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.

Rhymes: Greatest Albums of All-Time: #5 Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek) - Train of Thought

I bought this album 1/1/05. That was the beginning of the 2nd semester of my freshman year in high school. At this point I was starting my transition into a different type of hip hop. It was a few months after the disappointing Encore album by Eminem, and I was growing tired of mainstream hip hop in general. Reflection Eternal was my gateway into I dont want to say conscious, but just better hip hop.

This classic 2000 album, is highly regarded as one of the best hip hop releases of this decade. With flawless production provided by Cincinnati native, Hi-Tek and the peak of Talib Kweli's lyrical prowess. This is the type of album that happens once in a life time. The combination of two artists at their best; released during the perfect time where hip hop NEEDED a record like this. The vibe generated from this record cannot be duplicated. Although the two are currently working on the follow up to this classic record, they will never be able to recapture such a perfect and genuine moment in music.

I could sit here and take you through this album track by track, describing the sonic nirvana this album provides the listener. But instead I will keep this breif. This album is perfect for the winter time, which is upon us, so I highly suggest that you listen to it.

Rhymes: #6 Greatest Album of All Time: Bright Eyes "Fevers & Mirrors"

Oberst's 2000 classic is easily the darkest and probably the most difficult album to listen to on this list. Classifying this album as an "emo" album does it a great injustice, but you still cant deny that this album evokes very strong emotions; with songs dealing with heartbreak and suicide. Oberst's whiney voice is for selected tastes only, but for those who dont mind it will find some of the most brilliant lyrics of this generation.

Mirrors is a 12 track masterpiece that uses a lot of metaphors and imagery that upon hundreds of listens, I probably still havent understood every lyric. I often compare this album to the #7 album on this list, God Loves Ugly. Both are very pessimistic and somber, and both have a specific woman many of the songs are dedicated to. Daley dedicates much of God Loves Ugly to a woman named Lucy, and Oberst speaks of a woman named Arienette.


This is a fan made video for "Calendar Hung Itself"

Rhymes: #7 Greatest Album of All Time: Atmosphere - God Loves Ugly

Yeah it's been a long ass time since I've done one of these posts, so I'm going to finally finish the countdown this month.

"You're so ugly. You're so ugly."
Those are the opening words to one of the most influential albums of my life. God Loves Ugly, a curious album title, for a curious hip hop duo. My first time hearing Atmosphere was "Lovelife" on some Pandora type website back in 2004. Sean and Anthony have since become one of my favorite musical acts.

But it all started with this 18 piece masterpiece. I was 15, I had never heard anything like Mr. Daley's abstract, emotional approach to rapping. Sure the battle raps are there (Onemosphere, Give Me, etc) but songs with such pain and vivid imagery, such as "F#&% You Lucy" and "A Girl Named Hope", this album was way over my head, and I wasnt ready for an album of this nature quite yet.

Years passed and I heard an Atmosphere song here and there, but one day once again my curiosity got the best of me, so I decided to revisit GLU. Once again, it wasn't the masterpiece that I had heard it hyped up to be. But a couple weeks passed, and my Junior prom came and went, and my date who I was currently crushing on, had just gotten a new boyfriend and I had felt something I had never felt before. Then "F&%# You Lucy" came on shuffle on my 2GB iPod nano, and all those emotions that I couldnt relate upon my first hearing of the album, all connected with me in a way that is beyond dope beats and clever lyrics.


Here is a live performance of "F#*$ You Lucy" I thought it was important to post a live version of this song because when I went to the atmosphere concert in May, it was one of the most unforgettable musical experiences Ive ever had.