The reclusive Jeff Mangum hasn't released anything since the Neutral Milk Hotel masterpiece In the Aeroplane over the Sea, in 1998. Well there was the "field recordings of musicians in Bulgaria" album -- but I wouldn't think that counts for NMH fans like me who have waited, anticipated, hoped, through his seclusion, re-emergence, and then retreat into the wilderness of his life that he would somehow find a way to release music again. Well my friends, that day is here. Available, right now, right this second, at the Merge Records store is a digital download of a new Jeff Mangum song.
Unfortunately, it's not a time to celebrate. Not because the song isn't great, but because of the circumstances of the release. Mangum is appearing on a tribute album to New Zealand indie forefather Chris Knox, who suffered a stroke back in June, and this album is a benefit to help with his recovery. The album includes both original tracks and covers from a collection of indie rock and Merge legends like Stephen Merritt, Lou Barlow, Yo La Tengo, Bill Callahan, Will Oldham (Bonnie "Prince" Billy), AC Newman, Portastatic (Mac!), and Lambchop. And of course, it includes a cover of a Knox song by the long silent genius that is Mr. Mangum. So check out the Merge website, buy the album, and believe that some wonderful happiness can come out of such a sad thing, because in this case it has.
Tracklisting:
Full Tracklisting:
*Tracks are arranged chronologically
Disc 1:
1. Jay
Reatard - Pull Down The Shades
2. The Checks - Rebel
3. The Bleeding
Allstars - Ain't It Nice
4. Peter Gutteridge - Don't Catch Fire
5. The
Chills - Luck Or Loveliness
6. David Kilgour - Nothing's Going To
Happen
7. The Crying Wolfs - All My Hollowness To You
8. Stephin Merritt -
Beauty
9. Portastatic - Nostalgia's No Excuse
10. The Mint Chicks -
Crush
11. Jay & Sam Clarkson - I've Left Memories Behind
12. Sky Green
Leopards - Burning Blue
13. Shayne Carter - The Slide
14. Pumice - Grand
Mal
15. Hamish Kilgour - Knoxed Out
Disc 2:
1. Boh Runga - Not
Given Lightly
2. Red & Zeke (Feat. Bill Doss and Neil Cleary) -
Bodies
3. Jeff Mangum - Sign The Dotted Line
4. Bill Callahan -
Lapse
5. Genghis Smith - Growth Spurt
6. Yo La Tengo - Coloured
7. AC
Newman - Dunno Much About Life But I Know How To Breathe
8. Alec Bathgate -
Glide
9. Don McGlashan - Inside Story
10. Sean Donnelly - The Outer
Skin
11. Lambchop - What Goes Up
12. The Mountain Goats - Brave
13. The
Tokey Tones (and friends) - Round These Walls
14. The Bats - Just Do
It
15. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - My Only Friend
16. The Finn Family - It's
Love
17. Jordan Luck - Becoming Something Other
18. The Verlaines -
Driftwood
19. Lou Barlow - Song Of The Tall Poppy
20. The Nothing -
Napping In Lapland
21. Tall Dwarfs - Sunday Son
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