Of Montreal and Alternative R&B

Hey, so when did Of Montreal become a big champion of semi-alternative R&B singers? This performance of "Sex Karma" they did on Jimmy Fallon with Solange Knowles, who guests on the band's new album and has hung out with them in the past, is awesome:

They've got a cover of  "I Want You Back" that they've been doing in concert, and it's pretty great too:

And the band's been working with Janelle Monae, too, backing her up on "Meet the Bus" on The ArchAndroid:

And they're touring together this fall. I don't necessarily have a massive auxiliary point to make here, except to say that I think it's cool when bands get a bit playful, and when tours and individual songs dance along complimentary genres. I like tours and albums that are focused on a genre, among them, Robyn and Kelis's "All Hearts" tour, which hit DC this week. But it's nice to have an evening, or an album, with a bit of variety. And good on Of Montreal to champion some women who could use a boost into other audiences that really might love them, but just don't know it yet.