For this week, I’ve decided to go with the 4th in
my ever revolving favorite album of all time choice (the other 3 we’ve already
covered: The Beatles ‘Sgt. Pepper’, and Radiohead’s ‘OK Computer’ and ‘Kid A’).
Before you listen to this, though, put any comparison between those albums and
this one out of your mind. ‘In the Aeroplane Over the Sea’ is unlike almost
anything else in music, although their influence can be heard slightly in bands
like The Decemberists and Arcade Fire. The album is a menagerie of strange
instrumentation, and even stranger lyrics. While this may sound off-putting, don’t
worry…the end result is one of the most original, beautiful musings on life itself
ever created.Neutral Milk Hotel, led by reclusive (at least until recently) mastermind Jeff Mangum, was a member of the highly influential Elephant 6 collective of bands that in the 90’s featured Of Montreal, The Apples inStereo, and The Olivia Tremor Control, among others. These bands made their name in creating psychedelic indie pop with a strong Beatles influence, but Neutral Milk Hotel was something else entirely. Their sound was one featuring instruments that almost sound like they could have come out of a junkyard, with Mangum’s relatively normal acoustic guitar backed by accordions, bagpipes, singing saws, fuzzed-out guitars, and horns that sound like they came straight off of a dusty Spanish street band.
Jeff Mangum’s lyrics are the real star of the show here, though. Legend has it that he wrote this album after reading “The Diary of Anne Frank” for the first time, and was so moved by her story that the words just burst out of him. The ghost of Anne Frank hangs over the entire album as he randomly makes clear references to her, but he really uses this base as a means to discuss all aspects of life, death, sex, and memories of childhood, albeit in an oft cryptic manner. There are far too many lyrical standouts here for me to name, and I strongly suggest finding the lyrics online and reading along at least once. I’ll leave you with one line from an 8 minute track recorded in one take that audibly elicited a slack-jawed “Holy Shit!” from the sound board guy (you can hear it at the end of the song if you listen carefully), the standout “Oh Comely”: “Soft silly music is meaningful, magical”. He proves himself right every time I listen to this album.
I had heard of Neutral Milk Hotel before when I was heavy into my folk music. I remember looking up folk artists and their name came up , but when I listened to them I didn’t really get that folky vibe I was looking for. They seemed to be more rock n roll to me, so I was interested to see this week if my mind had changed on this.
ReplyDeleteHaving been introduced to the Decemberists, and Arcade Fire previous to this week, I can definitely see influences from NMH on their albums. Which of course David stated previously in his write up. “King of Carrot Flowers part 1”, is definitely more melodic and I like the accordion usage. The lyrics are very thought provoking as well, as to say no matter how rough life gets there is always someone there to get you through. At least that is what I took from it. “King of Carrot Flowers Part 2 & 3, starts off with a cry out for love to Jesus Christ and then takes on that rock n roll vibe I was talking about previously. I definitely am having a hard time figuring out what I think of Jeff’s voice. I am not a huge fan of whiny voices, and sometimes it rubs off on me in that manner, although I can’t really imagine any other voice that would fit as well into this sort of music. “In the Aeroplane over the sea” was a song that I really enjoyed. The whimsicalness in the background takes you on a ride and it gives the feeling of floating through the air. Fits in very well with the title of the song, and I read that they used a musical saw, so that is pretty cool too. “Fool” was a nice instrumental intermission, and even though there were no lyrics I feel it still told a beautiful story. “Holland 1945” tells the sad story of the Jews packing up their precious belongings during the War, and only taking what was necessary to survive. It is interesting to me that such a sad topic is followed up by such a happier background of music. I loved the horns in “Communist Daughter” along with all the other alien sounding transmissions going on in the background. It made for a very interesting song, unlike anything I had ever heard before. “Untitled” sounded like a Scottish rock anthem. I love me some bagpipes so this track was one of my favorites. As for “Two Headed Boy Part 2” it is very poetic, and I think after listening to it multiple times I can see a real beauty to the lyrics. There is definitely some heaviness and deep thought that needs to take place when listening to a song like this, so for that I can see how their true artistry.
This type of music is still not so much my cup of tea, but there were a few tracks that I really enjoyed and I can see overall how this album is rated as highly as it is. When a song makes you think and reflect you have done your job as an artist. Good pick David.
I liked this album before revisiting it this week - it's one of those that I heard David playing time and time again back in the old days that really stuck with me. Not surprisingly, the tracks that stood out this time around were the ones that already felt familiar - namely "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" and "Oh, Comely" - but the whole album was really great.
ReplyDeleteI'm not great at tagging music with genres, but I'd say it's the stories and authenticity of music that make it "folk," moreso than a common tone or sound. In that respect, much like The Decemberists (which I love), these guys are the real deal. And like David, I'm a big fan of the singer's voice because his voice is part of what makes this rich, colorful music - well, real. There's something beautiful in it's sincerity.
Most of my favorite music is full, rich, haunting, magical - just like this. It's one thing to create a catchy hook or even a pretty melody - but when artists put all these tiny pieces together to create little masterpieces, it blows my mind.
This pick came at a really stressful time at work (banquet season!) so I really appreciated it. Now I guess I have to pick next week's music...
P.S. Who else recognizes the "1,2,1-2-3-4" in "Holland, 1945" from Girl Talk? I might be the only one recognizing this backward...
DeleteP.P.S. I never made the connection with Anne Frank (I'm not real big on listening too much into lyrics), but knowing that tidbit shed a different, more interesting light onto music I'd already heard and loved. Now I like it even more. ;)
The first word that comes to mind when listening to In the Aeroplane over the Sea is quirky. The music itself is all over the place and random instruments chime in from time to time. Jeff’s vocals sound like they were recorded with the first take as he is quite pitchy and occasionally, to me, unbearable. The music has the appearance to not have any flow at all through the album and has a happy, energetic, and upbeat tone. The lyrics, however, as David point out are the star. The entire album, lyrically at least, is collaborative, and the lyrics are very deep and often dark and depressing. The combination of the upbeat rhythms and the depressing lyrics creates a cognitive dissonance that is quite frustrating for me. These lyrics in a Decemberists song would be a perfect match for me. Oh Comely is really the only track that avoids this disconnect and coincidentally has my favorite lyrics on the album. The term comely is a very clever way to refer to the subject of the song. The diary’s influence is quite apparent throughout and is one that easily triggers emotion. I really like the balance between saying what he means and the use of analogies. He gives just enough to help you figure everything out and the message becomes clearer with each listen. In the Aeroplane over the Sea had my other favorite lyrics, and Two Headed Boy Pt2 comes in third.
ReplyDeleteIn the end, this was an album I would rather read than listen to. As the lyrics suck me in, Jeff’s vocals (along with the bag pipes and horn section) push me right back away. I mean no disrespect, just hope you can appreciate an honest review.
The thing that stands out the most to me is the influence this album has had on the artists I love today. If I had never heard this album before and you told me that it just came out last week, I would completely believe it. Everyone from Sufjan Stevens to The Shins owe a huge debt of gratitude to Jeff and NMH. This album was released while there was still a lingering grunge/alternative wave still dominating the radio, albeit the heyday was over. College radio was the only outlet to find music like this and the impact this album created is still felt today with an almost cult following for this revered group and it's reclusive leader Jeff Mangum.
ReplyDeleteThe sequencing and storytelling here is basically the template The Decemberists have been following for a decade. The screeching horn at the end of the albums self-titled track is eerily similar to the one heard at the conclusion of my favorite song from last year "The Shrine/ An Argument" by the Fleet Foxes. The bold arrangements and instrument choices are magnified by the mere vintage of this album, Win Butler and his massive collective have since kicked down the musical and lyrical doors that Jeff and company opened in a time where traveling outside the musical box was no further than stones throw.
Two of my favorite tracks on the album, "Oh Comely" and "Two Headed Boy Pt. 2" are simply Jeff and his acoustic and their words carry so much heft that, considering the very limited output of NMH, I pray that we haven't heard the last from such a pivotal and impressive group. I understand the reverence for this band and this album, but I also feel it is magnified considerably due to its tiny catalog. There is a Nirvana parallel that I keep drawing because of the unrealized greatness that exists for both bands, Nirvana we will never know for obvious reasons but NMH still has an outside chance to keep writing their legacy. Jeff reminds me a lot of Curt on faster tracks like "King of Carrot Flowers Pt. 2&3". Anytime you can be compared to Nirvana, your doing something right. Thanks for making me revisit this album.