lambchops's Full Review: On Avery Island by Neutral Milk Hotel
Unsettling, strange, and eerily chipper Neutral Milk Hotel’s 1996 debut On Avery Island is anything but usual. The lo-fi production (recorded on a simple four-track machine) combined with imaginative lyrics makes for an excellent, although conceptually challenging listen.
Neutral Milk Hotel is in truth the product of one man, Jeff Mangum, who hails from the rural town of Ruston, Louisiana. I suspect his youth in this remote location is what allowed him to spread his wings. His musical influences are definitely limited—there are flashes of The Beatles and Pink Floyd—but overall the music that Mangum makes is outstandingly original and pretty much unlike anything else I’ve ever heard. This uniqueness is what will certainly make or break 1996’s On Avery Island (not to mention the fascinating 1998 release In the Aeroplane Over the Sea) for most all listeners. But my suspicion is that fans of kindred musical souls like The Apples in Stereo, The Olivia Tremor Control, and Pavement will be overjoyed not to mention artistically impressed with this effort.
Let me be the first to admit that I’m not always adventurous when it comes to musical selections. I started my journey with Mangum’s second album, and then backtracked to this one for no particular reason. But I was definitely a bit freaked out about both albums because of their bizarre, seemingly psychedelically named songs. But that all changed the first time I actually heard Neutral Milk Hotel. There is no question that the music is unique, but it is also inviting and intelligent—all elements that add up to an excellent effort.
On Avery Island is the lesser of Mangum’s two albums. At the same time, the album is still bordering on the classification of “classic.” Indeed, Mangum is a talented fellow with a flair for the bizarre. And in this case bizarre equates to wonderful. The album is a grand, sweeping affair that definitely will appeal to more people than have heard of Neutral Milk Hotel—and all the good fun starts with Song Against Sex which definitely shows Mangum’s roots as a Beatles fan.
Song About Sex is a lovely, simple, catchy, quaint track. It is roughhewn and crackly, but the fact remains that melody and musicianship save it from any sort of failure. I will admit that it is probably a bit too musically repetitive, but it is a good opener to an overall excellent album. Second song You’ve Passed is also worth hearing and it presents some incredible lyrics. I personally believe that one of Mangum’s major strengths is with his words—so full of loss:
And I wanted to hold you
As you made your escape
But now I should have told you
When your eyes were alive and awake
As mentioned, this is a “concept” album in that Mangum carries a theme of loss, regret, and pain throughout his twelve offerings. It is a “suite,” but not pretentiously so. It is of course an album in length, but Mangum refrains from making it long and overwrought—and thus wearing out his warm welcome. The most known of the songs is the aforementioned Song Against Sex (which is actually a creative anti-drug rant), but there better examples of greatness. Someone Is Waiting, Where You’ll Find Me Now, Gardenhead/Leave Me Alone, Three Peaches and Naomi are probably the best and brightest of On Avery Island.
Where You’ll Find Me Now is probably the most perfect song here. Imagine for a moment that you have been transported to a land where Mangum’s dry, easy voice is piped in through massive PA systems. The song is somehow both relaxing and anxious at the same time. At first listen, it is easy to concentrate on the perfect melody and vocals. But further listens turn up hazy layers of traditional instruments mixed with a hollow keyboard and fuzzed out bizarreness. It is by far the standout offering here, though in all I am impressed.
In mentioning my favorites I don’t mean to exclude the remaining songs; however I do think that maybe some are a bit too noisy and strange and crazed for many listeners. In fact, On Avery Island on the whole is more difficult than the conceptual follow-up In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. Whereas On Avery Island is roughly produced, Mangum’s second release gets a sparkle and polish that lends itself well to his exquisite and varied sounds and ideas. The more recent spit shine allows Neutral Milk Hotel to sparkle whereas I feel his style and substance were moderately obscured by the fuzzed out feeling of On Avery Island.
On Avery Island is a good, nearing great album. But unfortunately it seems pale in comparison to In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. My main suggestion would be to pick up the latter album before checking out the former. Mangum is talented—and his richly layered songs shine best when not obscured by confusion.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Track Listing:
01. Song Against Sex
02. You've Passed
03. Someone Is Waiting
04. A Baby for Pree
05. Marching Theme
06. Where You'll Find Me Now
07. Avery Island/April 1st
08. Gardenhead/Leave Me Alone
09. Three Peaches
10. Naomi
11. April 8th
12. Pree-Sisters Swallowing a Donkey's Eye
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