View Full Version : What can you say about NMH songs?
Stormx
09-20-2006, 09:58 AM
Well theres a lot of discussion looking into the meanings of different songs at songmeaning.net. Its interesting reading, if a tad fanboy-esque. So anyway, might as well ask, what can you say about NMH songs? Lyrics and music.
I'm not good with music, seeing as I only play the kazoo (thanks sellingoutsucks!!). What I can say about the lyrics are that they are *all* about people. Every song is about a person or people. As far as I can tell. Right from Arms So Real and Rubby Bulbs to Little Birds.
damonin
09-20-2006, 12:18 PM
the music is simple but its well played, you can tell from early recordings that jeff is a talented gutiar player. and i love how the lyrics are abstract, but not in a dumb metal core band kind of way. if you guys know what i mean....
atrocities
09-23-2006, 08:26 PM
Jeff takes simple imagery and ideas and extrapolates them to be extraordinary.
It's the sublime vs. mundane argument. Mundane (albeit simplistic) tune/lyrics and makes the music Sublime.
I think that's where you feel that an[y] artist is magical.
bloodrexdale
09-24-2006, 01:15 AM
THIS MANY BOYFRIENDS WALK HER HOMMMME!!!!!!!!!!
BEAT HAPPENIGN RULES ATROCITIES
they are the best and worst songs ever written, and put us all to shame wether we want to admit it or not
Stormx
09-24-2006, 05:43 AM
o.o that was odd
bloodrexdale
09-24-2006, 09:58 AM
no, its too be expected when beat happening fans find eachother
go listen to beat happening. now
trust yo
Originally posted by atrocities
Jeff takes simple imagery and ideas and extrapolates them to be extraordinary.
It's the sublime vs. mundane argument. Mundane (albeit simplistic) tune/lyrics and makes the music Sublime.
I think that's where you feel that an[y] artist is magical.
you are such a dork
also, that theory sucks but whatev
emanresu
09-24-2006, 04:21 PM
i'd rather to listen to something more sonically interesting than nmh, for the most part!
Mutineer
09-24-2006, 04:51 PM
Like Sonic Youth? Ha ha ho ho.
emanresu
09-24-2006, 05:29 PM
yeah, most of the time i would rather listen to sonic youth than neutral milk hotel!
you're a good guesser!
Mutineer
09-24-2006, 07:07 PM
Good thing you're joking!
[Edited on 9-25-0606 by Mutineer]
emanresu
09-24-2006, 09:28 PM
?
yr crzy dude
emanresu
09-24-2006, 09:30 PM
don't get me wrong, i think in the aeroplane over the sea is a good album
just don't think it's great?
the fool's really good
i just think it's kinda boring for repeat listens is all
bloodrexdale
09-25-2006, 12:25 AM
while i agree with you about sonic youth, i think you havent lisstend to it enough, or youre insane
and not in the good jeff mangum kindof insane
emanresu
09-25-2006, 07:45 AM
I've listened to it plenty of times to realize that I'm never going to love it. It's always getting raved over for being all emotional and poetic and beautiful, but to me most of the songs sound very similar and simple. Not to say that simple songs can't be good. I'd just rather listen to early Bob Dylan if I want to hear a guy play good songs on an acoustic guitar. I really do like the use of theremin, singing saw, trumpet, etc., in it, and the songs that I really enjoy are mainly "The Fool", "untitled", the second half of "King of Carrot Flowers pt. 2 & 3," and how new instruments keep getting added in "KoCF pt.1." Call me heartless and short-minded, but I really don't like "Oh, Comely." And I'm not at all saying that it's a bad song. There have been plenty of people that I've heard saying this album has made them cry, they've seen new things about music and life, etc. Good! I've felt plenty of emotion and joy from other songs. I listened to "Saturn" by Sun Ra 17 times in a row because of one point in the song where the saxophone hits a high note and it made me happy. The closest I've ever gotten to crying because of a song that I can think of is 2:29 - 4:02 of "What The Needle Made The Single Sing." E6-album wise, I personally have felt more emotion from Black Foliage than ITAOTS. What ITAOTS has solidified in me is that tastes are different. Don't call me insane for not being a fanboy.
Sorry about the long post, I have an hour until class.
You're entitled to your own (wrong) opinion.
Mutineer
09-25-2006, 12:53 PM
Yeah, Sonic Youth is pretty fucking terrible. Srsly.
Stormx
09-25-2006, 01:27 PM
sort your fucking sig out bloodrexdale!!
I really like sonic youth. I have Goo and its probably one of my most played records!
Mutineer
09-25-2006, 01:34 PM
They put me to sleep. It's not even funny. Daydream Nation has put me to sleep more times than the movie Hitch, and that's a lot of sleep, yo.
damonin
09-25-2006, 10:10 PM
for some reson i could never get into sonic youth, i always prefered my indie rock from the 80's to be the pixies. :S
[Edited on 9-26-0606 by damonin]
there are some really bizarre opinions in this thread, and not just because i disagree with them
Stormx
09-26-2006, 10:09 AM
I prefer pixies to sonic youth! :D yay go pixies!
raoulduke87
09-26-2006, 11:08 AM
Sonic Youth was the worst band I've seen live since I saw Bob Dylan a few years ago. They're boring live and on record. They're just aging hipsters now.
Mutineer
09-26-2006, 12:04 PM
If anything, Rather Ripped is the most tolerable album they've recorded.
And yes, Pixies are 99999x better than Sonic Youth.
Mutineer
09-26-2006, 12:04 PM
If anything, Rather Ripped is the most tolerable album they've recorded.
And yes, Pixies are 99999x better than Sonic Youth.
why are you even comparing them. apples & oranges as far as i'm concerned.
Mutineer
09-26-2006, 08:28 PM
More like apples and shitty music.
laugh out loud. why don't we compare whitehouse and your beloved devo while we're at it? i mean, they both use synthesizers.
but y'know, whatev
damonin
09-26-2006, 09:15 PM
i only compared them as being 2 big infuencial indie bands from the 80's
yeah, i understand that. i just thought it was weird to compare music based on something as irrelevent as time of creation rather than sound. just being difficult i guess.
milkandholywater
09-29-2006, 10:08 PM
so, how about those neutral milk hotel songs, eh?
tomatoesandradiowires
09-30-2006, 12:57 PM
Neutral milk hotel made songs?
Stormx
09-30-2006, 03:03 PM
Neutral milk hotel?
damonin
09-30-2006, 05:31 PM
neutral milk motel?
milkandholywater
10-01-2006, 01:25 AM
tv's bob saget?
Stormx
10-01-2006, 07:27 AM
Originally posted by damonin
neutral milk motel?
Me and my friend's tribute band is called that :P
milkandholywater
10-01-2006, 09:50 AM
soy milk motel, for vegans.
Stormx
10-01-2006, 12:32 PM
soya?
tomatoesandradiowires
10-04-2006, 08:36 PM
There's been a number of discussions in the NMH forum as of late, which i've thouroughly appreciated as I felt things to be going a bit stagnant around here. there's a pretty interesting discussion of religion going on which I haven't participated much in, but have enjoyed all the same. also like countless others enjoyed the Harnk and Half-handed show down. well played, both of you.
anyway, thanks to all these debates, arguments and what-have-you's, I can this about Neutral Milk Hotel songs, They can be interpreted on many different levels, affecting listeners personally and universally. What little can be actually concluded 'positively' as Mangum's intent does not always match up with our own personal interpretations, never mind songs and verses where we aren't quite sure what jeff was getting at. And yet, lucid as interpretation can become, the song's meaning and feeling remains tangible. it's quite extrordinary.
Also, The lyrics of Neutral milk Hotel can center around something without being about it, or rather, without devoting the whole song to it. Most notably, this is true when Jeff sings about religion, or about sex. He can be ambiguious and specific at the same time, which further adds to the multiple interpretations proven to be able to be derived from the same verse or even the same line.
But overall, all I can say about NMH songs is that they're wonderful, I don't have to explain why, you all know.
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