Paralytic Stalks - Of Montreal
Paralytic Stalks Image
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 31 Ratings

  • Summary: The latest album for indie group Of Montreal was recorded with a group of session musicians at Kevin Barnes' studio in Athens, Georgia.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 27
  2. Negative: 2 out of 27
  1. Feb 6, 2012
    90
    At the end of the day, Kevin Barnes is really trying to make good pop. Paralytic Stalks is just that, bombast and all.
  2. Feb 10, 2012
    80
    [Barnes has created] the best experimental discordant noise pop he's worked on since 'Hissing Fauna'.
  3. Feb 23, 2012
    60
    There are some truly great moments here where the band crash around making glorious, daft, noisy pop music, but they stand at a stark counterpoint with the cloying experimental tendencies Barnes forces through.
  4. Feb 21, 2012
    30
    All too often Paralytic Stalks feels like an attempt to assume the role of indie-pop's Steve Vai by competitively crushing structural formats underfoot until there's nothing left but dusty granules.

See all 27 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 2 out of 11
  1. 10
    I waited for a peaceful moment in the busy work week to listen to the album with full concentration. Iâ
  2. Kevin Barnes creates another splendorous record. I understand the different opinions the critics are having, but this has to be one of the most interesting releases in months. Totally worth buying it, the songs won't leave your head. Expand
  3. "Paralytic Stalks" is the eleventh album by the group of Montreal. The album is more than an hour compilation of nine pieces in quite progressive rock climates ("Gelid Ascent"), interspersed with psychedelic pop ("Authentic Pyrrhic Remission", "Dour Percentage") and many different experiments such as, among others folk "Malefic Dowery", reminiscent of The Beatles "Wintered Debts" or indie rock, a bit Kasabian styled "Ye, Renew The Plaintiff ". Plural number of add-ons, guitar solos, lots of synthesizers and sometimes flamboyant vocals combining all of these parts might resemble a lot of Radiohead. The album can be strange in its content, but interesting though. Expand
  4. As a fan of Of Montreal, I was very disapointed. The only listenable thing on the album is the last two minutes, which has a nice stripped down piece. Other than that, it's Kevin Barnes's feelings poured into terrible noises. Collapse

See all 11 User Reviews