Tuesday, July 10, 2007

"How strange it is to be anything at all..."

[Edit, January 25, 2008:
Welcome. I've noticed that a lot of people Google search the phrase "Can't believe how strange it is to be anything at all" and come across this page.

I don't know what you're looking for, but my guess is that NMH's "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" from the album of the same title hit you, as it did me, like a ton of bricks. I've said it before and I'll say it again - it's probably the best album I've ever heard. Ever.

That song, in particular, served as inspiration for one of my song compilations. I make these, as a hobbby, about monthly. You've been unfortunate enough to come across this, the third entry on FOA, where I showcase the collection of songs in my brain in July of 2007, which, incidentally had a lot to do with Neutral Milk Hotel.

As Rich so accurately pointed out to me, it's been ten years since the release of Neutral Milk Hotel's In The Aeroplane Over The Sea. It still has this power over me. It's the album to which I compare all albums. And I've probably mentioned it here at Fear of Arthropods 15 times.

Since July, the site has grown exponentially. I encourage you to poke around. If NMH is what brought you here, then you'll be glad to know it's been pretty much the inspiration for the type of music I seek out, as well as the types of music I make into silly little mixes (see below).

"What a beautiful face
I have found in this place
That is circling all round the sun
And when we meet on a cloud
I'll be laughing out loud
I'll be laughing with everyone
I see
Can't believe
How strange it is to be anything at all"]



Original post:


July's mix of the month:

1. Department of Eagles - "Sailing By Night"
2. The Shins - "Young Pilgrims"
3. Radical Face- "Along the Road"
4. Neutral Milk Hotel - "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea"
5. Radiohead - "Exit Music (For A Film)"
6. Of Montreal - "Gronlandic Edit"
7. Of Montreal - "A Sentence of Sorts In Konsvinger"
8. The Decemberists - "The Engine Driver"
9. The Shins - "Mine's Not a High Horse"
10. Regina Spektor - " On the Radio"
11. Maria Taylor - "Clean Getaway"
12. Voxtrot - "The Start of Something"
13. Coldplay - "Kingdom Come"
14. Neutral Milk Hotel - "Holland, 1945"
15. Radical Face - "Wrapped In Piano Strings"

It's brilliant, I promise.
Oh, and let it loop around to the beginning when "Wrapped in Piano Strings" ends...trust me.


"can't believe
how strange it is to be anything at all"

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

thank you, thank you for this playlist.
nearly all of the tracks were already in my itunes;
putting them together was just like completing a puzzle.

Kopojokoingo said...

Like a ton of bricks, wonderful wonderful bricks.

Anonymous said...

haha congrats you're the first result! i couldn't help but read your first line... and i was rewarded with a great playlist! kudos

Another Music Blogger said...

Like a ton of bricks made of pure awesome encased in gold foil.

kristen said...

Just came across this blog post. You're amazing and the playlist you posted makes so nostalgic of 2007 with bands like the shins and voxtrot and of course neutral milk hotel. I'm rather young and first heard them in 2007 when i was 15 and that when im love affair with them began.

Willo said...

always thought this was an awesome mix but never did thank you for it, so thanks! i've given it some grooveshark/tumblr love here http://bit.ly/QlG8Fu

Damian K. said...

You've turned me on to this album which I will check out based on your description. To note: I am trying to find the real source for that excellent line -Lewis Carroll (according to Chapman), but I can't find that line from Carroll at present.

Anonymous said...

How surprised I was when I landed here for the exact reason you stated, and then in your playlist right after In the Aeroplane, you put my FAVORITE Radiohead song. I've now seen both songs performed live, and they've both made me ball my eyes out haha. Thanks!