Endless Endless

"Effective and entertaining… an enduring indie rock mystery that shines a light on the power of community and creativity.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Elephant 6 was the model for our little scene in Bellingham in the late nineties. I adored their music, and what they taught me about community, friendship, and creative collaboration were lessons I’ve carried with me ever since. Every aspiring, independently minded artist should read this book.”
 —Benjamin Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie)

“Endless Endless is a kaleidoscopic ride through the magical, cacophonous, punk-pop world of Elephant 6 bands. The story of this unique musical community explains why so many of us make music despite all obstacles—and also documents a parallel universe to the late-nineties corporate major label music scene. Reading this book captures the spirit and the joy of music that comes from the heart.”—Naomi Yang (Galaxie 500, Damon & Naomi)

“While their sales always belied their inspiring communal spirit, creativity, ambition, and (as we now see) far-reaching influence, the bands of the so-called Elephant 6 collective have long deserved the kind of thorough biography and scene overview that Adam Clair provides in Endless Endless. Music journalism and criticism at its best, Clair makes it as fun and trippy to read about Neutral Milk Hotel, the Apples in Stereo, and the Olivia Tremor Control as it is to listen to their recordings. And you don't even need a cassette deck!”—Jim DeRogatis, music journalist and critic, Sound Opinions co-host

“Elephant 6 stormed Athens and breathed new energy into an already stratospherically creative scene. Their love of music was and is remarkable.”—Michael Stipe

“One person thinks Elephant 6 is a tree. Another thinks it is a snake. One person thinks it is an art commune. Another thinks it is a record label. Taken together, all the different perspectives build up to a thoughtful and authoritative account of our collective.”—Robert Schneider, Elephant 6 co-founder (The Apples in stereo)

“A thorough and accurate look at Elephant 6! It's wild that I played music with some of these people for around 20 years and didn't know some of this stuff. A fascinating read!”—John Kiran Fernandes (The Olivia Tremor Control, Circulatory System, Cloud Recordings)

“The Elephant 6 collective stands as part of and apart from the wonderful and world class music scene of Athens, Georgia. Endless Endless provides an in-depth look at wonders and mysteries of its creation and lasting impact. It’s also a great read.”—Patterson Hood, writer and artist (The Drive-By Truckers)

“It's the ultimate dream for any musician throughout their career to be surrounded by a community full of geniuses and freaks supporting and contributing to each other’s art, and that's exactly what E6 was. Endless Endless perfectly captures the beautiful and complex dynamics between the longtime friends and bandmates involved in E6, and it left me longing for the era of four-track recording, mixtapes, and the inspiration that is so powerfully fostered by close-knit, small town communities. Indie music truly would not be where it is today without all of these artists paving the way!”—Julia Shapiro (Chastity Belt)

“Endless Endless is an intimate portrait of a small, out-of-the-way scene touched by magic. It captures the raw thrill of creative discovery in the time before digital culture took over our lives, and it’s a testament to the power of friendship, showing what can happen when you find your people and make your own world.”—Mark Richardson, rock and pop critic for the Wall Street Journal and former Editor-in-Chief of Pitchfork

“Part oral history, part celebration, part mystery, Endless Endless is a lovely, compulsively readable book about a musical movement that was as important and lasting as it was humble and modest. Adam Clair clearly adores this world and draws us into it with deep research and sharp perspective, but, more than anything, laid-back, endearing prose that draws you in and lets you be a part. Reading this book makes you feel like you’re listening to the music it chronicles, which might be the best compliment, among many, that I can give it.”—Will Leitch, author of How Lucky

“Everyone who listened to (and became obsessed with) In the Aeroplane Over the Sea has wondered, at some point, how the hell such a masterwork could've emerged, seemingly out of nowhere. Endless Endless answers that question by meticulously tracking the artists and themes and magic that led to the seminal indie rock album of our generation. I still regret that I missed a Neutral Milk Hotel concert in Boston in 1997. I thought they'd be around forever, that there was no rush. Adam Clair has given me the next best thing: the definitive story of who they were, where they came from, and how they assembled one of the greatest indie rock records of all time.”—Michael Schur, TV writer/producer and creator of The Good Place