Of Montreal hard to describe, easy to love

Kevin Barnes is characterizing someone else, but he could just as well be speaking of the appeal of a song like the one in which he’s singing.

“It’s your dysphoric mania that makes you so likable,” chimes the man behind indie rockers Of Montreal on “Belle Glade Missionaries,” taken from their most recent record, “Lousy With Slyvianbriar.”

Of Montreal has made a career out of intermingling wayward thoughts and sounds into something that could fit under the big tent of psychedelia, but only because that term is as general as it is diffuse.

“Lousy” a beatific, biting record, is actually a bit more straightforward than some of its predecessors, its focus as sharp as Barnes’ tongue is in places.

This is indie folk with fangs, blood and tears shed alike.

Contact reporter Jason Bracelin at jbracelin@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0476. Follow on Twitter @JasonBracelin.