Jeff Mangum returns ... with a cover song

The reclusive Neutral Milk Hotel mastermind returns (to stay, we hope)

By Gabe Vodicka Wednesday December 9, 2009 06:42 PM EST

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Hot on the heels of posting new, decade-old live video of Neutral Milk Hotel mastermind Jeff Mangum, Merge has released Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox. Proceeds from the star-studded compilation will benefit Knox, the New Zealand folk-punk legend of Tall Dwarfs fame who recently suffered, and is thankfully recovering from - you guessed it - a stroke.

And guess who shows up on Stroke’s second disc? Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy! And Yo La Tengo, and Bill Callahan, and the Mountain Goats! Oh, and the reclusive, mysterious Mr. Mangum himself! That’s right, kiddies: he’s baaaaack! You can visit Merge’s site for a preview of all tracks from the record, including Mangum’s version of Tall Dwarfs’ “Sign the Dotted Line.”

So thank you, Jeff, for heeding our collective call and bestowing your ineffable musical presence on the world once again. We know that this simple, single cover song is merely an understated beginning to a marvelous and flourishing “second phase” of your illustrious career. We look forward to the new NMH full-length, which, Crib Notes is proud to be the first to report, is being written and recorded as we speak*. It is sure to turn the world of rock and roll on its bedsore-ridden backside. Do it to it, Jeffy! Welcome back, dawg!