When you’re as flamboyant and bizarre as Of Montreal’s Kevin Barnes, sometimes the risks do pay off. Kanye’s producer lifts up the production values—this is a slickly produced collage of r&b, ’80s pop, disco, dance and glam-funk, elevated by Barnes’ lyrics, which run from confessional poetic rants to high-register squeals. Janelle Monáe joins Barnes for a little dance and harmony on “Enemy Gene,” which also serves as a preview of Monáe’s future stardom. “Sex Karma,” a duet with Solange Knowles, doesn’t work as well: It comes a little too close to a straight-up Prince adoration session, with Barnes referring to Knowles’ body as a “playground.” Weird with many moments of wonderful.
This article appears in Sep 30 – Oct 6, 2010.