They were among the second wave of groups to emerge from The Elephant 6 Recording Company and the group has a style that is typical of many Elephant 6 bands due to their interest in combining musical experimentation with the basic tenets of pop i.e. catchy melodies and sing-along choruses. The band’s style has been influenced by conventional indie pop, psychedelic music, vaudeville and music hall on their earlier releases and by afrobeat, funk, krautrock and reggae on their recent releases.
The band’s style has been known to change between albums. At first, the band embraced a more simple, quirky, lo-fi indie pop sound, which occasionally bordered on twee pop. The band was created by Kevin Barnes and named after a failed romance with a woman from Montreal, though the story changes in various interviews. Barnes was the only member of the “group” prior to his relocation to Athens, Georgia. There, he met Derek Almstead, later of Circulatory System, M Coast, Elf Power etc., and Bryan Poole, who also performs as The Late B.P. Helium.
Together, they recorded their first album, Cherry Peel, as well as The Bird Who Continues to Eat the Rabbit’s Flower and The Bedside Drama: A Petite Tragedy.
A number of singles and a re-release of The Bird Who Continues to Eat the Rabbit’s Flower occurred before the release of the band’s third album, The Gay Parade in 1999. With contributions from several members of the Elephant Six collective at the time, it also featured artwork from Kevin’s brother David Barnes, who would continue to do artwork for future albums.
This album marked that the band had moved to a fuller sound, which is also found on its follow-up, Coquelicot Asleep in the Poppies: A Variety of Whimsical Verse. These two albums contain more narrative lyrics, as opposed to the rather personal lyrical matter of those preceding it, and often imitating the style of old 1950s radio plays.
After production on The Gay Parade began in 1998, Poole left the band to focus on his duties with Elf Power, another Elephant Six band from Athens. Barnes also recruited Jamey Huggins and Dottie Alexander, who had been performing together as Lightning Bug vs. Firefly, to play various instruments. Derek moved from drums to bass. The band was joined soon after by Marshmallow Coast’s Andy Gonzales.
Following the release of The Gay Parade, the band signed with Kindercore Records, who would release a number of singles and compilations. It wasn’t until 2001 that Coquelicot Asleep in the Poppies: A Variety of Whimsical Verse would be released as a new album with original material. The album again featured contributions from across the Elephant 6 spectrum.
In 2002, Aldhils Arboretum was released, with a slightly different sound than its predecessors, as the songs were more directly structured. This album marks the beginning of the change in of Montreal’s sound, with more danceable rhythms than ever before, especially on the album’s closer, “Death Dance Of The Omipapas and Sons For You”. A successful tour ensued, including of Montreal’s first trip to the UK, along with a tour-only EP.
Kindercore Records would fold shortly after the release of Arboretum, and of Montreal’s status was also threatened. Kevin got married, and Andy and Derek left the band. Barnes, being uncomfortable with the unrest, as well as some divisions within the band, took to writing and performing their 2004 album Satanic Panic in the Attic mostly by himself. Released by Polyvinyl Records, it became one of their more successful efforts to that point. The 2004 tour saw The Late B.P. Helium (Bryan Poole) rejoin the band, with some bass played by Kevin’s partner Nina Barnes. The album marked a shift to something more electronic with traditional structures, to be further advanced in later albums and new songs. In their most recent releases and concerts, the band has fully embraced a sort of techno-pop glam image, with little of their previous incarnations surfacing. This style is featured in singles such as Disconnect the Dots. The style would continue to evolve into 2005’s The Sunlandic Twins, which was even more a Barnes solo effort. Recorded in Athens, with the exception of one track recorded in Norway, it was a much more pronounced electronic album. The album became a success, mostly due to the singles “So Begins Our Alabee” and the MTV clip for “Wraith Pinned to the Mist (and Other Games)”.
The band released several collections of singles in early 2006. Barnes recorded most of the band’s 2007 release, Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?, by himself while living in Norway and Athens, Georgia. The switch to autobiographical themes of suicide, depression and isolation of the album was a direct product of his troubled personal life during that period.
of Montreal released Skeletal Lamping on October 21, 2008 followed by False Priest on September 14, 2010, Paralytic Stalks on February 7, 2012, and Lousy with Sylvianbriar on October 8, 2013. Aureate Gloom is scheduled for release by Polyvinyl Records on March 3, 2015.
Lyrically, their style has changed dramatically throughout the years. In the beginning, many songs were narratives of personal or humorous situations, such as “Tim, I Wish You Were Born A Girl”, from Cherry Peel. This style, however, changed with The Gay Parade, where many songs involve small narratives surrounding invented characters (in songs such as “Jacques Lamure”, “The Autobiographical Grandpa”, “Mimi Merlot” and “Rose Robert”). Others act as extracts from fictional conversations (“Advice From a Divorced Gentleman to His Bachelor Friend Considering Marriage” and “Good Morning Mr. Edminton” as examples). With Aldhils Arboretum came a slight return to the previous writing style, except following more poppy, classical lyrical structures (such as the use of choruses, which are generally absent in the Gay Parade/Coquelicot years). This style continued throughout Satanic Panic and The Sunlandic Twins to some extent. On the album Hissing Fauna: Are You The Destroyer? the lyrics are much more personal than previously used, with songs detailing emotions within the speaker.
Another unique quality of the band is the fusion of ostensibly gloomy lyrics with bouncy, upbeat melodies and hooks. On Aldhils Arboretum, for example, the lyrics for tracks like “Doing Nothing” and “Old People in the Cemetery” focus on apathy, loneliness or death while being contrasted with cheerful instrumentation. Another example of this tendency is shown in their choice of covers; for example, Yoko Ono’s “I Felt Like Smashing my Head Through a Clear Glass Window” from The Bird Who Continues to Eat the Rabbit’s Flower.
True to the style of most Elephant 6 recording artists, of Montreal’s members have been in a variety of side projects and other bands:
The band itself has performed as the backing band for Marshmallow Coast on record and on tour.
My First Keyboard was the pseudonym used by Dottie Alexander to release the song “The You I Created” on the Kindercore singles club. of Montreal acted as her backing band.
Erroneous Escape Into Erik Eckles
of Montreal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is cursing like an evil sailor
But remember the knife is worse
For the editors of movie trailers
And if you want me to
I'll help it's all the same to me
Just tell me if you want me to
If you keep killing God in your eye
People will think you're really callous
But no matter how hard you try
You'll never be as weird as Uncle Alice
And if you want me to
I'll help it's all the same to me
Just tell me if you want me to
I'm not upset just confused and it's so tough
I can't relate to this world I'm not bored enough
Watch out the music will complete the change in you
To sing this song in braille
You have to be haunted by glass freckles
And if your color treatment fails
Well you can always talk to Erik Eckles
And if you want me to
I'll help it's all the same to me
Just tell me if you want me to
If you want me to
The song "Erroneous Escape Into Erik Eckles" by of Montreal presents a series of surreal and obscure images and words that can be interpreted in multiple ways. The lyrics seem to be addressing the listener and offering them help or support of some kind, while also acknowledging the weirdness and confusion of existence. The opening lines set the tone by introducing an unexpected image of an octopus in a purse, which is cursing like an evil sailor. The octopus can be seen as a symbol of chaos, deception, or hidden desires, while the purse suggests containment or concealment. The line "but remember the knife is worse for the editors of movie trailers" adds a violent and enigmatic twist, suggesting that reality is more brutal than fiction and that those who manipulate reality may suffer for it.
The next lines introduce a theme of spirituality and morality, with the warning that "if you keep killing God in your eye, people will think you're really callous." Here, God can be seen as a metaphor for meaning, purpose, or values, which people may reject or ignore at their peril. The line "you'll never be as weird as Uncle Alice" further emphasizes the strangeness and diversity of human experience, while also implying that there are limits to that diversity. The chorus repeats the offer of help, suggesting that the singer is a reliable and neutral guide in a confusing world.
The third stanza introduces a powerful metaphor of music as a transformative force that can change the listener in fundamental ways. The line "I'm not upset just confused and it's so tough, I can't relate to this world I'm not bored enough" suggests that the singer is struggling to find a meaningful connection to the world, while recognizing that boredom may be a necessary state of mind for achieving that connection. The final stanza introduces another enigmatic image of "glass freckles" and the possibility of communication with Erik Eckles, who could be a person, a character, or a concept. The final offer of help reiterates the singer's willingness to assist the listener in navigating the strange and wonderful world of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
The octopus in your purse
Something strange and potentially dangerous is hidden in your possessions.
Is cursing like an evil sailor
This mysterious item is emitting negative energy or vibes.
But remember the knife is worse
Despite the potential danger of this item, there may be something even worse lurking nearby.
For the editors of movie trailers
This greater danger could potentially be used for dramatic effect in media, such as a movie trailer.
And if you want me to
The artist is offering their assistance.
I'll help it's all the same to me
The singer is completely indifferent to the situation and is simply offering assistance for their own convenience or boredom.
Just tell me if you want me to
The singer is reiterating their willingness to help, but will not take action without being asked.
If you keep killing God in your eye
Continuing to reject or deny spirituality or religion may lead others to view you as heartless or unfeeling.
People will think you're really callous
This rejection of spirituality could potentially alienate or upset others, leading them to see you as uncaring.
But no matter how hard you try
Despite this rejection, you will never be as unusual or strange as someone else in your family or social circle.
You'll never be as weird as Uncle Alice
This family member, either real or possibly symbolic, is inherently more bizarre or unconventional than you could ever be.
I'm not upset just confused and it's so tough
The artist is feeling perplexed or uncertain but is not necessarily angry or upset about the situation.
I can't relate to this world I'm not bored enough
The singer finds the world and its experiences uninteresting or lacking stimulation.
Watch out the music will complete the change in you
Music has the power to transform or influence the listener. The singer is warning to be cautious of this power.
To sing this song in braille
This song is meant to be experienced in a unique or unconventional way.
You have to be haunted by glass freckles
In order to fully appreciate the song in this way, the listener must have experienced a particular type of unsettling or eerie sensation.
And if your color treatment fails
If a particular method of coping or healing is not effective, there are other options to consider.
Well you can always talk to Erik Eckles
Erik Eckles is a sounding board or someone to confide in when other options have failed.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@arkadiuszpanczyk6012
"I can't relate to this world, I'm not bored enough". That fucking line.
@dogpd3
That slide guitar is so harrison-eque...
@nineonefixed
man this song is brilliant all over the board
@rlbigfish
This song always makes me think of some 70s era George Harrison. Obviously a huge compliment!
@BravoT
Delightful little tune. Did anyone else have a slightly different demo version titled “If You Want Me To” (presumably incorrectly)?? It was a tiny bit less produced/polished.
@martypentz1205
this song is so great. it's so ridiculously genius
@GoatDust
One day I will figure out the bass part, especially at 1:25
@j.bradshaw8248
i knew eric he is def callous
@jadedopum
To sing this song in braille You have to be haunted by glass freckles And if your color treatment fails Well, you can always talk to Eric Eckles FANTASTIC
@Fundillo156
:)