 |  | Highly Rated, but not Overrated |  |
It is impossible to speak too highly of this album. With elements reminiscent of The Beatles, Beach Boys, and even The Doors, this album rivals early psychedelic classics. Similarly, with its novel instrumentation, and experimental editing, it satisfies even the most die-hard modern music fan. It appears that opinions on this album are very polarized in that those who love it are instant fans and hooked for life. It's a very mystical experience to listen to this album. It is like the Godfather of Indie Rock in that its construction is flawless. There is not a wasted second, not a wasted layer, or a wasted note. It all fits into a harmonious whole And it is as timeless as any album could hope to be.
May 24, 2008Man, I don't get it. It sounds like psychadelic snippets of Beatles and Beach Boys tossed onto a dark ages torture rack and stretched into oblivion. This is not an interesting work.
March 26, 2008This is the very best and most personally important album I own. It's absolutely a record that some people won't get at first, or won't get ever, but once it sinks in it wraps around you.
Specially recommend the "Inside Views" disk for once you absorbed it, from the cloud recordings website.
October 5, 2006| | | If you still believe in joy (even if the world is full of hate) you can blast away inside with this album | |
Very, very late to the world of William Hart and the rest of the elephant 6 crew. I had been diggin on Neutral Milk Hotel for a couple of years, and found this album by accident while goofing around on here around 6 months ago. Never really thought that the rest of the bands on the record label would match NMH, I thought they were the band that made the record label hip to the alternative/underground crowd, but well, now I the realize that Will Hart is probably better than Jeff Mangum ever would have been, but without the cool disappearing act to add to his legend. (nothing against mangum, he's incredible)
So I bought the album, whatever, just out of boredom really. I listened to it maybe half way though and thought it was just too boring, too cluttered, too quiet, iffy sound quality, with no distinct sound, etc. A week later I was headed to my friend's house to just hang out, get high, and listen to a rotation of music. I thought about this album, and thought maybe it would fit the evening's atmosphere. I gave it a test listen, sober, and found it more enjoyable and very trippy sounding. I put it on later that night, when I was very far gone into a state I can't even describe now, and the album basically struck fear into my soul. The 4th song, "Outside Blasts" made me feel scared, beautiful, lost, and found all at the same time. After that song, I was sent somewhere far, far away and would drift in and out of reality during the remainder of the album.
After listening to this album about a million times after, I would say that this album is one of my top 10 albums of all time. Songs like OUTSIDE BLASTS, JOY, THE LOVELY UNIVERSE, INSIDE BLASTS, DAYS TO COME, THE PILLOW, and SHOULD A CLOUD REPLACE A COMPASS are forever embedded into my mind. Although, I would strongly encourage you to NOT LISTEN TO THE SONGS INDIVIDUALLY; not until you have gotten into the album. This is an album that was intended to be listened to as a whole because of the way the album flows. Almost perfect, maybe it is. And while this album is incredible to listen to while you are in outer space, you will want to listen to it stone sober just as well. This album is just simply great no matter your mood. You can't help but feel good while listening to this; every note seems to hit you like a heroin shot to the mailine vein. Right now, this album is on constant rotation with My Morning Jacket's "At Dawn." I could listen to these two albums only, for the rest of my life and probably be okay with my musical world.
August 1, 2006| | | If you have made it this far you must have at least a modicum of taste... | |
Best. Album. EVAR.
June 2, 2006More reviews at Amazon.com ...
(28 reviews)