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.
Natalie and Effie in the Park
of Montreal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Though before today she'd always gone alone
Now the sun shines down all around them
Cause Natalie's not alone she's not alone
On Friday she'd bought a Yorkshire terrier
And instantly found a true friend of her own
Now they sing and skip through the flowers
Cause Natalie's not alone she's not alone
She named him Effie
Effie was his name despite a bladder problem
She loved him just the same
She takes him nearly every where she goes
He delights her with the many tricks he knows
Now the sun shines down all around them
Cause Natalie's not alone
She knits him sweaters and woolen Winter hats
From the window she watches him chase the neighbors cats
And laughs and laughs â??Hey Effie
Would you like to go for a walk?
Would you like to go for a ride?â??
And Effie never left her side until she died
The song "Natalie and Effie in the Park" by of Montreal is about a young woman named Natalie who used to go for strolls through the park alone every Sunday. However, on this particular Sunday, she has a newfound companion in the form of a Yorkshire terrier she had recently bought on Friday. The sun shines brighter now that she's not alone anymore. She sings and skips through the flowers with her new four-legged friend. She names him Effie, despite his bladder problems. She loves him unconditionally and takes him nearly everywhere she goes. Effie's many tricks delight her. She even knits sweaters and woolen winter hats for him. Natalie watches Effie chase the neighbor's cats and laughs jovially. She asks him if he wants to go for a walk or a ride, and he never leaves her side.
The song portrays the powerful companionship between humans and their pets. Natalie's life changes for the better when she brings Effie into her world. She no longer has to wander aimlessly throughout the park alone every Sunday. Effie becomes her trustworthy companion, and her life becomes brighter and more enjoyable because of him. This song shows how a simple act of kindness can become a lifelong bond. It presents the idea that pets may become our truest companions because they are always there for us, and their love is unconditional.
Line by Line Meaning
Sundays were made for strolls through the park
Sundays are ideal for taking walks in the park
Though before today she'd always gone alone
Natalie used to visit the park alone
Now the sun shines down all around them
The sunlight illuminates Natalie and her dog Effie
Cause Natalie's not alone she's not alone
Natalie feels accompanied and content with Effie's company
On Friday she'd bought a Yorkshire terrier
Natalie adopted a Yorkshire terrier on Friday
And instantly found a true friend of her own
Effie became an immediate, loyal friend to Natalie
Now they sing and skip through the flowers
Natalie and Effie enjoy the park by playing and singing
She named him Effie
Natalie gave her Yorkshire terrier the name Effie
Effie was his name despite a bladder problem
Effie was named Effie despite his bladder issues
She loved him just the same
Natalie loves Effie despite his bladder issues
She takes him nearly every where she goes
Natalie takes Effie almost everywhere she goes
He delights her with the many tricks he knows
Effie pleases Natalie with the various tricks he has learned
She knits him sweaters and woolen Winter hats
Natalie knits warm attire for Effie during winter
From the window she watches him chase the neighbors cats
Natalie watches Effie run after the neighbor's cats from the window
And laughs and laughs 'Hey Effie
Natalie finds joy in Effie's company
Would you like to go for a walk?
Natalie asks Effie if he wants to go for a walk
Would you like to go for a ride?'
Natalie asks Effie if he wants to go for a ride
And Effie never left her side until she died
Effie remains faithfully by Natalie's side until she passed away
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KEVIN BARNES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind