Paralytic Stalks
by Of Montreal
User Score
7.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 38 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 38
  3. Negative: 8 out of 38
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  1. Glowguy
    Feb 27, 2012
    2
    To say I strongly dislike this album would be a huge understatement. It's the worst album I've heard in a long time and it ranks pretty low on the all time list. Words can't really do it justice but I will try. I always try to listen to an album at least three times but I really struggled to get through two listens with this (and this is coming from a guy with a very high tolerance forTo say I strongly dislike this album would be a huge understatement. It's the worst album I've heard in a long time and it ranks pretty low on the all time list. Words can't really do it justice but I will try. I always try to listen to an album at least three times but I really struggled to get through two listens with this (and this is coming from a guy with a very high tolerance for musical experimentation). Silence never sounded so sublime as when this album ended. On the vegetable scale this album ranks as boiled cabbage. If you are a fan of the band this album will change your mind. I feel like the quality of my life has declined since listening to this album. Ok all joking aside, besides the cover art I really can't find anything redeeming about this record at all. I've always thought these guys were eccentric but here they've completely gone over the top and they sound full blown pretentious. The lyrics and song titles are obnoxiously bad ("I turn to my crotch for counsel and it won't disappoint me" ) - I mean really?!? This guy takes douchebaggery to a whole new level. Musically it's even worse. The album is all over the place and not in a good way. The songs have no direction or cohesiveness. Think of the Beatles releasing an entire remix album of Revolution #9 and that's what this album sounds like - only much worse because of the horrendous lyrics. I could go on and on but I have to stop and purge this atrocity from my hard drive. For the love of christ Kevin Barnes check yourself in rehab (I'm assuming this album is heavily drug induced but I could be wrong), find a happy place, or better yet just pack up your instruments and call it a day because there is no coming back from this. The critics are being easy on these guys. I won't be listening to them for a long time.… Expand
  2. nirishan9
    Jan 17, 2013
    3
    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.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
62

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 27
  3. Negative: 2 out of 27
  1. Mojo
    Feb 27, 2012
    40
    Paralytic Stalks is not an easy listen, but neither is it a good one. [Mar 2012, p.98]
  2. No Ripcord
    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.
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  3. Q Magazine
    Feb 22, 2012
    60
    The idea of crossing over is approached like somebody running onto a motorway wearing a blindfold. [Mar 2012, p.111]
See all critic reviews »