In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Hands down the best indie rock album of
all time. Although to call it rock is really selling it short,
as it encompasses so much more. It’s a carnival set inside
an evil sideshow set inside a Pentecostal freakout. I just thank
god on a weekly basis that Jeff Magnum got this thing on tape
and preserved it for all to hear with all its talk of notches
in your spine and semen stained mountain tops and Anne Frank
and two-headed boys and distorted craziness and antique instruments
and vocals that always sound on the verge of hysteria. The first
time I heard this thing it literally almost blew my head off.
I couldn’t stop playing it; I wanted to envelop its complexity
and amazingly catchy messiness. I could see many clawing their
faces if forced to listen to this, but never has there been
such an emotional hauntingly beautiful album filled with song
after song of singing saw, trumpet, accordion, bagpipes and
plucked brilliance. Even if the songs themselves weren’t
as downright mind-blowing as they are, the layered production
could be a study in perfection. I try to imagine Magnum sitting
down and recording this and then looking, stunned, as the final
result unfolded in front of him. He must have choked on his
tongue. To be dropped into this one unawares might cause convulsions,
so you may want to start with the softer stuff like The
Decemberists or Beirut or even
The Apples in Stereo
and then work your way up to this, the pinnacle of achievement
in the indie world. If you do get around to it and hear “Holland
1945” without wanting to absolutely rock until it hurts,
you may want to check yourself for a pulse. |
On Avery Island |
|
Booze
& Grub
Hipster
Movie Reviews
Hipster
Book Reviews