Neutral Milk Hotel- In The Aeroplane Over The Sea (1998)

If I remember correctly, this band was yet again, introduced to me by Mr. Chelmets.  When I first heard this album by Neutral Milk Hotel, I was mainly into aggressive music that was loud and fast and brutal, and even though this album is the opposite of it, I immediately fell in love with it. When you listen to this album, you'll realize that there is something really different about it; it's not overly produced or some great symphonic piece, yet the style and emotion that is intertwined with the songs has a tendency to grab you and not let go.

In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is not the first release by Neutral Milk Hotel, but when you ask the majority of people who are familiar with them, this is what put them on the map.  11 tracks and right under 40 minutes long, this album plays very quickly, yet by the end of the album, you feel like you've been on an insightful journey with a story that was told that grips every part of your mind.  The album itself has a great streamline of tracks; as some of the tracks ends the next one starts with the same lead out sound of the preceding.  Lots of fuzz, the guitar and bass end up melding with an overtone of fuzz that helps put additional grit to the folk type vocals.  Even with a "folk" type base to these tracks, the lyrics help produce a vivid imagery of lonesomeness and strife that gets resurrected with triumphant vigor.  I'm not into the sappy emotional type songs that make you feel like you should be sad or something, and even though these lyrics help bring out musical emotion, that emotion is enveloped in the grand scheme of available feelings.  Mainly acoustic guitar driven, there is a horn section on multiple tracks that, when mixed with their low-fi sound and fuzz, helps with additional aural effects that brings the whole track/album together.

This is one of my all time favorite albums.  I have read through this review a couple of time before I posted it, and I still feel like I haven't given it enough credit.  I have, and will continue to, recommend this album to everyone; as the sound is for a wide audience, not just a certain niche.  NMH is no longer around, though the main guy, Jeff Magnum, is still doing different artistic endeavors.  This album can be found in most music store, with it being released on CD/Tape & Vinyl, but can be found all over the place online.  If you use peer-2-peer software, you will be able to find a lot of live bootlegs, studio releases and self-released material for free.  Get this, buy it, whatever; I promise you won't be disappointed.

Official score-4.5/5

Tom Waits- Franks Wild Years (1987)

If you haven't heard of Tom Waits, then there is something wrong with you.  Not only he is one of the best musicians in our lifetime, with a huge discography, but he has had multiple roles in films to boot.  Tom Waits has been making music, way before I was born, and the level of composition and musicianship is outstanding.  Long has Tom Waits been a quintessential listen for any and all music fan in the 20th/21st century.

Franks Wild Years was released in 1987, has 17 wonderful tracks that come right around an hours worth of music.  I have many Tom Waits albums, and whenever I meet someone who is not familiar with him, this is the album that I recommend.  This album touches on what makes Tom Waits a great composer: Great melodies that engulf his piano/guitar/drum playing all followed up by his unique voice which recites his enigmatic lyrics that bring all types of moods/emotions to the table.  Tom Waits as a whole, not just this album, is great for everyday listening as well as mood specific times.  I can't really say enough about him, in my opinion the only other musician that might be more prolific than Tom Waits, is Frank Zappa! (which if you know Zappa, then you understand the magnitude of that statement, if you don't know Zappa, then why the hell are you reading this blog?!)

This album is a must have, must listen, must everything; honestly this is the type of album that you want to copy off and give to friends so that they aren't left in the dark.  With a wide range of styles and genres being played on this album, there is something for everyone!  This should be bought; feel free to try and download it, but for the music lover/collector, you need this in your library, and in all honesty, you should already have it there.

Official score-4.25/5