Though they started out as a folk-inspired indie-rock trio, Kevin Barnes‘ singular vision of musical greatness, Athen’s of Montreal grew exponentially right from their late 90’s debut. By the time their 5th full length Aldhils Arboretum was released, they were a full touring band, musically exploring distinctive character studies, vaudevillian skits, and Broadway forms coupled with verbose complicated melodic modern rock structures. They stepped away from Kindercore Records soon after that moving over to Polyvinyl, which is where they hit their stride as a modern psychedelic pop band, steeped in a sound that flowed like a combination of early Kinks, Sparks, Fairport Convention, and Byrds. Though a lot of fans and critics acknowledge this eras’ peak as Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer, I feel that The Sunlandic Twins was the apex of their first decade. The process actually started one album before with the equally brilliant Satanic Panic in the Attic, where Kevin began a serious relationship while also striking-out alone, utilizing the influences of modern electronic music as well as an “anything goes” approach. This is the beginning of a new path that they traversed almost completely on their own, the band now touring accompaniment while Kevin composed and recorded at home. I feel that The Sunlandic Twins both bid farewell to the 60’s influenced “band” past while simultaneously ushering in their polymath future, where they consumed as many styles possible as a ravenous creator of modern pop musical myths. This is where it all started changing on every album, a trend which has continued into modern day.
This is where their popularity grew significantly, and with great reason! Every song on this album is a visionary push through towards a new style, new genre, new sound, and new persona. Georgie Fruit has roots in this record if you listen closely, though the blatant sexuality, lustful longing, and self-evolution is still nascent. The album moves from happy joyous celebratory dance revelry into the darker reality of their recent life changing situations by it’s end. ‘Requiem For OMM2’ is a sweet apology to departed band members of their second incarnation, it’s middle eight giving away the reasons for the split, Kevin’s wanderlust and refusal to stay dormant. That spirit of pushing things forward is equally versed in ‘I Was Never Young’, where we start to hear the more adventurous melodic aspects of their genre-spanning vision in the horns and keys leading into the electronic breakdown and coda. This is Ron Mael meets Brian Wilson kinda’ shit here! Quirky arrangements, beautifully layers harmonies, progressive sensibilities, vast dulcet meloldics. The first five songs just hit with such intensity, wit, and drive. ‘Wraith Pinned to the Mist’, ‘Forecasting Fascist Future’, into ‘So Begins Our Alabee’ is just such an amazingly fun musical ride. ‘The Party’s Crashing Us Down’ is a beautiful Princesque celebration of the love of their life. ‘I Was a Landscape In Your Dream’ is absolutely gorgeous with it’s meandering keys over vocal chorus drenched in minor key sadness, which continues dourly into ‘Death of a Shade of a Hue’. ‘Oslo In the Summertime’ tells the tale of a drastic life shift with Wife and baby into unknown territory. ‘The Repudiated Immortals’ end things in a melancholy existentialistic manner, continuing the reflective trend that started with ‘Knight Rider’. A top 10 record for me; I listen to it at least once a month! I just recently scored an original pressing STILL SEALED that includes the etched vinyl side, and the equally compelling Bonus EP. Going to open it and play it right now…because I love this album!
If you know the score, you are quite aware that they were a FANTASTIC live act at this time! Witness below, from the Sunlandic Twins Tour but with Hissing Fauna songs already hitting the setlist. Kevin was a creative machine, cranking out genius songs at lightning speed; there were so many releases, mini-albums, and singles coming out during this era. And this is where it all changed for everyone involved. By 2007, the Glam era was in full swing, they were selling out everywhere they played, Georgie Fruit was born, paranoia and psychoses was on parade, Kevin completely lets go, the costumes and props were out in full regalia; every appearance an epic event. The Sunlandic Twins was where it all got loose! And this live show below from 2005 is testament…
Dancing in the Moonlight of our Existence 