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Jun 8, 2026Unfortunately, Barnes’ drab palate—sandy acoustic guitars, squeals of distortion, drums so familiar that they might as well be wallpaper—leave these tales of heartbreak in the lurch.
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Jun 8, 2026If you seek out of Montreal for rich sonics and tightly composed songs, aethermead will probably inch toward the top of your album ranking.
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UncutJun 8, 2026It's some of Barnes' finest work. [Jul 2026, p.36]
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Jun 8, 2026Results may vary on whether listeners find the lyrics cathartic, cringy, or neutral on the relatability scale, but it is Of Montreal's most consistently strong and musically accessible group of songs since at least the party album Ur Fun (2020) and arguably as far back as Lousy with Sylvianbriar (2013).
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Jun 8, 2026Essentially, it covers every art pop element that Barnes has touched upon while maintaining an ebb and flow with out any detriments.
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Jun 8, 2026So, aethermead ends with a sign of hope, yes, but also a frustrating reminder of a songwriting talent that is all too frequently dwarfed by a penchant for self-indulgence.