lousy with sylvianbriar

Pitchfork 7.4/10 After last year's tiresome Paralytic Stalks, Kevin Barnes regroups for what is arguably the best—not to mention the funniest, prickliest, most purple, and least fastidious—Of Montreal effort since 2007's *Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? *

A.V. Club D+ The sprawling and prolific 16-year career of Kevin Barnes’ collaborative project Of Montreal begins to look like a discernible arc on Lousy With Sylvianbriar. Beginning in the late ’90s as an overlooked member of the Elephant 6 collective, the band initially dabbled in quirky twee-psych ditties before moving into…

The Line of Best Fit 7/10 Another frustrating but occasionally brilliant record from Kevin Barnes, as half-formed as it is dazzling.

DIY 2/5 “Lousy” might just be the operative word.

The Skinny 3/5 Prolific glam-funk outfit of Montreal are giving us their twelfth studio album in Lousy With Sylvianbriar, an expectedly whimsical and seductive offering. Like much of the band’s back catalogue, the record mixes a pallette of styles, ranging from an indie quirkiness à la Spinto Band or early OK Go, to the honest vocal harmonies of The Beatles or Elliot Smith circa Figure 8, to a rockier, bass-led sound elsewhere.

Under The Radar 7.0/10 Kevin Barnes is clearly not a man for taking a break. Over the last 16 years, of Montreal's leading light has rattled off close to a record a year. And these are never just any old long-player; each is antithetical to its predecessor, a bleeding statement

Clash 8/10 Album review: Clash approves of the 12th studio album from Kevin Barnes' of Montreal, 'Lousy With Sylvianbriar'

Slant 2/5 Lousy with Sylvianbriar is perhaps Of Montreal’s most lifeless album to date.

Pop Matters 8/10 Some bands seem just too massive to discuss critically in any reasonable way.