Neutral Milk Hotel

[mike thornton]

bye clueless people...

[the captain]

You're kind of mean. What's the difference if we like NMH and you don't, preferring oldies? Who cares?

[Reverend Joshua Sloane]

He's got a labelmate whose music I prefer far more--Half-Handed Cloud (John Ringhofer). It is like a bizarre Flaming Lips/Beach Boys/insane thing, often minimalist, but with sudden bits of horns and harmonies, etc. Warning: it is overtly Christian music, not like Sufjan's often subtle message. So if that sort of thing is annoying to you, you won't like it at all. (I'm not religious at all, but it doesn't bother me, since the music is good and the lyrics are a lot of fun--childlike and joyful.) The tunes are very sophisticated, but sometimes sound as if it's hard music played by children.

That sounds very interesting, like my sort of thing.

[halleluwah]

You know, in musicnsurf's defense, I used to have the exact same view of music as him.  I grew up with my parent's record collection, and I was truly disgusted at what was then the current state of music, thinking that it was a solid, provable fact that all music from before I was born was light years better than anything current.  The world was very black-and-white for me, and being closed off to any shades of gray areas in between was handy, because I didn't have to do any thinking that would challenge any of my preconceived opinions about music.  I really used to be exactly like musicnsurf.

Then I turned 16.
 

[CosmicDancer]

You know, in musicnsurf's defense, I used to have the exact same view of music as him.  I grew up with my parent's record collection, and I was truly disgusted at what was then the current state of music, thinking that it was a solid, provable fact that all music from before I was born was light years better than anything current.  The world was very black-and-white for me, and being closed off to any shades of gray areas in between was handy, because I didn't have to do any thinking that would challenge any of my preconceived opinions about music.  I really used to be exactly like musicnsurf.

Then I turned 16.
 

I was the same way for a long time.  I am still a very young 26 years old but I have matured in my musical tastes by leaps and bounds in a relatively short amount of time.  There was a point where I totally discounted hip-hop/rap music as "non-musical" and thought it to be a complete waste of time.  I was totally wrong!!  Different strokes for different folks I suppose but to say a band like Radiohead is "practicing bad music" is a pretty elitist statement and thats coming from someone who is widely known, at least in my circle of friends, as an elitist musical snob!!!  But as I said, I was once just like that and like the previous poster, I turned 16!  I guess it just takes some longer to grow up than others.  Or maybe I'm just still to young to be as sophisticated as them.  How old were you again musicnsurf?

p.s.  I'll give you Coldplay.  They really are pretty shallow and terrible!

[donald]

elephant six is a treasure trove of nuggets, masterpieces, noodling, emulation, and experimentation.   I've had a blast listening to these bands and digging the new sounds and the sounds that remind me of music from times past.

My fav is OTC, Cubist Castle.  And I like the Apples in Stereo when they get that original byrds harmony sound.

I've yet to hear the NMH airplane album.

[CosmicDancer]

If you havent heard it already, you should check out OTC's second full length album Black Foliage.  It is quite as tuneful as Cubis Castle but it is increadible!  The Apples In Stereo have an e.p. called Her Wallaper Revelrie that is pretty awesome as well if you are not  familiar with it.  The song Strawberryfire is one of the best Magical Mystery Tour era Beatles tributes I have ever heard.  My personal favorite of any E6 albums is The Gay Parade by Of Montreal.  Unbelievable record.

[donald]

Funny thing, just goes to show you how tastes differ, but I found black foliage not as much fun as Cubist Castle.

[the captain]

I love Black Foliage, if nothing else, for Mangum's verse on "I Have Been Floated."

After Aeroplane, by the way, I think the best E6 albums are Of Montreal's, too. Or Beulah's last three albums, if you want to count them. (They're sort of peripheral "members," although so is Of Montreal, for that matter, although less so due to location anyway.)

[koeeoaddi there]

which is Mangum's verse on I Have Been Floated?

after Cubist Castle, i think Of Montreal are the most interesting band of E6 simply because they havent folded and are constantly evolving.
but i think i prefer Elf Power more. theyre a bit more low key so they always seem to be in the background, but i think Creatures is one of the best E6 albums. hated it at first because it was so low key but its such a grower.
then came Walking With THe Beggar Boys which was a horrible album, but one of their new songs up on their myspace site is as good as anything else theyve done.

cosmic dancer - i used to see strawberryfire as some beatles rip off until someone pointed out the similarities to Mrs O'Leary's Cow so now its a beatles and beach boys tribute (rip off?) all in one.

[CosmicDancer]

which is Mangum's verse on I Have Been Floated?

after Cubist Castle, i think Of Montreal are the most interesting band of E6 simply because they havent folded and are constantly evolving.
but i think i prefer Elf Power more. theyre a bit more low key so they always seem to be in the background, but i think Creatures is one of the best E6 albums. hated it at first because it was so low key but its such a grower.
then came Walking With THe Beggar Boys which was a horrible album, but one of their new songs up on their myspace site is as good as anything else theyve done.

cosmic dancer - i used to see strawberryfire as some beatles rip off until someone pointed out the similarities to Mrs O'Leary's Cow so now its a beatles and beach boys tribute (rip off?) all in one.

I have never really noticed a Mrs O'Leary's Cow similarity.  I will have to listen again today and try to pick up on it.  As chance would have it, that e.p. is one of the albums I put in my truck today so after work I will give it a listen.  I have not listened to Elf Power yet but have meant to for some time.  I will check it out for sure. 

As for Beulah, I only have Yoko which I think is their last album and I am pretty sure they have split now.  Any recommendations on some other albums of theirs to check out?  Their stuff is not so easy to find!!! 

[koeeoaddi there]

i never heard the mrs o'leary's cow thing either until someone pointed it out to me.

but listen to the bass line. its the same.
and the violins of mrs o'learys that slide up and down - theyre there too!
once you notice you wont belive how you missed it.


edit.
i've never heard Yoko  as i've not heard good things about it.
but if you can find When Your Heartstrings Break, grab it! its an absolute gem.
The Coast Is Never Clear is not quite so good. i couldnt tell you why, as each song is really good, but theres something thats not quite as good about it. still worth tracking down though.
never heard their 1st album.


and another edit.
i just rememberd a while ago over on an E6 board talking to Hilary from the Apples about Her Wallpaper Reverie, and she confirmed there's quite a bit of Smile influence on that EP. Les Amants sounds like Mrs O'Leary's Cow too. and all the little piano variations are all like Bicycle Rider Themes.

[CosmicDancer]

Could you please post a link to this E6 message board?  I would be very interested in checking that out!  Thanks for the info on those beulah records.  I will seek them out!

[koeeoaddi there]

its the elephant 6 townhall - www.e6townhall.com
its not that good though, mostly a bunch of adolescent halfwits trying to be surreal.
i think it used to be quite good a few years back, but i guess its still the place to get info and quite a few band members post there.

this place is pretty good for e6 stuff: http://elephantsix.blogspot.com/
loads of interesting things on that site, with loads of intersting downloads.

[the captain]

Mangum's part in I Have Been Floated begins at about 1:31. It is a refrain, not a verse. (Sorry.) You can also hear the trademark NMH singing saw (Hello, Julian Koster) behind him. Someone else is doubling him--I believe it is Kevin Barnes (of O.M.).

I have to disagree about the Coast is Never Clear, by Beulah. It is my favorite Beulah album, actually. By far. I HIGHLY recommend it, along with Yoko and Heartstrings. (Western States...blah.)

Elf Power's new disc should be out today, I think. I look forward to it--there are a few O.M. and OTC guys in the band now, which makes for interesting stuff...although I liked the old stuff, too, especially when Fridmann produced.

[asswax]

since no one has mentioned the mountain goats as THE major talent not getting noticed today, i'm just going to have to assume that all you people are insane.     

[the captain]

since no one has mentioned the mountain goats as THE major talent not getting noticed today, i'm just going to have to assume that all you people are insane.     

They're not E6, are they? I don't believe so. Thus...we aren't mentioning them here.

[halleluwah]

since no one has mentioned the mountain goats as THE major talent not getting noticed today, i'm just going to have to assume that all you people are insane.     

They're not E6, are they? I don't believe so. Thus...we aren't mentioning them here.

His voice does sound strikingly like Mangum's from time to time, though.  And I once heard a recording of the Mountain Goats covering "Two-Headed Boy," so I guess it could be vaguely relavent.

[theCOD]

Ugh, I really don't like NMH at all.  I wanted to like them, but I CAN'T STAND their lyrics.  They pretty much ruin the music for me.  The only song I can stomach is the title track.

I like abstract lyrics, but not things like "Dirty bar of soap on a table full of computer flowers biting snakes on a plane in the middle of the paper towel dressing room by my freezer that fell on the floor next to my shoe covered in lemongrass and orange blossoms..."

 

[the captain]

Over and over the crow cries uncover the cornfield. Don't f*** with the formiula.

[halleluwah]

Ugh, I really don't like NMH at all.  I wanted to like them, but I CAN'T STAND their lyrics.  They pretty much ruin the music for me.  The only song I can stomach is the title track.

I like abstract lyrics, but not things like "Dirty bar of soap on a table full of computer flowers biting snakes on a plane in the middle of the paper towel dressing room by my freezer that fell on the floor next to my shoe covered in lemongrass and orange blossoms..."

 

I know other people who feel the same way, which I've never really understood, since I find the lyrics to be the album's strongest feature.  One of the things that I love about the words (and one which no one seems to mention) is how effectively Mangum switches between surrealism and bald-faced realism, until the line between is almost blurred. 

For example, the "Brother see we are one and the same/and you left with your head filled with flames/and we watched as your brains fell out through your teeth" lines initially seem to be just surrealism, until you realize that Mangum is singing about the brother of a friend of his who committed suicide, and that the lines are actually meant as a literal description.  Same with "King of Carrot Flowers": it contains real descriptions of parental fights from a dysfunctional family ("Your mom would stick a fork right into daddy's shoulder," etc.), but surrounds them with images from somewhere else.  The album is absolutely full of moments like that.

For me, Jeff Mangum is second only to Dylan as far as the richness and depth his lyrics provide if you take the time to really look inside them closely.

[Reverend Joshua Sloane]

When you were young
You were the king of carrot flowers
And how you built a tower tumbling through the trees
In holy rattlesnakes that fell all around your feet

And your mom would stick a fork right into daddy's shoulder
And dad would throw the garbage all across the floor
As we would lay and learn what each other's bodies were for

And this is the room
One afternoon I knew I could love you
And from above you how I sank into your soul
Into that secret place where no one dares to go

And your mom would drink until she was no longer speaking
And dad would dream of all the different ways to die
Each one a little more than he could dare to try

...............................

Those are simply some of the greatest lyrics i've ever heard. They sum up so many years of emotions, so many thoughts and feelings that flitter about in seconds yet can be captured in song perfectly. With those lines he's summed up many childhood's perfectly. I do not understand how any one could dislike those lyrics. To say the album doesn't have emotion is a wild claim..

[asswax]

For me, Jeff Mangum is second only to Dylan as far as the richness and depth his lyrics provide if you take the time to really look inside them closely.    ...man, where is the barfing smiley.

this...

When you were young
You were the king of carrot flowers
And how you built a tower tumbling through the trees
In holy rattlesnakes that fell all around your feet

...is so overdone and wimpy and flowers and just means nothing and is generally something my three year old would write, compared to The Mountain Goats...

I hope I lie
And tell everyone you were a good wife
And I hope you die
I hope we both die

...John Darnielle is the best songwriter out there today.  Simple, direct, sincere, fun and powerful.

The Mountain Goats
The Sunset Tree
We Shall All Be Healed
Tallahassee
Sweden
The Coroner's Gambit
All Hail West Texas

...and a new album is due later this year.  Get off the Neutral Milk....try some Goat Milk...better for ya.

just my opinion of course.   

[the captain]

I like them both. I don't see why you'd want to make anyone choose--there's plenty of room in our CD collections for everything (that is, everything that's good, anyway).

But the term winpy doesn't work well for NMH, I don't think. After all, it isn't long before we're talking forks in shoulders and babies left in trash cans, etc. Hardly wimpy--or the fare of three-year-olds, for that matter.

Anyway, like I said, I think they're both cool bands. Too bad one of them hasn't existed for about 6 years now.

[the captain]

Whoops. Double-posted. And so this is now edited to be an apology for that. (Since I didn't see a delete post button.)

Sorry.