Recently something has come to light that I feel i need to publicly apologize for. Anyone who knows me is aware of my affinity for Neutral Milk Hotel's stellar piece of work In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. This album has influenced me, and my public life in ways that at the moment would be difficult for me to describe. Listening to album typically can bring me close to tears. It is probably the album I hold most dear to me.
However due to my deep appreciation of this work I also have made public claim to be a Neutral Milk Hotel fan. The truth of the matter is that I was really only a ITAOTS fan. Upon a previous attempt to delve into earlier NMH work I first listened to Invent Yourself a Shortcake. I don't recall how much of an effort I made. I do recall hearing a lot of noise, and finding out they were effing around with making noises with a cassette tape during recording.
I soon lost interest and chalked ITAOTS up to being a single rare miracle. An album so powerful it caused it's creator to run into seclusion. Which is also where my interst in his other work lay. Until recently. A small series of events transpired. First, budding interest in ITAOTS from a friend. When this typically occurs I instantly jump head first back into NHM because I want to try and show the person how amazing I find the work, and would love sharing it with others. During this renewed vigor I also caught a live showing of Mr. Mangum performing many of the songs from ITAOTS.
It was a stirring event for me. One that left me empty and unfullfilled. Wanting nothing more than to find a way that I could try and relive past events. From this I came away with two decisions. 1. Find live NMH because he was brilliant live. and 2. Find out about the songs that were not from In the Aeroplane, because they were just as good. My findings led me to one very important discovery. When I cast aside Invent yourself a Shortcake I also subsequently did the same to On Avery Island. In my defense I know I had listened to it at least once but the sour taste from IYS must have been around.
One of the songs on the live video was a track called Baby For Pree. This song hit me hard, and I found that it was recorded in On Avery Island. Cooincidentally that same day I was sent a text msg of a friend holding the album in a record store, to which history will show me still at the "meh, i can take it or leave it" level.
However, because of that chain of events I have learned of a new, amazing album. On Avery Island does lack the epic cohesiveness of In the Aeroplane. It does not contain any self defining moments like Oh Comely, or triumphant gestures in solidude like King of Carrot Flowers pt1. But one thing Neutral Milk Hotel was never wanton for is eery madness. Spooky organ drone peppered with sad yet catchy lyrics.
On Avery Island gives the listener an ear to what Mangum was really all about, and any fan of ITAOTS should find near equal appreciation here. I consider myself lucky to have found myself in this position. I suppose I wanted to share this with the world because I feel like I need to make penence for my past ignorance. Though nothing may compare evenly to In the Aeroplane listeners will not be unfamiliar with the songs on On Avery Island, and I believe can come to a deeper and more open understanding of how imporant ITA really is. I know I feel that way.
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