Of Montreal have done the impossible -- they've figured out a way to become even WEIRDER.  This week is the dawn of a quick east coast mini-tour for Kevin and the gang, and last night was the tour opener at the Highline Ballroom.  Most fans expected the tour to be a testing ground for tracks from the band's forthcoming album, due in the fall.  Those fans were right.  In fact, one of the tracks -- the innocently-titled "Teenage Unicorn Fisting" -- is already making its way around the Youtube circuit.  Some fans were hoping for a cameo from Solange Knowles, Beyonce's little sister and outspoken Of Montreal fan.  Those fans were right. Solange jumped onstage and duetted with the band on a cover of The Jackson Five's "I Want You Back."  What NO fans were expecting was Academy Award winning actress Susan Sarandon (Dammit, Janet!) hopping onstage to spank the hell out of some guys in pig costumes.  Go re-read that last sentence.  We're not making it up.  Don't believe us?  Stereogum has the whole thing on tape.

of Montreal work harder than you. With more ideas than some bands have in a career stuffed into Hissing Fauna..., Skeletal Lamping, and their dazzling live shows, it would be OK for oM to set aside the instruments for a minute. Of course that is not how oM have ever worked, and so we are already seeing new songs on this tour, with the gaps in dates stopped with whatever radio or video studio sessions they can find. Here are two, one for 89.7 WTMD and the other for 90.7 WFUV (I miss call letters), which see B.P. and KB once again go acoustic for "Beware Our Nubile Miscreants" alongside a cover of the Beatles' White Album classic "I'm So Tired."Continue reading of Montreal Unplug, Cover The Beatles... - Source

When recapping of Montreal's over-the-top Skeletal Lamping-themed show at Roseland this past Friday, we mentioned and posted a video of their "Smells Like Teen Spirit" cover with MGMT's Andrew VanWyngarden. The clip was a tad grainy, though, and it didn't capture the entire song, so please allow this MP3 to help you more fully reach Nirvana. - Source

Members of MGMT and Of Montreal have collaborated to form a new side project called Blikk Fang. - Source

For your next fateful, monster-interrupted loft party, do it Cloverfield style; Hypeful has assembled fulll MP3s of all the "indie-tastic tunes playing in the background of Rob's farewell party" (starring Spoon, Architecture In Helsinki, and of Montreal, etc.). And for as many off-hand jokes we've made about Cloverfield, you'd think we'd all have seen this movie a million times by now. How many times has Stereogum actually combined to see this movie? None. None many times. So ... was it good? More on Hypeful.  Source

The title says it all, really. Our favorite Little Band That Could, OF MONTREAL, are making their national television debut Thursday night on Late Night w/Conan O'Brien!

Today is Tuesday the 23rd of January, which means that you need to march to your nearest record store and pick up the new OF MONTREAL record, "Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?"

For a band that's worn many hats through the years, this is far and away the strongest release of their current glam/dance phase. We've had a promo copy since September, and it's been tough to take it out of the CD player for the past 4 months. Could one of 2007's best records have come out before we've even announced the results of our 2006 poll?

Along with the solid effort comes solid backing from Polyvinyl Records, which includes the band's first non-animated video, for the single "Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse." And it's pure Of Montreal weird. Check it out:

There's a reason why I donate money to NPR every year. KCRW's "Morning Becomes Eclectic" is one of the greatest things in the world... and their website is even better, as it's got TONS of archived live performances that you can check out via streaming video. Name the band and if they're cool, they've played on the show (and likely have the whole set archived!) OF MONTREAL, THE GO! TEAM, and MARK GARDENER are among the recent acts to be featured. Check out their website - if you've got a few hours to kill.

The trouble with some of the indiepop bands that we know and love is that since they operate on such a small scale, you oftentimes miss the press exposure that your Coldplays and Radioheads of the world get... that's why discovering a fun interview with one of your favorite bands can sometimes be a refreshing goldmine. OF MONTREAL, one of our favorite indie bands out there, recently got some pretty decent exposure on NPR's Weekend Edition. The NPR website has the entire interview archived on their site. Check it out if you havent joined their cult yet.

Finally some new news from OF MONTREAL.

The "band" have found a new label, finished a new record, and are setting up a tour.

"Satanic Panic in the Attic" is the title of the new record... and they're looking at an April 6th release date on Polyvinyl Records (home to Mates of State, The Red Hot Valentines, and others.)

The word "band" is in quotes above because it's now come to light that "Satanic Panic" is essentially a solo project from Of Montreal frontman Kevin Barnes. With the departure of guitarist Andy Gonzales (to nursing school and his own project, The Marshmallow Coast), drummer Jamey Huggins moving far from the band's home base of Athens, GA, and Barnes marrying a Swede this past year, the new record was essentially completed by Barnes with the occasional friend/band member hopping by to add bits here and there.

We're told that the album sounds "very schizo," as Barnes is now listing bands as diverse as Daft Punk and Broadcast among his current influences.

The group (whatever incarnation it may result in) is planning a tour in April-May, and Barnes has issued the following direct plea to fans:

"We are in the process of booking our upcoming tour for April/May and we need help in setting up some University shows. If anyone can help orchestrate that please contact our booking agent Eric Carter at erikork@clamazon.com. We look forward to seeing you all soon!!! P.S. The tour is going to be a more theatrical and bizarre affair..." [and take it from us, when he says 'bizarre', it means BIZARRE.]