If The OTC would have been active during the best years of the american counter-culture and the rise of the so-called "hippie movement", they would have been without a doubt the most popular band on the planet. History decided otherwise and it's during the 90ies that they had to fight to be heard. Even if the Elephant 6 bands collective's influence is undeniable on today's alternative American scene, it's curious to see how celebrated "In The Aeroplane Over The Sea" (Neutral Milk Hotel's masterpiece) is today and how "Black Foliage" seems to be considered a UFO for most people when in fact this might be the best pop-rock psychedelic record ever produced. 70 minutes of incredibly well crafted potential hit singles only interrupted by the completely abstract genius of the 11 minutes of "The Bark & Below It". I think that the presence of such weird and hallucinatory sound layers covering all the album might be the cause of its demise; it's a shame when that cascade of field recordings is in fact what makes the LP the craziest experience you can endure under the influence of heavy psychedelics; 'cause once you do that, your life can only be profoundly transformed… No less !!!!

Well said! I was lucky enough to be able to get on some gigs and open up for some of the Elephant 6 crew when they came through my area back in the early 00's (The Gerbils, The Music Tapes) and they were some of the best times of my life. I agree that there is an issue of timing when it comes to OTC and had they even been around these last few years and put out a record like Dusk @ CC, they would have blown kids minds. I get sad when I listen now, but that always changes when I remember that the fact that these records even got made at all is incredible. Every time I sit down with one I'm hearing things in a new way and appreciating the structures and melodies with a fresh perspective. Will have to find some "help" the next time I do it. I can only imagine.