Thursday, September 25, 2008

Favorite Album 1998: Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea



Weird. Adorable. Weird. Catchy. Folky. Weird. Loud. Off-beat. Weird.
Just a few words to describe Jeff Magnum's...opus. It's definitely not for everyone. Hell, it's probably not for most people. At least, not at first. Even the most avant-garde kid these days would have to listen a few times to appreciate this record fully. Once one does begin to realize how to enjoy this record, though, it's a veritable treasure trove of indie gold. Magnum's songs paint oddly vivid (and vividly odd) portraits of a dreamscape so rarely exhibited in the modern world; a world lush with oddities and weirdos, all pasted onto melodies that range from shimmering acoustic riffs to horn-laden punk diddies. This is an album which, regardless of opinion, should not--and cannot--be missed.

EDIT: Listening again, I rediscovered how amazing this record is. Jeff Magnum's voice is haunting and resounding, proving that true vocal talent is the ability to convey emotion. I can't say enough. The closing track is as somber as it is beautiful, giving a nod to the tragic plight of Anne Frank (which heavily influenced this record's creation). This is defninitely among the greatest records ever written.

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