28.) Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? (2007)

Here goes - Of Montreal's Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? is the most fun record about a marriage on the brink of collapsing ever recorded. Has their ever been a greater disconnect between the sounds you're hearing and subject matter ever in pop music? I mean, sure "Timothy" by the Buoys is a pop song about cannibalism and there are some sure-fire pathos in "Common People" among other Pulp favorites - but the pure, gut wrenching agony at the underbelly of Hissing Fauna is actually tragic.

Lead Montreal-er Kevin Barnes and his wife have since reconciled, so there's a happy ending, but getting there was not easy. Having said all that, Hissing Fauna still manages to sound like your at a party in a fun house surrounded by carnies and people in masks clad only in pink and purple. Eschew the lyrics and this record is a back to front dance party, but it's not a dance record. Its a psychedelic rock/pop record of the highest order. In fact, it's one of the best. It rivals the best Flaming Lips records. Of Montreal are operating at that level, at least for me.

Though the theme of the record is difficult at times, Of Montreal refuse to wallow in the pity. When things get tough, fuck it let's dance! No band can make a line like "I spent the winter on the verge of a total breakdown while living in Norway" as fun as Of Montreal. There are certain records that I'll hear and think "how can someone not like this record?" and Hissing Fauna is one of those records. How can you not enjoy this record? Are you alive? Do you not like Prince either?

Of Montreal sound like aliens. Fun party-time aliens... you know aliens who are nice and just want to drink your Goldschlagerr, eat all your pills and have sex with you. But aliens nonetheless. Hissing Fauna sounds like all of that. And though the record is technically twelve songs long, it's really just one long piece of pop music heaven. It's best to just put it on and hang back, it'll do all the work even if at points it may make you want to cry.