of Montreal

of Montreal is an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia in 1996 by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Barnes, who remains its only constant member through a frequently shifting lineup. The band emerged as part of the Elephant 6 collective, the loose circle of Athens and Denver musicians (including Neutral Milk Hotel and The Apples in Stereo) known for lo-fi psychedelic pop, and of Montreal quickly developed a reputation for prolific output and restless genre-hopping.

Barnes's songwriting pairs bright, hook-laden melodies with lyrics that are often dark, confessional or theatrically strange, frequently filtered through invented characters and alter egos. Over the years the band's sound has moved from twee psych-pop toward glam, funk, disco and electronic textures, most notably on the acclaimed Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? (2007), which chronicled Barnes's personal struggles through the alter ego Georgie Fruit, as well as Skeletal Lamping (2008) and False Priest (2010).

Known for elaborate, theatrical live shows and a fiercely independent creative vision, of Montreal has released a large and varied catalog while remaining a defining act of the Elephant 6 legacy, admired for its lyrical wit and willingness to reinvent its sound from album to album.