spencermang

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jeff mangum frustrates me. every morning i wake up and one of my first thoughts is, perhaps today is the day that jeff mangum will get out of bed thinking that maybe he should make music again. and then he'll pop up, crying on stage with the instruments or playing cow objects with robert schneider and i get all giddy - only to watch him retreat to singing hymns on the sidewalks of athens for the next eight months.

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how strange it is to be anything at all

rebkranz

You just made me mist up...

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I only listen to music that doesn't exist yet.

zkauf1

Let's be honest, a lot of Elephant Six isn't all that good (some good songs, sure, but not fantastic), but Neutral Milk Hotel's In The Aeroplane Over the Sea is an amazing album

spencermang

that could be said for any music scene, though - especially one as expansive as elephant six, and i really don't think that the awesomeness coming from them was as diluted as say, the late 90's portland scene for example. it's really amazing to see so much music come from so many people, and so much of it be excellent. sure, there's some bad stuff, but at least the intentions were good. one thing you're guaranteed when listening to anything out of the collective is that it won't be mediocre. you'll either love it, or you'll come away with the feeling that while you don't want to listen to this anymore, you've never heard anything like it either. there's plenty of their stuff that i don't like, but the later work of apples in stereo was the only stuff that really left me disappointed (most of the stuff released through spinart).

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how strange it is to be anything at all

Roygbiv

Something I get a lot from people in regards to In the Aeroplane over the Sea (and usually NMH in general) is that it's hipster trash. First of all, I don't share in the sentiment - the album changed my life, the way I experience movies, music, and the way I write. When someone says that it is hipster trash because it is apparently the best indie album, it breaks my heart.

Most of these comments are from last.fm. It's often infuriating, because I KNOW that people aren't listening to the record, they're just sort of hearing it. They don't understand the track sequencing, the lyrics, the themes... sigh. I'm just venting.

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GravitySlips

Lots of my friends, who know nothing of pitchfork and "hip" indie music, are in love with NMH and In The Aeroplane. It's just a brilliant album, simple as. Took me a while to really appreciate it but it's a classic, and certainly not just for "indie hipsters".

Son of JayJamJah

As a 52 year old with absolutely no concerns of being hip I can agree that the album is excellent. I didn't care for the Avery Island nearly as much, but the Aeroplane disc is just outstanding.

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Me, Myself and I United as One

If you're posting in the music forums make sure to be thoughtful and expressive, if you're posting in the lounge ask yourself "is this something that adds to the conversation?" It's important to remember that a lot of people use each thread. You're probably not as funny or clever as you think, I know I'm not.

My Van Morrison Discography Thread

dac

my favorite people are the uber-hipsters who try to say that Aeroplane isn't that good and Avery Island is the best

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15Steps

love the name.
great album, that.

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Double X

I don't really care about being 'hip' or anything...I have too many famous albums to even be considered hip or whatever.

I can honestly say that the last four lines or so of 'In The Aeroplane Over The Sea' is my favorite lines in music ever.

And when we meet on a cloud
I'll be laughing out loud
I'll be laughing with everyone I see
Can't believe how strange it is to be anything at all, at all

It reminds me so much of my deceased best friend it makes me cry and smile whenever I hear it. The lead singer has such an emotional and honest voice I can always enjoy listening to it. Beautiful part of the song will always be with.