Following studio albums inspired in part by folk-rock (Lousy with Sylvianbriar) and New York punk (Aureate Gloom), Kevin Barnes and company head more toward an updated glam-pop for studio LP 14, Innocence Reaches. The anger that marked Aureate Gloom has given way to reflection and a certain amount of lightness, without being lite. Recorded partially during a two-week stay in Paris to get away from it all after his divorce, the album is distinguished by contemporary sounds not expected from Barnes, especially on the electronic works "A Sport and a Pastime" and "Trashed Exes." The musical auteur did admit to connecting with some newer releases -- for a change -- while working on the record, naming names such as Chairlift and Jack ?. Meanwhile, the opening two tracks may tempt Hissing Fauna-era Of Montreal fans, as well as some new wave revivalists. Barnes introduces the timely theme of gender identity with the album's opening words: "How do you identify?" That's from "Let's Relate," a post-punkish dance tune with surging electronics. It leads into the funky club anthem "It's Different for Girls," a song that playfully delves further into social constructs and stereotypes ("Though some demons are women, for every one psycho chick, there's 10,000 hateful pricks"). Represented later are full-on glam with "Gratuitous Abysses," and a fusion of dark pop and disco, "Ambassador Bridge." While Barnes worked partly in isolation, he's also joined on Innocence Reaches by his full band from the previous three Of Montreal albums (including live LP Snare Lustrous Doomings), as well as a handful of guest musicians. Representing the more challenging efforts of the band's prior several releases is the aptly titled "Chaos Arpeggiating." Its fluctuating tempos, somewhat meandering chord changes, and drama are still, in keeping with the rest of the album, melodic and hooky. Though Innocence Reaches is more than a bit disjointed, offering a mix of styles previously explored and newly absorbed, it's an uptempo pleaser with songs that promise to be handpicked fan favorites -- albeit with little consensus. ~ Marcy Donelson

• Format: Vinyl
• Genre: Rock

As described in our Privacy Policy, we collect personal information from your interactions with us and our website, including through cookies and similar technologies. We may also share this personal information with third parties, including advertising partners. We do this in order to show you ads on other websites that are more relevant to your interests and for other reasons outlined in our privacy policy.

Sharing of personal information for targeted advertising based on your interaction on different websites may be considered "sales", "sharing", or "targeted advertising" under certain U.S. state privacy laws. Depending on where you live, you may have the right to opt out of these activities. If you would like to exercise this opt-out right, please follow the instructions below.

If you visit our website with the Global Privacy Control opt-out preference signal enabled, depending on where you are, we will treat this as a request to opt-out of activity that may be considered a “sale” or “sharing” of personal information or other uses that may be considered targeted advertising for the device and browser you used to visit our website.