Neutral Milk Hotel: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

I really feel it's time for a so called music fan (me!) to check out an album that tops numerous best of lists of the last 10 years and more. Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea has escaped me on numerous occassions, mainly because its so pricey in most high street stores and for some reason I can never find it on ebay...guess because its so popular.

I finally purchased it over iTunes and after several months of putting off listening to it, I finally put it on today. The first time you hear any record you have mixed feelings over certain tracks and different arrangements, this record was certainly different and after a first listen I'm not to sure what to think. I think its worth several listens before I could 'score it' so to speak but even though some of the album seems all over the place it does actually flow and all mould into one more than most records do. I couldnt tell if I found Magnums voice irritable or likeable. I love the guitar, that is fact, so summery and so listenable.

I attach a link to a review I found on Pitchfork about the album. It gave the record 10/10 and has made me want to discover the album further. Reading the review has given me an insight on what is going on in Magnums head and how Anne Frank has really influenced the direction of this album. How fitting is it that even after death she continues to help with beautiful heart felt stories and can gain instant emotional response from people.


Pitchfork: Neutral Milk Hotel: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

Tonight is to be counted for!

Playing shows midweek is always good fun and often a very good way to let up vented frustrations from a crazy point in midweek at same old work and lack of play.

Tonight I will be playing a show. I was told at practice last night I put to much into my playing and shouldn't be as energetic as I always am.....which kind of goes against the roots of playing live, music for me has always been a way of expressing myself.

To be still and boring would kind of go against what I feel when playing songs I love. I look at all my musical inspirations and they have all certainly moved and gone a bit nuts in their time. Crowds vibe from vibrant people, not boring careless musicians.

I'm feeling an Alex James approach might be well suited for this evening....going crazy in head movements instead.

Inspiration

I am inspired in so many ways in different aspects of my life. I feel inspired to play music from the amazing concerts I have been to in the last week (Blur and Fleet Foxes) , I feel inspired to write Poetry from rediscovering Sylvia Plath and I feel inspired to some how get into film by watching Hitchcock and the wicker man again.

All those inspirations coming together should create some masterpiece right? I would obviously like to think so and I will try creating something every day of my life until I am satisfied I have not wasted my life.

I have been writing alot more songs lately, I am in a band and I am on bass but aside from writing my own bass parts my lack of creativity has always stopped there. I feel now is the time to step up the mark and start writing more and taking more of a lead in this direction.