| | Full Review | Ratings (1200) |
Give your Rating |
| 3.0 good | Iai EMERITUS | June 20th 07 |
Really now. All this ambivilence towards this album, just because its follow-up ended up becoming one of the most respected, acclaimed, loved indie albums of all time. C'mon guys, this isn't Pablo Honey! Matter of fact, the distance in quality between the two albums is not that big at all - it's only really enough for you to be certain that In The Aeroplane In The Sea is better, and no more. "Song Against Sex", "A Baby For Pree", "Where You'll Find Me Now", and "Three Peaches" are all fine songs, and there's no need to ignore or scorn them just because they're not "King of Carrot Flowers Pt. 1" or "In The Aeroplane Over The Sea". Even the maligned "Pree Sisters Swallowing A Donkey's Eye" is interesting and listenable, if overlong. Too many Neutral Milk Hotel fans have neglected this album - seriously, this may well be a noisier effort, with slightly worse production and fewer instantly memorable songs, but it is still a good indie album.
3 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | neros1234 | October 18th 17 |
(this was in response to a review made by Med57 in 2005, read that one first: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/3927/Neutral-Milk-Hotel-On-Avery-Island/ )
First of all, this album is the greatest and most beautiful thing I've ever heard. Aeroplane is great, but this album is truly SPECTACULAR. (Not counting, of course, Marching Theme, the end of Someone Is Waiting and Pree Sisters Swallowing a Donkey's Eye, those are just insane. But everything else is beautiful.) The acoustic guitar and delivery and sadness mixed with excitement is just SO PERFECT. I don't understand how people can even compare this to ITAOTS. They are both absolutely amazing pieces of art and both distinctly Neutral Milk Hotel. Also, Mr. Dumb Reviewer Man, you spent WAY too much time talking about Marching Theme and didn't mention some of the best and most hauntingly beautiful songs on the album: You've Passed, Three Peaches, April 8th, Where You'll Find Me Now, and A Baby for Pree. Those songs go so in-depth with their lyricism and sadness and the feeling of being okay. I don't understand how you didn't mention them. Yes, it was a weird choice for Jeff to end the album with Pree Sisters, I think he should have shortened that to about 30 seconds long. But if you disregard that, and think of April 8th as the closing track, it's just so perfect. The slow, sad guitar mixed with the haunting, tired lyrics and voice that tells the story of a desperate and weary man who has no one in his life to love or care for. Even without really listening to the lyrics, you can really understand the feeling of loneliness the song conveys. And I don't like how you said that "the lyrics make sense, for once." Oh really? Avery Island is the only NMH record with lyrics that don't make sense? Then explain to me exactly what the lyrics of Oh Comely mean. Jeff Mangum doesn't often make sense, and that's the beauty of his songwriting. But even something that seems nonsensical can tell a well-crafted story, as most of the songs on Avery Island do. Another thing I love about this album is its sense of homemade-ness but in a way that sounds professional. Did you know that Jeff lived in a closet for three months while he and Robert were recording this? He was dedicated to getting this out there, because he knew he had written solid gold of an album. He pretty much did everything himself, which I really admire. Listen to the drums and the bass in the background of every song. Did you know Jeff could play those instruments that well? No, you probably didn't because he doesn't play those instruments in concert or on ITAOTS. Avery Island is his chance to shine musically, and I think he did a wonderful job. (That fuzz that you so hate probably took a lot of complex instrumentation for just 2 people, Mr. Reviewer Man.) A lot of comments were talking about how the audio quality was bad on this album, but is it? I listened to both Avery Island and ITAOTS in my CD player just yesterday, one after another and the quality didn't sound any different to me. The volume of Avery Island is a bit less regulated, but I think that adds to the charm of the album. You get to hear the songs as they were actually recorded, not equalized in a studio. And yes, I realize this review was posted over a decade ago, but I think if you still check comments on your reviews, you should look at mine and take another good listen of On Avery Island, because it's really one of the best things I've ever heard.
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| 3.5 great | MikeDominguez | June 18th 13 |
As I listen to the musings of Jeff Mangum on NMH's debut, I can definitely see why itAOS is the better remembered album. Whilst songs like the opener "Song Against Sex" and its follow-up "You've Passed" are must-listens fro any NMH fan worth their salt, it's hard to find much to do with the rest of the songs. So, if you really liked the Aeroplane (like I did) do check it out but definitely adjust your expectations.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | RadioheadFan1732 | January 15th 13 |
3.5!? Such an underrated album. Jeff Mangum can do no wrong in my eyes. Probably one of the best song writers out there.
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| 4.0 excellent | TRMshadow | December 10th 12 |
A bit more broken and scattered than In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (if you can even call that composed), but still a strong companion to the masterpiece. The lyrics seem a little more lucid than Mangum's later work, and "noise rock" vibe is a lot more pronounced, so if that is what drew you to NMH then you may love this even more than the aforementioned album but even then it isn't too distracting for non-fans of the genre. All in all a solid album by Jeff that is sadly under-appreciated due to its successor's acclaim. 4.0/5
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| 4.0 excellent | Lakes. | September 18th 10 |
A fuzzy, relaxing and well-written indie album from a band that showed so much potential. It obviously can't compare to follow-up In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, but unlike that album, On Avery Island doesn't demand attention; it just bustles along in its own lo-fi groove.
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| 3.5 great | TheAlmightyBungler | June 15th 10 |
Shockingly underrated. Despite being completely overshadowed by Aeroplane, this album is a solid debut, and worth a good listen. Sure, the tracks are a bit of a rollercoaster, from the catchy Song Against Sex to the avant-garde bore Pree Sisters Swallow A Glass Eye, but some songs [such as Three Peaches and April 8th] stick in your head and rank just as high as songs like Oh Comely and Ghost in my mind.
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| 4.0 excellent | aeroplanegarden | November 16th 09 |
I think this deserves more attention. Doesn't anyone here know that it was meant to be lo-fi? That the producer wanted it to be clean but Jeff said certainly not. And the album was recorded in a house/studio. Nothing fancy. It is a beautiful experiment.
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| 3.0 good | thebhoy | February 11th 08 |
This album is half really good, until it self implodes in on itself. The final "song" is ridiculously overly long. The other two instrumentals are also rather forgettable if not down right annoying (Marching Theme). However the first half of the album, again, is excellent and makes this a worthwhile listen.
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| 4.2 excellent | A.R.O. STAFF | April 2nd 24 |
| 3.5 great | doofy | January 8th 24 |
| 1.0 awful | tellah | August 26th 23 |
| 3.0 good | j008 | August 2nd 23 |
| 2.5 average | ffs | March 29th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | yinei007 | September 14th 22 |
| 3.0 good | Gegery | September 10th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Boreque | August 30th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | lozoots | March 19th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Pvzuzu | January 13th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | tonydip | November 2nd 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Josh | April 4th 21 |
| 3.0 good | YRI | January 5th 21 |
| 3.0 good | remi | October 29th 20 |
| 2.5 average | luetin | October 27th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mike01 | October 2nd 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | kingfool | September 28th 20 |
| 3.5 great | Henry | August 11th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Zeuzo | May 22nd 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sinews | May 20th 20 |
| 3.0 good | Votex | May 19th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Devin98 | February 21st 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Nbehre11 | February 17th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | AnPerson | December 17th 19 |
| 3.0 good | Lassie | September 22nd 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Sinyooz | September 6th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ben | July 10th 19 |
| 2.0 poor | josh | June 10th 19 |
| 1.0 awful | Josh | March 31st 19 |
| 4.5 superb | xxm | January 20th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Teo | December 6th 18 |
| 3.5 great | EdIsOff | November 27th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Gmsod | November 21st 18 |
| 3.5 great | dunnope | November 17th 18 |
| 1.5 very poor | Casavir | October 12th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | ElSomni | August 23rd 18 |
| 2.5 average | 1111ace | August 18th 18 |
| 3.0 good | FelkFg | August 8th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | bSmith | February 26th 18 |
| 3.5 great | Corney | February 17th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | aroyp | January 21st 18 |
| 2.0 poor | greg17 | January 7th 18 |
| 3.0 good | Jan555 | November 18th 17 |
| 3.5 great | dzhondo | November 12th 17 |
| 3.5 great | MrSu | October 2nd 17 |
| 4.5 superb | WillieD | September 27th 17 |
| 2.5 average | YayoG1 | September 2nd 17 |
| 2.5 average | Gueero | August 27th 17 |
| 3.5 great | bentl | July 31st 17 |
| 3.5 great | gilly | July 12th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | smgsmg9 | June 28th 17 |
| 2.5 average | Alexxx | June 21st 17 |
| 3.0 good | PaabL | April 28th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Winndex | February 25th 17 |
| 3.0 good | Juanpa | January 13th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | n60storm | December 30th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Garjo | December 2nd 16 |
| 2.5 average | squiled | October 14th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | fejoob | October 1st 16 |
| 3.5 great | Prole | August 3rd 16 |
| 3.5 great | nyshago | February 24th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | CWBrown | February 20th 16 |
| 3.0 good | Xerian | February 14th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Asunder | January 24th 16 |
| 3.5 great | BHAR | January 22nd 16 |
| 3.5 great | MF79 | January 19th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Iuna | November 12th 15 |
| 3.0 good | elch21 | October 14th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | torts | October 5th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | XiuXiu | September 25th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | mrend55 | September 3rd 15 |
| 3.0 good | tjare | September 3rd 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | airbear | August 10th 15 |
| 1.0 awful | Next | April 22nd 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | gujubuu | April 18th 15 |
| 5.0 classic | Helper | March 20th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | xhrl | March 9th 15 |
| 5.0 classic | fredyk | February 6th 15 |
| 3.5 great | ZBJE | January 24th 15 |
| 3.5 great | Sturgis | November 30th 14 |
| 3.5 great | EWBAITE | November 25th 14 |
| 3.5 great | Fujay | November 22nd 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Walt | November 9th 14 |
| 3.5 great | ariich | October 5th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | JBull | September 2nd 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rowdy | August 12th 14 |
| 3.0 good | spur55 | August 5th 14 |
| 3.5 great | sje45 | August 4th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | jimbon | July 24th 14 |
| 3.5 great | jmh886 | July 21st 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | mike197 | July 20th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Aez | May 29th 14 |
| 3.0 good | whaka | May 17th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | merzbae | April 23rd 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Styten | April 17th 14 |
| 3.0 good | maddin | March 14th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | AdamE | March 14th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | jvanman | March 13th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Acefire | March 6th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | krka | March 5th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | mallen- | February 21st 14 |
| 3.0 good | true | February 1st 14 |
| 3.0 good | Gtzk | January 5th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | eboph | January 1st 14 |
| 5.0 classic | bluetea | December 27th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Wreck | December 23rd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | imsopunk | December 20th 13 |
| 3.5 great | artine | December 17th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | lou1000 | December 8th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Nash J! | November 29th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | bulk | November 13th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Velcro | October 15th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | drewbox | October 9th 13 |
| 3.5 great | arthen | September 18th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | alexdub | September 2nd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Nikolai | August 20th 13 |
| 3.5 great | arf | August 13th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Yamsy | July 9th 13 |
| 3.5 great | tomlop | June 19th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Vernum | June 11th 13 |
| 3.5 great | DrSexy | June 10th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | gp0942 | April 7th 13 |
| 3.5 great | Koei | March 20th 13 |
| 3.0 good | Escain | March 17th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | dogteal | February 22nd 13 |
| 5.0 classic | glumble | February 20th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | oilage | January 21st 13 |
| 3.5 great | Mr16 | January 18th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | heblar | January 15th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Zay | December 31st 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | devon69 | December 31st 12 |
| 3.5 great | BrentV | December 26th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Geehhh | December 22nd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Penlord | December 21st 12 |
| 3.5 great | urzadek | December 17th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Bsloth | December 5th 12 |
| 3.5 great | jtswope | November 30th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Animus | November 19th 12 |
| 3.5 great | elry2k | November 7th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | CJandM | October 12th 12 |
| 3.0 good | Peluca | October 6th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Melanin | October 6th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Parsnips | September 30th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | msm008 | September 3rd 12 |
| 3.5 great | Shyvin | August 25th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Cielo | August 2nd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Adlivun | July 17th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | ADM20 | June 17th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Marzuki | June 17th 12 |
| 3.0 good | Loois | June 13th 12 |
| 3.0 good | Thane | April 16th 12 |
| 2.5 average | Opaque | February 24th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Yotimi | February 21st 12 |
| 3.5 great | nwagner | February 10th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | ala | February 9th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | feanaro | January 10th 12 |
| 3.0 good | fog CONTRIBUTOR | December 30th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | DJ Smurf | December 29th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | JPaller | December 27th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Monheim | December 15th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Veldin | December 12th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Adeoh | December 11th 11 |
| 3.0 good | Naps | December 7th 11 |
| 3.5 great | geng | November 21st 11 |
| 4.5 superb | MarkPop | November 7th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | v0vk | October 10th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Dan H. EMERITUS | September 29th 11 |
| 3.5 great | DPUSS | September 16th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | niels94 | September 4th 11 |
| 3.0 good | pcar | September 4th 11 |
| 3.5 great | mopman | September 1st 11 |
| 3.0 good | Skoj | September 1st 11 |
| 3.0 good | Knave | August 27th 11 |
| 2.5 average | T0rr35 | August 15th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Totes | July 20th 11 |
| 3.0 good | Selh | July 11th 11 |
| 2.5 average | Hugo95 | May 1st 11 |
| 3.5 great | dnor | April 18th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Lorax | March 8th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | conm17 | February 4th 11 |
| 2.5 average | iemona | December 10th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | ACY | December 9th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | gnr61 | December 5th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | wylpyl | November 21st 10 |
| 3.5 great | bab808 | November 20th 10 |
| 2.0 poor | Mikk | November 2nd 10 |
| 3.0 good | Cavs | October 1st 10 |
| 3.5 great | occer | September 20th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Leyland | September 18th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Sblang | September 18th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | aleoh1 | September 17th 10 |
| 2.5 average | Passive | September 2nd 10 |
| 2.5 average | ShyGuy | August 19th 10 |
| 3.5 great | IAJP | August 14th 10 |
| 2.5 average | Zoso4 | July 31st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | PieRye | June 27th 10 |
| 3.5 great | Bleak | June 10th 10 |
| 2.5 average | BroFro | May 19th 10 |
| 2.5 average | Mendigo | February 16th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hodgmand | February 13th 10 |
| 3.5 great | Smevin | February 7th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | mjr20 | November 29th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hulloder | November 26th 09 |
| 2.0 poor | Jasiu | November 21st 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lufcus | November 10th 09 |
| 3.5 great | Gev56 | October 24th 09 |
| 2.5 average | mareep | October 19th 09 |
| 3.5 great | Ricven | October 15th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kakz | October 8th 09 |
| 2.0 poor | Rudy K. EMERITUS | September 25th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Matski | September 9th 09 |
| 2.5 average | Thef | August 29th 09 |
| 3.5 great | ebay | August 9th 09 |
| 3.5 great | Lions | June 23rd 09 |
| 3.5 great | dukes | October 23rd 08 |
| 3.0 good | Akumac | September 5th 08 |
| 3.0 good | Bhima | July 22nd 08 |
| 4.5 superb | Nexis | July 14th 08 |
| 2.5 average | KjD | July 2nd 08 |
| 3.5 great | Kodan | June 8th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | GOme | May 7th 08 |
| 2.0 poor | Thyrm | April 19th 08 |
| 2.5 average | doqtor | November 3rd 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | Regole | August 29th 07 |
| 2.5 average | Otisbum | August 21st 07 |
| 4.5 superb | Berry | August 9th 07 |
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