It’s no exaggeration to say Of Montreal main man Kevin Barnes has been around the block a few times. His act’s latest, Paralytic Stalks, which is out now from Polyvinyl Records, is their eleventh full-length release. The album builds on Barnes’ trademark indie pop formula, which traces its roots back to the Elephant Six collective’s heyday in the late ’90s. Although many of the familiar elements resurface, from Barnes’ witty, sometimes nutty vocals, to the vaguely Beatlesque sense of melody, Paralytic also features orchestrated instrumental stretches and an intricate songwriting hitherto unknown in Of Montreal albums.

It also pulls Barnes away from his recent habit of crafting a persona to serve as his album’s central figures. Paralytic is chock full of first-person narratives, a lyrical tactic Barnes hasn’t employed since 2007’s Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? It should come as no surprise, either, that it also dabbles in the darker, more psychologically tortured themes that last appeared on Hissing Fauna. Oddly enough, Barnes still seems to be the happy-go-lucky character at the center of his last albums.

TIG: You’re one of the few bands left around from the indie-rock underground of the ’90s. Does that give you a different perspective on making music or navigating the industry?

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{ed note: originally posted 7/27 -- but it's this Saturday! Let this serve as a reminder that it's time to get rollin'!}

Join us on Saturday, August 21, 2010 from 5pm-7pm as get a sneak listen to False Priest, the new of Montreal record that wont hit the stores until September 14 (on Polyvinyl).

And this isn't just any old listening party, it's a radtastical roller skating par-tay at the Lynnwood Bowl & Skate and is going to include a room dedicated to double dutch jump rope (courtesy of Double Dutch Empire), a costume contest (dress up as your favorite of Montreal stage character or band member) with prizes to see of Montreal (Paramount Theatre on October 27) and prize packs from Polyvinyl Records.

There will be a $7 cover (includes roller skate rental!!!) and the event is all ages (bar w/ ID). Of course, as with any respectable outing involving the hokey pokey, the bar will have drink specials.

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The great Dave Allen of Gang of Four, Danny Seim (Menomena) and John Askew (Tracker) have a new project: Faux Hoax, crazily pronounced "Folks".

The Portland trio are creating a canvas of lyrics and music onto which all sorts of collaborators will make their stamp as well, birthing an experimental-style approach that challenges the conventional idea of a band. A rotating cast of members will basically perform or accompany songs written by the core trio.

Who could resist a lil listen to the song "Hippies Will Rule", of their first (and maybe only?) release on Polyvinyl Records this May, Your Friends Will Carry You Home.

Listen to "Foxworthy" and judge for yourself.

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Finally, the fascinating and sometimes disturbing cacophony of OF MONTREAL will bring their sideshow act to the Showbox SoDo on November 19th w/HEALTH.

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I, for one, am looking forward to this odd listening party. Look for me... I'll have my brownies in tow and my head clear for fun.

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Of Montreal will be taking over the Laser Dome at the Pacific Science Center on Friday September 12th for a night of seizures, pot brownies and some durn good pop music. Here's the 411....

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The impeccable genius of quirk-masters Of Montreal strikes again.

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Sleepwalker + Boris Yeltsin 4-eva.

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