My Top 2000 Songs #1022: Jennifer Louise

Of all the Elephant 6 indie pop bands that kicked off in the 90s, I probably found Of Montreal the most challenging. Kevin Barnes' early lo-fi records could be interesting--quaint little concept albums, like a record tracing the entire course of a relationship, from love to break-up, over a quirky song cycle--but his casual naivete could quickly pivot from sweet to cloying. Still, there are a number of gems in the catalog I still enjoy visiting on occasion (though I dropped off once Barnes started taking the band in a more acid-drenched electronica direction in the mid 2000s).

The band shine brightest on "Jennifer Louise," off 2002's Aldhills Arboretum. By this time, Of Montreal was starting to move beyond its ramshackle lo-fi roots, showing just a bit of polish, and the inherent catchiness of the track is bolstered by some actual sonic punch. It still captures Barnes' skewed whimsy--to my ears, it sounds like a song about crushing on your cousin, which is a little creepy; but it's still relentlessly fun, and zips by before you know it, leaving you humming the tune all day long.

Live: