Today is the 10th anniversary of Neutral Milk Hotel's classic album In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. It's really hard to believe that it's been ten years and even harder to believe that it was the last album that Jeff Mangum and co. would give the world.
Like My Bloody Valentine's Loveless it was a groundbreaking record that would never be followed up by its creator. As if the act of making something so completely beautiful and magical took everything that the songwriter could give.
I recall that when my band toured through Athens, GA in 2001, everyone I talked to said that Mangum was very reclusive and was tired of being "treated like a god". I suppose if that's what caused him to essentially retire from songwriting or if it was the feeling that he could never surpass what he and the band had accomplished.
Either way, ITAOTC stands up just as well today as it did in the Summer of 1998 when I became obsessed with it like many of my friends.
Look for a cover of a song from this album this week along with many other things. I promise.
P.S. Speaking of brilliant bands that seem to have disappeared (repeatedly). The Breeders will be appearing at SXSW in March and will release their 4th (5th if you count The Amps - Pacer, and I do) full length in their 20 year history. It is titled Mountain Battles and I am psyched.
More about SXSW 2008 later...
1 comment:
It's pretty immature to think that you can't do anything better than what you've already done, so why bother trying? If he applies that to himself, he has a looooong, boring life ahead of him. I sincerely hope that's not why he quit. It was a remarkable album, it IS a remarkable album, and I hate to think that he is so stymied by fear that he's done. But maybe I'm projecting, because I get afraid that an idea won't take off so I don't even try. Eff that. I'm going for it.
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