Okay, hitting the homestretch here...hopefully you guys are enjoying watching these videos as I am finding them and writing a word or two about each. And we would be remiss if we left Jeff Mangum, of the band Neutral Milk Hotel) off of any singer/songwriter list of any kind. A tremendous talent, but definitely a tortured soul....he can just flat out write a song. Sunsets purchased this cd in 52.5 Records in Charleston, SC some time around 2004 or so). The album came out in the late 90's, so we were a little late to the party....but we immediately fell in love with NMH. And if you don't listen or haven't heard of Jeff Mangum...go back and revisit....it's not too late!! He has not released in album since 1998, and if you would like to read more...here goes. (yes, i'm into wikipedia lately)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Mangum
The first video speaks for itself. I am still partial to Sunsets version in The Clap in the Winter of 2009 (look for it in the older posts here at Sunsets....a real treat!), but the energy in his voice is undeniable.
The 2nd is probably my favorite Neutral Milk Hotel song. Not the best version I have ever heard (the other musicians aren't exactly "ON" in this one. But, I love five things about it...
1. It's recorded on my birthday....New Year's Eve. The best day to drink of the year!
2. The sweater he is wearing slays me. It looks like he's attending a "Bad Christmas / New Year's Sweater Party."
3. He looks like he might want to kill everyone in the room on more than one occasion in this song.
4. The horns. (again, not exactly on it, but great sounding nonetheless)
5. The weird instrument that I don't know near the 3 minute mark. He laughs at the guy playing it as if to say, "That's a silly little instrument you're playing! Seriously!" around the 3:17 mark.
No comments:
Post a Comment