Of Montreal's New Album: Breakup Blues Fall Flat

Of Montreal, the long-standing project of Kevin Barnes, has released its 20th album, "Aethermead." This new collection of songs, inspired by a recent eight-year relationship's end and Barnes' move from Vermont to Brooklyn, falls short of the band's most celebrated work.

Barnes, known for exploring emotional extremes, opts for a subdued sound on "Aethermead." The album features muted instrumentation like sandy acoustic guitars and unobtrusive drums, a stark contrast to the vibrant funk-pop and synth-driven sounds of previous records. This minimalist approach, possibly an attempt to evoke a post-breakup haze, results in a generally plodding atmosphere.

While flashes of Of Montreal's signature maximalism appear on tracks like "Lacan in the Family" with its urgent distortion, and moments like the lounge-singer growl on "Wanting on Air," the overall delivery often lacks emotional resonance. Even darker lyrical themes on songs like "Hack It Up" are delivered in hushed tones, failing to convey the intended hurt or intensity, leaving the listener to question the artist's own investment in the material.