A collection of extras from Kevin Barnes and Co., featuring a so-called “reconstruction” of “An Eluardian Instance” and a remix of “Gallery Piece” (both courtesy of renowned composer/producer Jon Brion), as well as several different permutations of both pieces; nowhere near as satisfying as 2007′s brilliant and essential Icons, Abstract Thee EP, this one is mostly just an entertaining afterthought for those who enjoyed Skeletal Lamping and can’t get enough of of Montreal’s sexy dance-pop.

F.Y.I.: Rumor has it that Jon Brion will also be involved in Kevin Barnes’ next side project, a collaboration with MGMT’s Andrew VanWyngarden under the name Blikk Fang. Keep an eye out for it this year, as the results will surely be very funky.

Grade: 6.5 / 10

Polyvinyl
January 27, 2009

of Montreal – Skeletal Lamping

October 21, 2008
Polyvinyl
Rating: 4.5 / 5

The Music Rag One Sentence Review: Unbeknownst to most music fans, all four Beatles reunited briefly in 1977 and went to Studio 54 with David Bowie, where they engaged in a sweaty, 300 person, bisexual orgy with a bunch of coked-up disco freaks, during which a woman became pregnant – of Montreal’s Skeletal Lamping was what that woman pushed out of her vagina nine months later.

Best moments: “For Our Elegant Caste” transitions between a disco chorus of “We can do it softcore, if you want / But you should know I take it both ways” and wonderfully Beatles-styled vocals. “Gallery Piece” offers some of the most hilarious and over the top lyrics found anywhere on the album: “I want to steal your things / I want to show you off / I want to tell you lies / I want to write you books / I want to turn you on / I want to make you come / 200 times a day”.

Fruit Loops: As the lyrics above would suggest, Skeletal Lamping is a filthy album. Contributing to this is of Montreal mastermind Kevin Barnes’ new Ziggy Stardust-like persona, Georgie Fruit, who is – apparently – a 40-something, black, transexual funk musician. So that’s why he sings “I’m just a black she-male!” during the song “Wicked Wisdom”. Y’know, in case you were wondering.