^ AM180 was on the 28 Days Later Soundtrack (*loved that soundtrack...and the rage zombies*). I'll have to check them out closer, they sound pretty good. And, they've been around for a while too.
Of Montreal
Of Montreal is NOT a Montreal band, in fact, they are from Athens, Georgia. The founder apparently named the band after a Montreal girl who broke his heart (aww...how cute
).
Much of their earlier work can be described as psychedelic pop and new-wave influenced (also heavily influenced by the Beatles and 60s pop in general), with each release escaping further away from being overly rock influenced. They are a giddy, playful...can I say zany even? Sometimes you’ll hear their lyrics referred to as clever “childlike nursery rhymes”, although on other occasions, they can be quite melancholy and complex. Frontman Kevin Barnes displayed his storytelling abilities on the first couple of albums (The *** Parade and Coquelicot Asleep in the Poppies: A Variety of Whimsical Verse) which can be interpreted as “concept” albums with even more clever song titles. Another distinguishing feature is Barnes’ near-the-brink-of-spazzy opera-esque voice, which some will find appealing, while others will be disgusted and then some.
Nothing up to this point was really anything special until they left Kindercore Records and jumped ship to Polyvinyl to release Satanic Panic in The Attic (2004), which probably brought them a little more exposure to the world. Unlike the others, this album was more disco funk and synth based, while blending psych and power pop, more danceable, as well as being better produced overall. In 2005, Sunlandic Twins, believe it or not, was their 7th album, once again gearing more towards the synth sound. This, in my opinion, is probably the most listenable album to the average pop fan, but not necessarily the most accomplished lyrically or in terms of creativity (that is, compared to their earlier albums).
Favorite Tracks: I Was Never Young, The Party's Crashing Us Now, Wraith Pinned to the Mist (and Other Games), Penelope, Oslo In the Summertime, and Disconnect the Dots [all the songs, except the latter, are from Sunlandic Twins]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PoJv...=Of%20Montreal
http://www.ofmontreal.net/
http://www.myspace.com/ofmontreal