On Avery Island

On Avery Island is the debut album of Neutral Milk Hotel.

Track listing

All songs written by Jeff Mangum except where noted. Horn arrangements by Robert Schneider.

1. "Song Against Sex" – 3:40
2. "You've Passed" – 2:54
3. "Someone Is Waiting" – 2:31
4. "A Baby for Pree" – 1:21
5. "Marching Theme" – 2:58
6. "Where You'll Find Me Now" – 4:04
7. "Avery Island/April 1st" (Jeff Mangum/Robert Schneider)  – 1:48
8. "Gardenhead/Leave Me Alone" – 3:14
9. "Three Peaches" – 4:01
10. "Naomi" – 4:53
11. "April 8th" – 2:47
12. "Pree-Sisters Swallowing a Donkey's Eye" (Jeff Mangum/all players)  – 13:49

Additional information

The title refers to Avery Island, a salt dome island in southern Louisiana, the band's home state. Avery Island is the headquarters of the McIlhenny Company, makers of Tabasco sauce.

The UK version of this CD has two more tracks: "Everything Is" and "Snow Song Pt. 1," both of which are taken from the "Everything Is" single, reportedly without Jeff Mangum's permission.^[1] On the vinyl LP, "Pree-Sisters Swallowing a Donkey's Eye" is 3:28 long. The UK version also has a different cover, with artwork by Jill Carnes of Thimble Circus.

Personnel

• Jeff Mangum - guitar, drums, vocals, bells, xylophone, air organ, Casio keyboards, tapes, cover design
• Robert Schneider - air organs, home organs, fuzz bass, xylophone, horn arrangements
• Lisa Janssen - fuzz bass on tracks 2 and 8
• Oliver Lindberg - saxophone
• Rick Benjamin - trombone on tracks 1, 7, 8

Track 12 features Merisa Bissinger, Hilarie Sidney, Zachary DeMichele, Dane Terry, Lisa Janssen, Aaron Reedy, and Jeff Mangum performing various Indonesian instruments.

References