[.ca] On Avery Island

Mind-blowing.:
1. Neutral Milk Hotel is my God 2. Naomi is the best song in existence 3. Song Against Sex is fun to sing 5. Jeff Mangum is one frickin twisted GENIUS 6. Jeremy Barnes (drummer) is a hottie :) 4. Even though this review is very informal, know this... this is a hardcore AMAZING musical accomplishment. Read number one and proceed to buy this CD and aeroplane over the sea to listen to the sounds that no one can categorize, so I'm not gunna try. if you're willing to give something new a listen, make it NMH today!

timeless:
This is one of those original works of art that will never grow old. I write very few reviews, only the albums I feel are too good to miss. The music on this cd is lush and thick with fuzz and reverb. It is best listned to on a full range stereo or good headphones, playing it through a boombox will not do it justice. You have to be patient and really listen to it, this is not background music! Buy with confidence, enjoy!

sad:
This is an essential album. While it may not reach the same thematic levels of Aeroplane, this CD contains some of Jeff's best tunes (Where You'll Find Me Now, Naomi), and the most poignant and sad lyrics you're ever likely to hear (Gardenhead, You've Passed). Rob Schneider's musical contributions are good but don't compare to those on Aeroplane, despite this record featuring more instrumentation. A powerful record you will never forget.

Love:
One reviewer, farther up the page, said that they could not explain the title of 'Song Against Sex,' my personal favorite track from On Avery Island. I think that if you listen to it a few times through, you might come to the same conclusion that I have: it's called 'Song Against Sex' because it is the story of someone who walks through life in pain, "Always sober/always aching," who does not want to perform the act of physical love when, in this world, it is about as far from love as he can get. It's about pain, and being lonely, and looking for things but not finding them. This is a beautiful album, and if On Avery Island doesn't make you cry, I suggest you turn up the volume--the better to catch Mangum's heartbreaking lyrics.

Eerie:
Here's the deal. If you like your lo-fi indie folk-rock with a psychedelic twist, horns and uncanny melodies underlining gorgeous, surreal lyrics, then you might be into NMH. While not a technically great singer, Jeff Mangum has one of the most honest voices I've ever heard. He's got Perry Ferrel's crack, Bob Dylan's drift and David Byrne's nasal tone all wrapped up nicely within his own unique style. The guitar is really interesting. Sometimes it gets heavy, but retains a basic, bouncy sound. Not punk. Not folk. I almost want to say it reminds me of my kindergarten teacher... but in an accomplished, majestic way. Now, the lyrics. Wow. I mean WOW. Stunning imagery, insightful, intensely personal, poetic, stream of consciousness, mostly verse with rarely a touch of chorus, a dream being narrated. Like snippets of Proust on acid. They meld perfectly with the melody flowing from Mangum's voice. I haven't been this into lyrics since I was a brooding teenager! I'm sorry, I can't help it, I have to give you a little taste... "Follow me through A city of frost covered angels I swear I have nothing to prove I just want to dance in your tangles To give me some reason to move But to take on the world at all angles Requires a strength I can't use So I'll meet you up high in your anger Of all that is hoping and waiting for you" I gotta leave it at that. Try it.

• Song Against Sex
• You've Passed
• Someone Is Waiting
• Baby for Pree
• Marching Theme
• Where You'll Find Me Now
• Avery Island/April 1st
• Gardenhead/Leave Me Alone
• Three Peaches
• Naomi
• April 8th
• Pree-Sisters Swallowing a Donkey's Eye