
It's been eleven years since Jeff Mangum and co (Neutral Milk Hotel) released their masterpiece In the Aeroplane, Over the Sea . Fans have been waiting for Jeff's triumphant return ever since; yet, other than a few live guest spots, Mangum has kept completely silent. In some of the press sheets, The Rural Alberta Advantage are said to be the next Neutral Milk Hotel. Generally this sort of hyperbole squashes my interest, but I decided to give the record a shot anyways. I'm quite happy I did. The RAA's debut album Hometowns is thirteen songs [...]