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.
Penelope
of Montreal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Because I've run out of sleep.
The row boat came so David stopped arguing with a mime
And waved his arms like wheat.
But when he tried to speak the Prince of Plum
Fell through the roof of his mouth
And handed David an envelope inside was a letter that read
'sir, you were given this envelope by mistake please disregard it'
To rub all over my feet.
Andy's joke reminded Gerard that his sloth balloon was owned by Turkish moths.
Gerard's Lebanese boss had sent him out on business
Giving his word that he would keep it looked in the safe
But it was all deceit
Cause once he had the sloth balloon
He traded it to the moths for a lithograph of
"Lady Lamenting On A Lawn Chair".
What interested Balabanoba was building complicated French machines.
Designed to better enjoy the duchess, and she him.
He helps her in the stirrups then he straps himself in
They spend their days in heights of ecstasy.
But wait why then does she look so sad?
Why is her countenance so glum?
Does she tire of mechanical hands or is she pining for the fair Prince of Plum?
Lulubird shoot the doorbell off my head
I need to go to the store to get some treats.
For Gothe,Becket and Keates.
The characters of the "Gay Parade"
Formed a boys choir with Static and the Red King.
But whenever they sing all postal workers
Simultaneously whisper to themselves the word calendar calendar
The lyrics of "Penelope" by of Montreal are a surrealistic depiction of a variety of characters going about their lives, each with their own idiosyncrasies and obsessions. The chorus, "Penelope shoot the apple off my head," is a reference to the ancient Greek myth of Penelope and the contest to wed her in which suitors had to shoot an arrow through the holes in a line of axes. The singer's request to have the apple shot off his head suggests a reckless disregard for his own safety and a willingness to participate in absurd and dangerous games.
The verses follow several characters, including David, Gerard, and Balabanoba, as they navigate strange and often contradictory situations. The Prince of Plum falling through David's mouth and handing him a letter by mistake suggests a sense of puzzlement and lack of agency. Gerard's sloth balloon and his deceitful boss reflect a sense of greed and betrayal. Balabanoba's obsession with building French machines and the Duchess's sadness suggest a sense of longing and unfulfillment. The characters of the "Gay Parade" forming a boys choir and causing postal workers to whisper the word "calendar" hint at the power of language and the strange connections between seemingly disparate objects and ideas.
Line by Line Meaning
Penelope shoot the apple off my head I need to go to the store to get some sleep.
I am sleep deprived and need to buy sleep. Please shoot the apple off my head while I go and buy it from the store.
The row boat came so David stopped arguing with a mime And waved his arms like wheat.
David was arguing with a mime, but stopped when a row boat came. He then waved his arms like wheat.
But when he tried to speak the Prince of Plum Fell through the roof of his mouth And handed David an envelope inside was a letter that read 'sir, you were given this envelope by mistake please disregard it'
The Prince of Plum fell through David's mouth and gave him an envelope by mistake. The envelope contained a letter asking him to disregard it, because it was an error.
Nicolynn shoot the candle off my head I need to go to the store to get some beets. To rub all over my feet.
Please shoot the candle off my head, Nicolynn. I need to go to the store to buy beets which I will rub all over my feet.
Andy's joke reminded Gerard that his sloth balloon was owned by Turkish moths. Gerard's Lebanese boss had sent him out on business Giving his word that he would keep it looked in the safe But it was all deceit Cause once he had the sloth balloon He traded it to the moths for a lithograph of 'Lady Lamenting On A Lawn Chair'.
Andy's joke made Gerard remember that his sloth balloon was owned by Turkish moths. His boss had entrusted it to him and promised it would be safe, but it was all a lie. Gerard traded the balloon to the moths for a lithograph of 'Lady Lamenting On A Lawn Chair'.
What interested Balabanoba was building complicated French machines. Designed to better enjoy the duchess, and she him. He helps her in the stirrups then he straps himself in They spend their days in heights of ecstasy. But wait why then does she look so sad? Why is her countenance so glum? Does she tire of mechanical hands or is she pining for the fair Prince of Plum?
Balabanoba was interested in building complicated French machines to better enjoy the duchess, and vice versa. They spend their days in ecstasy, but the duchess looks sad. It is unclear if she is tired of mechanical hands or if she misses the Prince of Plum.
Lulubird shoot the doorbell off my head I need to go to the store to get some treats. For Gothe,Becket and Keates.
Please shoot the doorbell off my head, Lulubird. I need to go to the store to buy treats for Goethe, Beckett and Keats.
The characters of the 'Gay Parade' Formed a boys choir with Static and the Red King. But whenever they sing all postal workers Simultaneously whisper to themselves the word calendar calendar
The characters of the 'Gay Parade' formed a boys choir with Static and the Red King. However, whenever they sing, postal workers all whisper to themselves the word 'calendar'.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: WAYNE SHORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Crystal Beth
Penelope shoot the apple off my head,
I need to go to the store,
to get some sleep.
Because I've run out of sleep.
The row boat came so David stopped arguing with a mime
and waved his arms like wheat.
But when he tried to speak
the Prince of Plum fell through the roof of his mouth and handed David an envelope.
Inside was a letter
that read "sir, you were given this envelope by mistake please disregard it."
Nicolynn shoot the candle off my head,
I need to go to the store,
to get some beets.
To rub all over my feet.
Andy's joke reminded Gerard
that his sloth balloon was owned by Turkish moths.
Gerard's Lebanese boss had sent him out on business,
giving his word that he would keep it locked in the safe.
But it was all deceit,
cause once he had the sloth balloon
he traded it
to the moths for
a lithograph of "Lady Lamenting On A Lawn Chair".
What interested Balabanoba was building complicated French machines designed to better enjoy the duchess,
and she him.
He helps her in the stirrups then he straps himself in,
they spend their days in heights of ecstasy.
But wait,
why then does she look so sad?
Why is her countenance so glum?
Does she tire of mechanical hands,
or is she pining for the fair Prince of Plum?
Lulubird shoot the doorbell off my head,
I need to go to the store,
to get some treats.
For Gothe, Becket and Keates.
The characters of the "Gay Parade" formed a boys choir with Static and the Red King.
But whenever they sing all postal workers simultaneously whisper to themselves the word calendar
calendar...
phriendlybear
This might as well have been my first oM song. For months its been keeping me awake in my bed, where I stare at my wall with a stupid grin because it continues to play in my head as o think "this group is too awesome."
78Rudys
McCartney's walking bass line is all over this gem...
Crystal Beth
Penelope shoot the apple off my head,
I need to go to the store,
to get some sleep.
Because I've run out of sleep.
The row boat came so David stopped arguing with a mime
and waved his arms like wheat.
But when he tried to speak
the Prince of Plum fell through the roof of his mouth and handed David an envelope.
Inside was a letter
that read "sir, you were given this envelope by mistake please disregard it."
Nicolynn shoot the candle off my head,
I need to go to the store,
to get some beets.
To rub all over my feet.
Andy's joke reminded Gerard
that his sloth balloon was owned by Turkish moths.
Gerard's Lebanese boss had sent him out on business,
giving his word that he would keep it locked in the safe.
But it was all deceit,
cause once he had the sloth balloon
he traded it
to the moths for
a lithograph of "Lady Lamenting On A Lawn Chair".
What interested Balabanoba was building complicated French machines designed to better enjoy the duchess,
and she him.
He helps her in the stirrups then he straps himself in,
they spend their days in heights of ecstasy.
But wait,
why then does she look so sad?
Why is her countenance so glum?
Does she tire of mechanical hands,
or is she pining for the fair Prince of Plum?
Lulubird shoot the doorbell off my head,
I need to go to the store,
to get some treats.
For Gothe, Becket and Keates.
The characters of the "Gay Parade" formed a boys choir with Static and the Red King.
But whenever they sing all postal workers simultaneously whisper to themselves the word calendar
calendar...
Rocket Books
I have loved this song since it came out. I have a cat named Penelope. And, I wanted to name my daughter Nicolyn. I always joked I'd name my daughter Nicolyn Dyme. I didn't. But I did name her something close: Avlynn.
w0lfrink
this song inspired me to live life in a giant peach. and not to trade ANYTHING including sloth balloons to the Turkish moths; the bastards.
Damien Torres
This song frees me from the world.
healingv1sion
my first of montreal song...I know exactly what I was feeling when I heard it for the first time, and where I was :D
phriendlybear
this is like the pinnacle of coquellicot, which is the pinnacle of oM albums. super sweet.
sushimonsterosity
this song is so badass
A D
love this