Neutral Milk Hotel
VIMTV Episode #178: Neutral Milk Hotel – In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
Jake: Highly Recommended, 95/100
Tom: Highly Recommended, 88/100
-Requested by and dedicated to Erinn
Overview: In The Aeroplane Over The Sea is the cornerstone of today’s still-developing indie rock movement– and it came out over a decade ago. This album has influenced countless bands since its release, but its true achievement is how it is able to still be influential yet remain an ingenious musical statement at the same time. As far as the sound goes, it incorporates folk influenced acoustic pop with noisy guitars and risque lyrics that occasionally relate to WWII. The mood bounces between a naive happiness and a daunting reality, tearing the listener into two vastly different realms of emotion. When it comes down to it, this album is all about context because it was truly ahead of its time. However, unlike a myriad of “influential” albums, this one is still relevant today on its own rather than simply spawning a movement of similar sounding bands.
Recommended Similar Artists: The Arcade Fire, Rogue Wave, Pavement, The Decemberists
Jake’s Track Picks:
- 4. Two Headed Boy
- 6. Holland, 1945
- 7. Communist Daughter
- 8. Oh Comely
Tom’s Track Picks:
- 1. The King of Carrot Flowers, Pt. 1
- 2. King of Carrot Flowers, Pts. 2-3
- 6. Holland, 1945
- 8. Oh Comely
VIMTV Research Links:
Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel playing “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” live:
Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel playing “Oh Comely” live:
