Static Thunder Dome: Of Montreal vs Phoenix

I know what you ask yourselves, "what does Wesley do when he isn't working on Static? I mean, those interviews and stuff can't take up that much of his time." Well I will tell you. I think of fictional situations where two bands would have to perform to a select audience of uptight, jaded music fans; and it would be like Thunder Dome. Only one band would be allowed to leave. The other band would have to sit in the corner and think about where they went wrong all these years and why they didn't decide to take over the family business.

The one I was thinking of today was Of Montreal vs Phoenix. This came from a conversation I had on a top secret uber-cool forum I read. This is how it went down in reference to the new Phoenix album:

Panda Revolt - "This is very very good. Reminds me of Of Montreal."
Hazium - "Great point, Of Montreal but tighter."

Bold statement, Hazium. You are talking about a band that has done an awful lot with their career. Lets break this down Shall we?

BACKGROUND:
Of Montreal, hailing from Athens, GA and the Elephant 6 collective have gone through much changes musically throughout the last 2 decades. They started by just merely imitating psychedelic 60s music to doing a modern day interpretation as they see it, which has led them to a very high level of success which all got started with that dreaded Outback commercial.
Phoenix, on the other hand, formed in 1999 as a back up band for Air to do a remix. You can hear the french electronic scene that gave birth to the likes of Daft Punk, Busy P and Justice in their music to this day.
LIVE PERFORMANCES:
This is way too easy. I do know people who swear by Phonex's live shows, but Of Montreal is about as good as it comes when it comes to entertaining you with their live shows. I haven't heard any stories yet of Thomas Mars getting naked on stage or dressing like a Centaur. Point goes to Of Montreal.
BODY OF WORK:
Phoenix is solid and have been as long as I can remember. Of Montreal on the other hand wasn't as pop friendly in the beginning, but I love their early work and reminds me so much of innocence and purity in a way only Kevin Barnes can express. I think both bands have an amazing since of self awareness, and are amazing musicians. I also feel like they both sometimes fall into a trap of repeating a formula that works and sells records. Though when I listen to Kevin Barnes sing I feel like I am looking into his soul which I find so powerful. Phoenix, on the other hand, I find it hard to believe that it is their soul lyrically since he is French, and I am still dying to hear them do an all French speaking album. Edge to Of Montreal for speaking in their native tongue, I think Serge Gainsbourg would even agree with me here even though this is a topic for another day.
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:
I think both of these bands will be listened to for a long time after they have decided to move on with their lives, though both of these bands seem on the outside to be well oiled machines and get along well enough to last quite a while. Of Montreal was a part of an entire musical movement out of Athens which included the likes of Apples and Stereos and Neutral Milk Hotel. Phoenix, on the other hand ,seems to be a band that definitely has been a head of it's time, creating rock versions of an electronic music scene they were deeply submersed in. This is the toughest one to answer since a lot of times these things aren't easily seen until after the fact, but I have to go with Of Montreal here.

So, Of Montreal has it. At least if I was judge. Phoenix will be playing at Tips on October 1st.

VIDEO: Of Montreal Interview