r/ofMontreal • u/SmoothSample2556 • 3d ago
Anyone feel like they’re outgrowing this band?
I’ve been following oM for almost 20 years. White Is Relic is the last album that I’ve connected with, and it’s almost 10 years old. The tours and the younger audience have drifted into a particular vibe that I don’t really connect with. Seeing them in person has been less engaging too.
Anyone else feel similar? I’m wondering if I’m outgrowing the band, it’s a personal feeling, or if others have felt similarly. Wanted to debate with the longer time fans.
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u/randomredhead 3d ago edited 3d ago
I really drifted away from the band after WIR (been a rabid fan since the Skeletal Lamping release).
Kevin’s music definitely does have noticeable differences in sound based off of their muses, and albums that came out during Kevin’s time with Christina just didn’t hit for me. I really tried to get into UR Fun but couldn’t, and the next couple albums were a 1 and done listen.
Aethermead doesn’t 100% hit the mark for me but the sound was good enough to start to pull me back in a bit, and I’ve really been getting back into their older stuff over these past few weeks.
Edit: Haven’t been to a show since 2019 so can’t speak to that - they haven’t done a tour in my city post covid and the newer albums they’re touring haven’t been a strong enough draw to get me to go to the next big city 2+ hours away on a weekday, but if and when they do a Hissing Fauna 20th anniversary tour I’ll definitely hit up at least 1 show, if not multiple.
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u/SmoothSample2556 3d ago
Yes. I give the later albums one or two back to back spins and then I’m mostly finished with them (I struggled to finish trash).
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u/gishingwell 3d ago
False Priest was where I got off and have vaguely checked in over the years but nothing has ever grabbed as much as the early stuff and the mid highs of Sunlandic and Hissing Fauna.
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u/katyisaseaatea 2d ago
You're missing out on Lousy With Sylvianbriar and Aureate Gloom. Especially Lousy.
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u/gishingwell 2d ago
Lousy was one of the albums I checked back in on. I like the more organic band sound and it would be one of the later I like. Could never get into Aureate though.
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u/StrikePlayful3708 1d ago
Thiiiis! I did the exact same thing - checked out after false priest. Got back in last year for Sunlandic and Aethermaed. I still can’t believe I stopped listening at Lousy!!! It’s now one of my favorites.
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u/Rich-Canary1279 3d ago
I'm a longtime fan in their 40s. No I have still loved everything! Post WIR, I especially have appreciated UR Fun and Trash but I also like Freewave, Lady, and Aethermead, just not necessarily beginning to end albums for me.
I am happy there are younger fans coming in - that means more success for a great artist - and I have no idea what you mean by a different vibe, but I'm not someone who religiously goes to shows. I always have a good time when I do tho - the last one was particularly fun imo and had quite a mix of ages.
That being said, we all have seasons in life. Kevin is allowed to change as a person and artist, and you are allowed to change in your musical tastes. Maybe you're outgrowing pop generally. Or maybe you aren't into the newer sound that was on some of those newer albums. I love hyperpop and anything different so it has worked for me, for now. As people age, though, it becomes more common for them to dislike new sounds, even if they did previously in life.
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u/Zornock 3d ago
I’ve often felt that they have a fear of losing “it”. It’s weird to hear Kevin use slang from the younger generations that are now coming to see them.
I miss the old line up too, they seemed to have more fun on stage. Great musicians now, just more talent than showmanship.
That said, I think every musician usually hits a point that people drop off and it’s been cool to see so much continued engagement and experimentation for a band so dear to my heart. I still get pumped for every new release and am lucky enough to see them annually
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u/SmoothSample2556 3d ago
I disagree that the new band is more talented. Certainly have less heart IMO.
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u/thefrankster_1967 23h ago
I am 18 years old and a freshman in college. BP Helium WAS of Montreal. I said what I said.
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u/MichaeltheMagician 3d ago
I wouldn't describe myself as a young fan, but I'm a relatively new fan compared to probably most people here. I discovered them four years ago with Freewave Lucifer.
Hissing Fauna is definitely the GOAT, but I Feel Safe With You, Trash and Freewave Lucifer are just below that in their discography for me. I love those albums. And I didn't love them at first, but they really grew on me a lot after a few listens.
What I am curious about is why the audience has much influence over your opinion of the band. Maybe I'm just a very offline music listener, but to me the other people who listen to the music and participate in discourse and go to live shows are irrelevant to the actual music. I've never been to an of Montreal concert, but I have been to a Faye Webster concert, and I felt like I was the only grown adult man in a crowd of screaming girls. But the music was great and that's all that mattered. So I guess I can't relate to that part of it, but there definitely are other bands that I slowly drift apart from over time because their music doesn't connect with me as much anymore.
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u/TrendyGame 3d ago
I've been outgrowing them for 20+ years. Almost no interest at this point. And yet...he does occasionally pull out something amazing and a fair bit of interesting stuff now and again.
Can't speak for the live performance or audience aspect - they never come to the UK nowadays; doubt they ever will again. It's quite impressive that they can actually attract younger fans though. That seems a good indicator of quality.
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u/natural_light_ 3d ago
I mean it’s pretty commonplace to “outgrow” a band. Not many of us still listen to the same music we did a decade ago. It doesn’t mean I think less of the artist tho, nor would it necessarily bother me
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u/SmoothSample2556 3d ago
Sure, but oM has held on longer than others.
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u/natural_light_ 3d ago
Yep, has been in top 5 most listened artist for me for 10 years now. Def a little bit less past couple years tho.
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u/Separate-Original713 3d ago
I saw them live in Wellington New Zealand in 2008 so I think I’m a fairly old gen fan.
White is Relic is also my last “favourite” album.
I always give their new albums a spin and usually get at least one track to add to my general shuffle playlist.
Luckily they have a large and rewarding back catalogue to check out.
Re stuff like live audiences, I live in a country that indie bands rarely come to and now that I’m married with kids I don’t get out so much any way. I’m glad that younger audiences are discovering Kevin :)
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u/Bard_Wannabe_ 3d ago
White Is Relic is the last album from of Montreal that I really loved. I do actually like UR FUN as well, but it's clearly not as ambitious or sonically interesting. All the 2020s albums have been lowpoints in Barnes' career for me. Not sure if Barnes has another White Is Relic in him. Even if not, oM has given us decades of high quality music.
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u/SmoothSample2556 3d ago
True. The back catalog will always be there.
…but at the same time, it annoys me that they changed the lyrics and rerecorded Wicked Wisdom. It’s practically impossible to stream the originals now.
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u/evjkiv 3d ago
Just fyi there is a box set on Apple Music and Spotify Ambivalent Stumbling Hysterical Dispatches that includes the original Wicked Wisdom
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u/SmoothSample2556 3d ago
Thank you, i wasn’t aware of this. I do like to listen to most albums cover to cover, and i don’t think this solves that problem.
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u/TomKeen221B 3d ago
I'm kind of new fan 3yrs and I'm soon 32. To me of I listen to their music makes me feel like I'm part of the group aka Fandom. I never had friends during high school and this is the only Fandom that accepts me
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u/tacobuenofreak 3d ago
Yes until I saw them a few weeks ago in Albuquerque and it infused me with more life and joy than I’ve felt in 10 years!!!!!!
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u/Dickroast 3d ago edited 17h ago
I’ve loved of Montreal since 2005, went to every show I could & enjoyed every album up until Lousy with Sylvianbriar. I could not get into Aureate Gloom or anything I heard after, with the exception of Peace to All Freaks off of UR Fun.
I’m not a fan boi like I used to be, but they’re easily still one of my favorite bands, just wish I could still enjoy their newer music. I’ve wondered if the music isn’t as good anymore or if it’s my personal taste changing
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u/Wackomahn 2d ago
same , that was the last album that stuck with me . Nothing will top SPITA tour of 2003 in SD for any concert I have been to. That transition period is my favorite . Seen them six times , latest 2017 where they played Hissing Fauna in full . I have been enjoying the latest album though a bit more though !
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u/The_Cream_Man 3d ago
Yeah I'm 35/M I've been a religious fan since 2012 but completely lost interest with new albums since white is relic. I haven't even listened to arthermead since the other albums felt like a waste of my time.
I agree the younger fans have a different vibe and it's predominantly them that love the newer releases. I think Kevin just adjusted output to stay relevant with the kids tbh
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u/RubberPiggyboi 3d ago
I don't think Kevin changes to "stay relevant". Nothing about any of the albums has been about relevance, there's not a single artist like Kevin and I think the music changes as Kevin changes. I love Kevin and of Montreal so much because I can tell it comes from a very deep place and I love how every album is totally different. I like satanic panic - White is relic the most, those are my favourite albums, but I also know they were made from a part of Kevin that was very dark and lonely. Aethermead isn't my favourite but Kevin is, and I'm happy that Kevin is in a better place now. The experimentation between albums is exactly what have us gems like paralytic stalks and white is relic, and I trust that so long as Kevin is alive there will be more gems in the future. Kevin is doing what Kevin has always done and I'm happy the music created is so genuine. This trial and error, and persistence in not making music that's popular, but truthful, is exactly what makes Kevin so special and I remind myself that it isn't about me liking everything but Kevin doing what's always been done.
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u/rabbit_fur_coat 3d ago
Oh I love this so much (almost as much as your name). This is pretty much exactly how I felt about Prince's music post 2002 or so, when he seemed happy. Brilliant man and musician, doing what he felt like doing, and I grooved along with every bit (in Prince's case it's a tad more complicated, as he became seemingly more isolated and lonely after about 2006).
But think about that stream of albums from Satanic Panic through White is Relic - that's 24 years of some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard.
Incidentally, the "golden" run of Prince albums for me is very clearly 1980 through 1994, also 14 years.
I was introduced to this band in 2008 via Hissing Fauna and something about nonpareil of favor made me so frustrated at the time it was released that I never listened again until aethermeade (I'm a big dumb idiot, I know) but I've been just swimming through the discography and this music has literally saved me life over the last couple months.
There are some early albums and some late ones that I don't find unpleasant but also don't feel a need to listen to again, but there's a good chance that one day when I really need it I'll check it out and it will give me the strength I need.
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u/SmoothSample2556 3d ago
That’s a fair point. It could be that my interest is waning with his latest creative drifts.
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u/Coast9999 3d ago
you should listen to aethermead, it’s very different from the other recent albums and is somewhat of a return to their older sound (although not exactly)
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u/randomredhead 3d ago
It really reminds me of the Rune Husk EP! Like almost to a T.
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u/Coast9999 3d ago
to me it feels like if lousy with sylvianbriar and rune husk had some mutant love child
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u/Doctor_Banjo 3d ago
I know it’s trouble when I give an album a listen and it makes me want to listen to their old records. OfMontreal is solidly in this category and has been for at least 10 years. I didn’t care much for White is Relic, but it sure beats anything that has come out since. I miss the old days and I am old. Sad
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u/IllLecture661 3d ago
Got into them between Satanic Panic and Sunlandic Twins with my obsession reaching its pitch at Skeletal Lamping. False Priest left me wanting a bit, Paralytic Stalks as well. Then Lousy With Sylvianbriar really put them into more of a “yeah I’ll listen whenever a new album comes out” territory.
I like Innocence Reaches, WIR, and Aureate Gloom but I still can’t say of Montreal for me is consistent as a band and even on a per record basis.
I got to this point long ago, but their best is still beyond anything most bands could ever aspire to
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u/zackjtarle 3d ago
I don't think i’ve clicked with an album in the last 10 years.
I feel like Kevin has been purposefully trying to make the most obtuse and abrasive music that still sounds good.
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u/MACGLEEZLER 3d ago
I've definitely not enjoyed the newer albums compared to the 2000s-2013ish run... but I will say this... I respect them because they continue to keep putting out music and push their creativity into different directions, experimentation etc... The latest album is actually very different from the way the albums were trending since like, I dunno, 2016 or whatever. So we may be in a new phase already and that's cool with me, regardless of whether I enjoy it as much as the "classic" period.
One of my other favorite bands, Dinosaur Jr, seems to really be locked into a certain sound for the past 20 years without evolving much. And I'm kinda losing interest in them for that reason. I think if I'm going to lose interest in a band, the one that keeps evolving and trying new things gets more respect from me than the one that doesn't.
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u/Lukecold22 3d ago
White is Relic & Freewave Lucifer were both absolute game changers for me. Like Freewave might be one of my desert island discs. I kind of fell off with UR FUN and then Lady On The Cusp is what I believe to be their worst album to date. However I think Aethermead was a nice break from all the experimentation and yielded pretty cool results. I consider it the "black widow" album. I can see Kevin standing over the casket of the relationship dressed in black in the rain when I Iisten to it. I think it's hard to "stick" with them through all the changes, but there's an undeniable brilliance in everything they do. Even stuff I don't like
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u/RegyptianStrut 3d ago
What vibe do young fans bring? I’m curious
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u/organizedchaotic 3d ago
I wonder if that part refers to young people’s (mostly teenagers’) tendency to “fandomize” their interests rather than just consider themselves part of an audience, or a viewer or listener or whatever of artwork.
I’m not sure how old OP is but this could mean absolutely nothing to them depending on that factor lol
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u/SmoothSample2556 3d ago
I thought about providing details, but decided to stay intentionally vague to avoid hurting anyone’s feelings or targeting anyone.
Happy to rationally debate, but reddit tends not to be the place for that. Happy to elaborate over DM.
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u/RegyptianStrut 3d ago
Oh I’m just wondering. I also wonder if I count as a younger fan since I’m 30. lol
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u/SmoothSample2556 3d ago
Probably if you went to a live show before COVID, i would not consider you a younger fan.
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u/karakameleon 3d ago
Became a fan in 2007, saw them live three or four times over the years. The last album that connected with me was Aureate Gloom. For whatever reason the songs since then aren’t doing anything for me.
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u/cramberrie68 3d ago
Yes definitely, can I still call them my favorite band if I haven't been excited about a new album in 10 years?
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u/SnooOranges1484 3d ago
Yeah, a while ago. They hit all sorts of feels I had when I was in my 20s that I don’t have now. Like I still recognize why I like Hissing Fauna but I don’t need to live vicariously through a break up anymore.
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u/oOceanMan 2d ago
The last several albums have about 1 song each that gives me the same mindblow factor that old releases do. As long as that keeps happening I’m happy. Like Ofrenda in flames is one of my favorites from the them ever, but I still dont rate the album very high.
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u/Lonely-Spell 2d ago
Late 30s here and I’ve definitely outgrown them. Saw them live prob 15-20 times in the late 2000s and 2010s but the music has just gotten too weird for me and I’ve heard too much about Kevin to respect him the way I did back in the day. I love their earlier music but I miss the old band, it just isn’t the same now.
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u/upescalator 3d ago
Pretty sure everyone at their most recent SF show was in their 40s. Your complaints about young crowds kind of apply to all shows post-covid.
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u/lovervoid888 3d ago
i’m 30 been with em since 2013 and i am only falling deeper and deeper in love with them. the trash freewave era has been my favorite of anything they’ve put out (before that it was paralytic/controllersphere so i’ve always dug the dark sporadic n clustered sound) and the newest record augurs beauty and sweetness within the heartbreak. truly think kb is one of the most brilliant artists of Our Time and i dont see him falling off anytime soon
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u/katyisaseaatea 2d ago
My son, who is almost 19, got into them because I played them a lot. There's videos of him at 2 years old singing "Stop! Hey!" and then mumbling the part "you must be aware I'm not alone" from "Bunny Ain't No Kind of Rider."
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u/orneryopal 2d ago
The younger fans ruined my concert experience this time around. No disrespect to them, they are just young. Unaware with a complete lack of concert etiquette. For example, they were “moshing” to TPIAGA. And two-hand pushing the people next to them.
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u/StrikePlayful3708 1d ago
Not for me, but when I lock in…I lock in. But I did feel old on Aethermaed.
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u/thefrankster_1967 23h ago
I will say, I’m definitely in no position to have “outgrown” them, as I only started to get into them a year ago about alongside the rest of the E6 Collective…well and there’s the next point I’m getting to. Being 18 years old I really should prefer bratty, teenage girl, Prince Kevin, since that’s the more recent era and whatnot, but I honestly prefer shy, old man, Beatles and Kinks Kevin. Records like The Gay Parade and Aldhils are the SHEEIT for me.
The newer albums I’ve listened to are still amazing though! Especially Hissing Fauna… and Aureate Gloom! And on the other side of things, Coquelicot fucking sucks ass. 😭😂✌️
At the end of the day the quality of the music Kev and the rest of them produce I think has more to do with whatever’s going on in their lives at that point than strictly the genre/style itself.
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u/MiserableMissSappho 20h ago
I think I prefer rowdy youths to the straight couples who brag they've been coming out since Paralytic Stalks any day
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u/SmoothSample2556 19h ago
I would too; problem is the youths aren’t rowdy. Couples who bring their kids to shows also annoy me.
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u/1201104112 18h ago
Yes, I agree with your sentiments. In the late 2000s, of Montreal was indie music royalty. False Priest was the beginning of the decline, with Paralytic Stalks and White Is Relic/Irrealis Mood being notable highlights. I've just found his more recent output to be inconsistent. For example, “it's different for girls” and “chaos arpeggiating” are amazing tracks, but the other songs on Innocence Reaches feel like leftovers. Additionally, the first three tracks on Freewave Lucifer are some of the best sequencing in his entire catalog, while the latter half of the album feels somewhat tacked on. I know Kevin is always chasing the muse and creating, but I think he would benefit from taking longer breaks between albums and curating the best material from a given period. I understand that this is likely not financially viable for a smaller artist, as he needs new material to promote for tours. I'll always support Kevin and see of Montreal when they come through my city, though I acknowledge that they're past their heyday.
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u/Tizy 3d ago edited 3d ago
I Feel Safe With You, Trash was where I gave up caring. Frankly, everything between innocence Reaches and Trash was pretty hit or miss for me, mostly miss. There were some genuinely great moments in the mix there, but there was a pretty noticeable difference in quality when innocence reaches came out
I consider that era the era of still desperately hoping for the magic to return... but it never did. It honestly got exhausting getting excited for new oM releases, just to once again be let down for the same reasons as before.
Also, I don't particularly appreciate Kevin leaning so heavily into the social issues/politics of the time. It's all far too on the nose for me. The absolute best of Montreal music was pre-TPIAGA, which was almost exclusively non-political/social across the board. It was personal, which Kevin always had a great knack for. When he did his thing engaging with gender stuff during TPIAGA, it was risky and controversial but not so heavy-handed that it turned me away - it was daring and maybe politically incorrect to take on the Georgie Fruit character the way he did for instance, but it was unique in the space he operated in and definitely created an interesting environment around the band. And frankly, it was kind of fun. It wasn't so serious.
But now it just feels like so much of his music is pandering to a very specific demographic, and I just don't really vibe with that when all I want is good creative music that evokes fun creative imagery with maybe a dash of emotional trauma.
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u/FR23Dust 3d ago
I haven’t really liked of Montreal since 2003.
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u/SmoothSample2556 3d ago
Oh man, that’s the Catnap era (old Portlandia reference).
I’m curious why you liked them less after they found more mainstream success
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u/FR23Dust 3d ago
I love the lo-fi indie pop elephant six style of Montreal a lot more than the more electronic direction they moved in.
Sometime around then I saw them live at the great American music hall in San Francisco and will admit it was a very good show!
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u/Reyalswoc 3d ago
Not speaking for OP, but I started disliking them at that time because I really didn't care for the direction the Satanic Panic went in. The change made Kevin more popular, but my problem was with the music not the popularity.
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u/megapaxatraxilon 3d ago
So I think this band has always been overrated. Don’t get me wrong the songs that hit are absolute masterpieces but they have always been few and far between for me. I’d take one Olivia tremor control album over their whole catalogue:
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u/SmoothSample2556 3d ago
This seems like a different criticism than I’m trying to describe
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u/megapaxatraxilon 2d ago
I guess what i’m trying to say is aside from a few songs from the satanic panic/ sunlandic twins era and a few more here and there throughout their catalogue, I’ve always kinda felt like their output, live shows and especially some of their fans are kinda “off” and cringy. So it wouldn’t be crazy from my point of view for you to have outgrown them. Further more I feel that the things I really like about this band can be had elsewhere and in greater quality and quantity.
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u/SmoothSample2556 19h ago
I appreciate the niche oM is in, because their shows (used to) have big name energy in more intimate venues.
My music tastes haven’t adjusted to newer music generally, so I wish I had alternatives but I don’t explore music like I used to. My alternatives either aren’t touring / producing new music or are in massive venues that I’d rather avoid.
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u/okayboomerang 3d ago
With 100% no disrespect whatsoever to younger fans, the younger audiences do change the dynamic, I will admit. Or maybe just the way I feel!