's better now, but you can see how it must have affected him. I appreciate that aspect of the album's creation, but the main reason I like it is the music is entertaining to listen to. Yet more proof that I'm turning into an indie dork that will like anything if it's unique.
Being a story of his separation from his wife and descent into depression, there's a clear arc to the album, as it builds towards something and gets more chaotic and surprising later on. Early tracks like "Suffer for Fashion", "Cato as a Pun", and "A Sentence of Sorts in Kongsvinger" feature poppy refrains, nice synth melodies, and some more traditional rock sensibilities. The album climaxes about halfway through with the nearly twelve minute long epic "The Past is a Grotesque Animal", driving constantly forward with a nice bassline and creepy vocal hook as Barnes examines what's happening to him. The song really hit me the first time I heard it on the way home; besides the quality of the song, you can really feel the despair. The rest of the album doesn't seem that different musically, but you get sort of a different vibe as it's more out in the open with the subject matter. There are more frequent moments of odd musical choices, but it seems natural and gives the whole a record a consistent artistic feel. Really something I wish I heard before I chose last year's best albums.
Top 5 of 2007 October 22, 2008
This record strikes the perfect balance between hooky, melodic pop and post-post-modern rock n' roll that it is terrifying. Kevin Barnes has written a wonderfully personal album that transcends any sort of 'user-review summary.' Listen to the record if you like pop, rock, funk, soul, dance, or being alive in the early 21st Century. A truly amazing record.
This album got me into Of Montreal September 18, 2008
I heard a few songs from this album on XM radio that were getting some decent airplay. Out of a whim, I saw that Of Montreal was coming to town, so I purchased tickets. After picking up this album, I realized what a smart decision that was. The album is simply amazing!!! At first listen, the songs sound completely strange. There are a lot of harmonics sung, strange instrumentals, and complete 180's in the movement of the music. For instance, one song can be moving along really fast and melodic, and then just screech on the brakes into a harmonious vocals that cut into a different key. I love it! I never tire of listening to the album. (I fear the day that I wear out my husband on this album, but he hasn't complained yet!) The music is really neat, and requires many repeated listenings. I HIGHLY recommend this album to a first time Of Montreal fan. Also, I can't wait for the concert - I heard they are phenomenal live!! And I"m seeing them on Halloween :)
 it's a great album July 17, 2008
While there's no way this album could ever compete with the incredible Sunlandic Twins, there's still plenty of great pop music here that features that unusual, tricky and ultra melodic way to write a song that gives Of Montreal their distinct sound. While I'm a bit disappointed more people don't know about this band, this album wouldn't be a bad place to start. I can't really think of any Of Montreal songs that AREN'T good!
Best album of 2007 - easily June 2, 2008
This is the first Of Montreal record I've heard, and since then I've seen them live twice (definitely worth doing, even if you do not like live music). This album is my personal favorite for 2007, but I think it' will still sound like the great album it is in 20 years. It's all over the place, it's a divorce album that's also a party album, it's looking back to funk, & full of forward-thinking neopop. Our generation's Ziggy has arrived in Georgie Fruit, don't miss out.
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