Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
by Of Montreal
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 164 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 146 out of 164
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 164
  3. Negative: 9 out of 164

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  1. F.L.
    Jun 8, 2007
    10
    Soooooo nice.
  2. DMcQ
    Jul 1, 2007
    10
    6 months in my Frontrunner for album of the year...Fascinating combination of Ultra Energetic Pop Pastiche (A crazy blend of Beatles/Prince/Berlin-era Bowie References) and deeply personal lyricism. Though completely different in sound and feel, shares with Sleater-Kinney's The Woods a sense of late-career breakthrough...this an incredibly confidant, daring album...too quick and 6 months in my Frontrunner for album of the year...Fascinating combination of Ultra Energetic Pop Pastiche (A crazy blend of Beatles/Prince/Berlin-era Bowie References) and deeply personal lyricism. Though completely different in sound and feel, shares with Sleater-Kinney's The Woods a sense of late-career breakthrough...this an incredibly confidant, daring album...too quick and chaotic for some, but a jewel to be treasure for those that can. Brilliantly sequenced too, with many of the songs thematically merging into one another. And in The Past is a Grotesque Animal the best song of the year.… Expand
  3. GZ
    Feb 3, 2007
    10
    Brilliant! nuff said
  4. JoseC
    Mar 5, 2007
    10
    Probably there best work of there career. Very catchy, fun, thrilling, weird, and absolutely stunning! The best album so far this year.
  5. TrekD
    Mar 5, 2007
    10
    Awesome, just awesome! I haven't had this much fun listening to music in a long, long time.
  6. Nelly
    Apr 9, 2008
    10
    Outrageous... one of the best I've heard in a long time... we were born... unbelievable tune.
  7. IsaacC
    Jan 23, 2007
    10
    Another concept album for Of Montreal that is not short of the talent and artistic genius we have come to expect from Kevin Barnes. The story is one that tells of Kevin's struggle to find himself. It revolves around him transforming into an eternal alter ego- Georgie Fruit, a character resembling rockers like Freddie Mercury whose central preoccupations are generally music, love and Another concept album for Of Montreal that is not short of the talent and artistic genius we have come to expect from Kevin Barnes. The story is one that tells of Kevin's struggle to find himself. It revolves around him transforming into an eternal alter ego- Georgie Fruit, a character resembling rockers like Freddie Mercury whose central preoccupations are generally music, love and drugs. The climax of the entire album is where the transformation takes place- in the approximately 12 minute "The Past is a Grotesque Animal"-the essential stripping-down of the previous being. Through the entire album evidence of the glamour of rock come through sexual and drug references. And following the trend set by these concept albums, the songs are again upbeat-intricate, beautiful melodies in front of the dance-able bass lines that bring most back to the '70s. Dottie's synth resonates along with the music providing for the feel-good vibe absorbed by the listener. Kevin's ability as a lyricist is passed through the spot-free mirror of his insanely memorable and extraordinary voice-each assertment of "you ain't got no soul power" and "I want to hit her but I can't, I can't, I can't!" possesses the listener to become so familiar with the song as if it were always embedded in their souls. I found myself utterly familiar with EVERY song and EVERY lyric upon the first listen. And the same Beatle-esque melodies and the canvas music compostition style of Queen still apper as sheer as on The Sunlandic Twins. By far atop the string of concept albums released by Kevin Barnes and company. Of Montreal shows again why they are atop the throne of the Indie Pop scene.… Expand
  8. thomasl
    Jan 24, 2007
    10
    When the band released some teaser mp3's earlier I was looking to be disappointed, but after hearing it all together as one work i am blown away. i want to listen to it constantly. i hope this doesn't mean i get burned out on it quickly - i hope it remains a constant and grows and grows like the 12 minute "The Past is a Grotesque Animal." This is a song unlike any OM has When the band released some teaser mp3's earlier I was looking to be disappointed, but after hearing it all together as one work i am blown away. i want to listen to it constantly. i hope this doesn't mean i get burned out on it quickly - i hope it remains a constant and grows and grows like the 12 minute "The Past is a Grotesque Animal." This is a song unlike any OM has released before. A song that feels like you are experiencing it being created at that very moment that you are listening to it. It is NOW forever. "Grolandic Edit" and "She's a Rejector" will not leave my brain for a while. An album that explores some territory that Beck did with Midnite Vultures, I 'm sure it will be in most top 10 lists at the end of the year.… Expand
  9. bryndiso
    Jan 31, 2007
    10
    brilliant. heart-wrenching and utterly danceable at the same time. barnes is the man.
  10. andresl
    Jan 30, 2007
    10
    wow, how could this band slip under my radar. this is the first record i have listen to by them but i think is absolutly brilliant. i'm gonna check out their previous albums although the reviews suggest they are quiet different. this one is very catchy, the production is excellent and the lyrics kinda dark but very funny. some songs sound like beck circa midnight vultures others like wow, how could this band slip under my radar. this is the first record i have listen to by them but i think is absolutly brilliant. i'm gonna check out their previous albums although the reviews suggest they are quiet different. this one is very catchy, the production is excellent and the lyrics kinda dark but very funny. some songs sound like beck circa midnight vultures others like good bowie. no filler i like all the songs… Expand
  11. JasonH
    Jan 30, 2007
    10
    Best CD by "Of Montreal" yet. Really gets you going.
  12. jackq
    Feb 3, 2007
    10
    Best album ever made, even better live.
  13. FelipeP
    Feb 8, 2007
    10
    Amazing record, Of Montreal definitely is one of the best bands in the world. The production is magic, as the lyrics.
  14. JacobT
    Mar 10, 2007
    10
    Such good pop it hurts.
  15. HenrikS
    Mar 5, 2007
    10
    Very good! not a bad track on the album
  16. LukeT
    Mar 7, 2007
    10
    I can't even explain how good this is.
  17. ClintR
    Mar 9, 2007
    10
    This album is frickin' ridiculously GREAT!!! SOOO many amazing tracks... I need more...NOW!!
  18. NikkiG
    Apr 15, 2007
    10
    Fav pshychedlic rock of the year by far!! just so much fun to listen to!
  19. Cat
    Apr 23, 2007
    10
    A really fun album. My boyfriend and I dance to it all the time. All and by the way, best album of the year!
  20. Truedatdk
    Apr 25, 2007
    10
    Wow, I didn't even know this band until a few months ago, heard some sets on KEXP podcasts, and then picked up Satanic Twins on EMusic. I enjoyed that, and it grew on me tremendously over time. It was right at that point this album dropped, and I picked it up. Really classic, essential, definitive stuff. There are so many surprises here, humorous, and disturbing. Listen and enjoy. I Wow, I didn't even know this band until a few months ago, heard some sets on KEXP podcasts, and then picked up Satanic Twins on EMusic. I enjoyed that, and it grew on me tremendously over time. It was right at that point this album dropped, and I picked it up. Really classic, essential, definitive stuff. There are so many surprises here, humorous, and disturbing. Listen and enjoy. I am going to go shave my head and be left alone ;)… Expand
  21. DEE
    Apr 27, 2007
    10
    Absolutely brilliant! Definitely one of a kind. Great, great album.
  22. CameronS
    Apr 7, 2007
    10
    Fantastic! "The Past is A Grotesque Animal" is one of the best, most mesmerizing songs of all time. Buy it now!
  23. JT
    May 1, 2007
    10
    The first real masterpiece of 07. Another terrific album by Of Montreal.
  24. BenoitT.
    May 17, 2007
    10
    A BOMB
  25. VincentH.
    May 22, 2007
    10
    One of the few over-hyped and critically acclaimed albums of the year that ACTUALLY DESERVES IT! (yes...Klaxons suck...deal with it). "The Past is a Grotesque Animal" is the best song Of Montreal has ever done and is the best song I've heard on any album of any genre in 2007. It's worth the purchase alone...if you liked "Sunlandic Twins" a lot, you will love this one. It's One of the few over-hyped and critically acclaimed albums of the year that ACTUALLY DESERVES IT! (yes...Klaxons suck...deal with it). "The Past is a Grotesque Animal" is the best song Of Montreal has ever done and is the best song I've heard on any album of any genre in 2007. It's worth the purchase alone...if you liked "Sunlandic Twins" a lot, you will love this one. It's a natural progression in every way (Barnes' songwriting only gets better with each album), from the music (much more complex yet more melodic) to the lyrics (easily the best lyrics Barnes has ever written). Besides one song, this album is a straight-up masterpiece and definitely one of the top 4 or 5 best albums released so far this year. If you are a fan of their earlier albums or indie-pop in general, this is a must-have.… Expand
  26. Smith
    May 22, 2007
    10
    catchy and intoxicating as hell! A pure pop sensation.
  27. sephb
    May 8, 2007
    10
    This album is one that i feel i will never tire off,Barnes proves to be virtuosic in his musical and lyrical abilities, this song should be way higher in the best of 2007 list, not slagging arcade fire off but Barnes manages to fit ten times more melodies into his songs without the entourage of 600 violinists!!
  28. chuckl.
    Jun 26, 2007
    10
    of montreal is the best!!!!!
  29. ColinO
    Jun 9, 2007
    10
    A terrifically fun album.
  30. Drake
    Aug 1, 2007
    10
    Probably the best album of the year!
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Awards & Rankings

50
#50 Best Album of 2007
29
#29 Most Discussed Album of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 36 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 36
  3. Negative: 0 out of 36
  1. Drowned In Sound
    80
    If there is one thing in this world that can elevate even the weakest of lyrics from the trough of personal diary hell, it’s a catchy melody. Thankfully this record overflows with them.
    Read full review
  2. The Boston Phoenix
    75
    For the most part an exercise in Prince-like electro-funk, full of squelchy keyboard fuzz and chicken-scratch guitar noise and absurdly complicated falsetto harmonies.
    Read full review
  3. Urb
    80
    A wonderfully dance-ridden companion ot the intelli-disco carved out on 2005's The Sunlandic Twins. [Jan/Feb 2006, p.81]
See all critic reviews »