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.
Triphallus to Punctuate!
of Montreal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What allows me to speak in wild abstractions
The senseless killings gifts God gives us have no one to love them
It's the kind of thought that kills you twice on the way down
You might forget them but you're not nice they don't forget about you
How they claw me in my false or foster reflection
Is that my reflection in the Damascus play?
You should call me sometime.
I won't answer but, at least I'll know you care.
(How will you know it was me?)
You think I got caller ID?
I guess I should be happy for you, for your success and all that
But your fame ain't got nothing for us
I supported you kid, back when no one else did (oh yeah, oh yeah)
You know I waved your flag, back when no one else did
I just want things to be the way they used to be,
When you only set a place for me
The great chorus of my skull is choking on their dulcer tones
Ten lashes on the ass of anyone who even tries and
Heaven's patience glaring down at us filling your room with black butterflies
You don't have to try to steal no nothing from my heart
Because for you anything you want is always free
Send your freaky fantasies to my phone
Black Converse on and an ice cream cone
Now that I'm not a virgin to you you'll never walk alone
Far beyond the several years of shame
I live to make you call my name
(Call my name)
Guess I should be happy for you, for your success and all that
But your fame ain't got nothing for us
I was your booster babe, back when no one else cared (oh yeah, oh yeah)
You know I celebrated you (I'm hard for you girl),
Back when no one else even thought to
I just want things to be the way they used to be
When you only saved a seat for me
Come back! Come back!
I feel so at peace
Why is the sky karma
I think I'm the one I got from
The lyrics of Triphallus to Punctuate! by of Montreal are open to interpretation, but one possible reading is that the song reflects on the nature of fame and relationships. The first verse seems to describe a sense of being trapped in a party culture, with bodies and faces marked by the excesses of that lifestyle. The lines "The senseless killings gifts God gives us have no one to love them" suggest a nihilistic perspective, where even the most destructive actions are meaningless without someone to acknowledge them. The singer also wonders if their reflection is real, or merely an illusion created by their surroundings.
The second verse shifts focus to a personal relationship, with the singer expressing feelings of betrayal and abandonment by someone who has become successful. Despite being an early supporter of this person, the singer feels left behind and now seeks to return to a past when they were closer. The chorus introduces a sense of violence into the metaphorical language, with the singer's skull "choking" on sweet sounds, and the threat of lashes for those who cross a line. The final lines express a sense of desire and vulnerability, with the singer offering themselves to another person without reservation.
Overall, the lyrics of Triphallus to Punctuate! suggest a complex mixture of emotions around fame, identity, and relationships. The song invites listeners to reflect on their own experiences of these themes, and to consider the costs of pursuing a life in the public eye.
Line by Line Meaning
She's saying we wear the party all over our bodies and faces
She's saying that we have fun and party so hard that it's visible on our body and face
What allows me to speak in wild abstractions
I have the freedom to speak my thoughts wildly and without restraint
The senseless killings gifts God gives us have no one to love them
God's gifts such as senseless killings have no one to appreciate them and love them
It's the kind of thought that kills you twice on the way down
The thought is so damaging that not only does it harm you now, but it will also harm you again in the future
You might forget them but you're not nice they don't forget about you
Though you may forget certain unkind things you've said or done, those you've hurt won't forget them or forgive you easily
How they claw me in my false or foster reflection
The way they criticize me is they pick apart my false or nurtured self-image
Is that my reflection in the Damascus play?
Am I seeing myself as an actor in a tragedy or a play in Damascus?
You should call me sometime.
It would be nice if you reached out to me.
I won't answer but, at least I'll know you care.
Even if I don't pick up, I'll know that you care about me or my well-being.
(How will you know it was me?)
I need a way to identify that it was you and not some unknown caller.
You think I got caller ID?
I don't have any fancy means of detecting who is calling me, so I don't always answer the phone.
I guess I should be happy for you, for your success and all that
I should be pleased with your success and good fortune.
But your fame ain't got nothing for us
Your fame isn't benefiting the people around you or me.
I supported you kid, back when no one else did (oh yeah, oh yeah)
I helped you out when no one else would or did, and I deserve recognition for that.
You know I waved your flag, back when no one else did
I was your number one supporter and cheerleader when no one else was.
I just want things to be the way they used to be,
I want things to go back to how they were before, and to have a simpler time again.
When you only set a place for me
I want it to be like how it was before, when there was only a spot for me and no others.
The great chorus of my skull is choking on their dulcer tones
My mind is cluttered with many voices and distractions, which are overwhelming to me.
Ten lashes on the ass of anyone who even tries and
Anyone who tries to bother me or criticize me will receive punishment or retaliation.
Heaven's patience glaring down at us filling your room with black butterflies
There is a sense of judgment or impatience coming from above, and it feels like being surrounded by dark things.
You don't have to try to steal no nothing from my heart
You don't need to put in any effort to make me like you, because I already like you.
Because for you anything you want is always free
You are someone who gets everything that they want with minimal effort or resistance.
Send your freaky fantasies to my phone
You can send me your most bizarre or unconventional desires and thoughts.
Black Converse on and an ice cream cone
I am wearing black shoes and holding an ice cream cone in my hand.
Now that I'm not a virgin to you you'll never walk alone
Now that I have become more familiar with you, I will always be with you or support you.
Far beyond the several years of shame
I have surpassed many years of feeling ashamed or embarrassed.
I live to make you call my name
My goal in life is to have you say my name or acknowledge me.
(Call my name)
I'm reminding you to call my name or say it aloud.
Guess I should be happy for you, for your success and all that
I should be pleased or congratulatory for your successes and good fortune.
But your fame ain't got nothing for us
Your fame isn't doing much for those around you, including me.
I was your booster babe, back when no one else cared (oh yeah, oh yeah)
I helped you when there was no one else and made you feel more confident or secure.
You know I celebrated you (I'm hard for you girl),
I have always been a big fan of yours and it excites me.
Back when no one else even thought to
No one else recognized your potential or talent at that time.
I just want things to be the way they used to be
I long for a time when things were simpler, more straightforward, and uncomplicated.
When you only saved a seat for me
I wish to have a special and dedicated spot or place only for me.
Come back! Come back!
I'm pleading with you to return or come back to me.
I feel so at peace
I'm feeling very calm, relaxed, and untroubled.
Why is the sky karma
The odd, seemingly unconnected events happening in my surroundings all seem to have a bigger, preordained reason behind it.
I think I'm the one I got from
I believe that I'm the reason for the problems that I'm currently facing.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KEVIN BARNES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind