Rhymes: Classic Album Series: Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over the Sea

This is the title track to Neutral Milk Hotel's 2nd and final album, released in 1998. The album was inspired by The Diary of Anne Frank, and consists of several allusions to Nazi Germany and the Holocaust. While the band and the album flew under the radar when it was initially was released, it has since gained critical acclaim and even some success in record sales (it was the 6th highest selling vinyl record in 2008, ten years after its release).

I was introduced to this album in early May and has since become one of my favorite records of all time. The lead-singer, Jeff Mangum's Bob Dylan-esque vocals are extremely powerful on this eerie song. NMH's sound is one-of-a-kind, and I have never heard anything like it before. It features a strong Folk sound, but also features heavily distorted guitars.

Stand-out tracks in addition to the title track include: "Holland, 1945" "Two Headed Boy" "Oh Comely" and essentially the entire 11 track album that clocks in at just under 40 minutes. The listen is short, but very intense.

BRL Approved Classic.

From Dwight Schrute's Beet Farm: Donny Wertz Can Survive

This is pretty much an inside joke, for those who do not know M*ch**l W*rtz, or his family, then you probably wont get it, but it is quite funny nonetheless. It is a parody of A Country Boy Can Survive by Hank Williams Jr. Eric Zirger on Guitar and Dylan Stretchbery on the vocals, both of which appear on my upcoming album (Shameless Plug)

Rhymes: What the Ef is an Asher Roth?

Asher Roth has been making some noise on the underground scene since 2007. He is a white, from the suburbs, and he has been hearing countless comparisons to Eminem. I'm still not sure what to make of Mr. Roth. I gave his mixtape a listen during the summer, but I dismissed him because I paired him in the group of what i call "parody rappers" who really don't rap about anything, but just make funny songs (ie: Afroman, Jamie Kennedy, Mickey Avalon, etc.). He is obviously aimed at a target audience, the college frat boys, which I think is extremely corny and lame. And I hated his first single (listen below) "I Love College" at first, but it has started to grow on me, and it is going to be huge. If not on the radio, then sure enough at college frat parties.



This song is undeniably catchy, but I also think it depicts the collge life very inaccurately. But at the same time, it's a party song about partying and having fun, so why am I over analyzing it so much? I'm still not sure how I feel about this up and coming rapper, but I will check out his corny ass titled debut album "Asleep in the Bread Aisle" which comes out April 17.