This album is considered a modern classic and is hugely popular among independent rock circles. It's been in my collection for a few years but only just recently has it sunk in with me. These songs have been playing on my radio and in my head constantly for days on end. This album is just a really beautiful and unique experience, I don't know how to say it any better than that. You feel like a spirit is sitting in a chair next to you playing these otherworldly songs on his acoustic guitar. The album is a concept album about the experience of Anne Frank during the Holocaust, but the songs aren't morbid. They're about love and life and all sorts of things.
Jeff Magnum, who is the singer and songwriter, has become a cult figure. After this album became a success, he disappeared from the music scene and hasn't returned to it. He has only done 1 interview in the last decade that I know of -- here with pitchfork. And here is another good article speculating about what happened to him.
Get the album here
6 comments:
Actually, Magnum has been around. He did some percussion on the new Apples in Stereo last year, for example.
Mangum
This is probably my favorite album of all time. It's just a very affecting record, and elicits so much thought and emotion from me when I listen to it. I feel bad for mythologizing Jeff so much (he has stated that he finds his cult like fan following disturbing and somewhat burdensome in regards to expectation of him, etc.) but to me it is truly a landmark of music. I have listened to it and cried, laughed, felt serene, felt confused, felt love, and felt fear all in one sitting from the myriad of emotions expressed in its songs. I have very fond memories of listening to it laying on the couch with an old girlfriend, and feeling so much life connected with someone and experiencing it with them. Each time I listen to it, its more of an experience than an album, and I feel so very grateful to the band for sharing this beautiful, beautiful creation with us.
Great selection to write about, this blog is fantastic.
can you fix the link to the second article you mention ("here")? I'd really like to read it. Thanks!
Sure, fixed it. Sorry about that
I was blown away when first hearing this album years ago...and I still am, he never needs to do anything else if he doesn't want to. It'd be pretty hard to top, I agree with your final statement.
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