lambchops's Full Review: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea * by Neutral Milk Ho...
Seamlessly unifying elements of lo-fi, folk, and experimentalism Neutral Milk Hotel is a free flowing, utterly incomparable creation. In reality, the “band” is the effort of one man from Louisiana. That man, singer-songwriter Jeff Mangum, has been creating his own strange variety of music since 1989 first with the help of a few small-town peers (including Robert Schneider of The Apples in Stereo) and later solo.
Years passed, Neutral Milk Hotel printed various independent singles. But it was with 1996’s On Avery Island that Mangum finally recorded his first pearl. Critically acclaimed in many different arenas and publications, the album was comfortable yet thought provoking…a Herculean effort recorded on a simple 4-track machine. Perfect? Probably not, but an absolutely enchanting release worth hearing.
Two more years passed, and in 1998 Mangum dropped In The Aeroplane Over The Sea once again on indie label Merge. The album, produced by Schneider, is intelligent yet crazed, an insane romp through the mind of an obviously gifted yet wholly under appreciated American artist. Mangum penned most of the songs usually with the help of musician Scott Spillane. The music here is brilliant, the songs thick and obtuse yet amazingly comfortable. Mangum makes no bones…he’s an artist first and seems intent on fulfilling his own desires more so than the expectations of critics or even fans.
While often the purpose of such a conceptual, rich, and often crazed album is lost on mainstream fans, somehow In The Aeroplane Over The Sea manages to create a nook in which listeners can feel loved and cherished. This “answer” is where Mangum fails (if anywhere). You see, the message of this release is convoluted as well arranged and performed as it is. Lyrically, Mangum fills few of these holes. And while on lesser albums it would ruin the appeal, here it serves in part as a mystery and in part as frustration. This is the only qualm that listeners could possibly have with Mangum’s tour de force.
And with most tour de force efforts, choosing favorites is a nearly impossible task. The album persists from start to finish in enormously sweeping ebbs and flows. Emotionally, In The Aeroplane Over The Sea is dark and nervous with only the occasional upbeat interlude (as with the title track…though it still deals with the topic of death). Upon slipping the disc into any given player, soon-to-be fans will be presented with jangle-pop guitars and Mangum’s luminous vocals. The King of Carrot and Flowers, Pt. 1 is a flawless introduction to this second full-length effort.
Holding on to that thought for a moment, the album continues with The King of Carrot and Flowers, Pts. 2-3. A darker and more pensive extension of the first, the song is a story of spiritual awakening. But even as Mangum croons about his love for old JC, it is clear that the song isn’t exactly an ode to god…more so it is a rockin’ romp of shadowed epiphany. Whatever the meaning, the song is dazzling.
Mangum stretches the borders of imagery with Two-Headed Boy. The singer-songwriter accompanied only by an acoustic guitar emotes about sex, maturation, death (a common theme on this album), and radio. Stripped of all extraneous elements, the track highlights Mangum in all his glory and is unquestionably one of the few most emotional songs of the entire album. It is a very important track.
Noisy and rather inaccessible at the surface, Holland, 1945 is also probably the most pretentious offering of the album. It details Anne Frank (yes, that Anne Frank) and her plight in the wake of Nazi Germany. Yadda, yadda, yadda, Ignoring the uncharacteristically clichéd nature of the song, it is important to note that the mix of noisy rock elements with trumpets makes the song a worthwhile listen…just don’t dig too deeply into the lyrics.
Oh Comely is another pensive song most sonically similar to Two Headed Boy. While not as imaginative as that earlier song, it is completely enjoyable. Not only that, it acts as a lengthy yet significant bridge to Ghost. A dynamic song full of unexpected instrumentations that listeners will be happy to find dispersed throughout In The Aeroplane Over The Sea. Once again populated by trumpets, restrained percussion, and various guitars the song is difficult to not be drawn in to.
This near-brilliant album is capped by Two-Headed Boy, Pt. 2. A more haunting and for that matter experimental extension of the first, the track nicely wraps everything up. Though, the song isn’t the best of the album…by far.
Is my admiration for Neutral Milk Hotel obvious? If not, a single listen to any one of these tracks will be enough to convince most interested listeners that Mangum is incredibly talented. Of course, as mentioned the lyrics are cryptic and incomprehensible. It is difficult to ignore that flaw…but otherwise, In The Aeroplane Over The Sea is a must-listen. Hear it to believe it and judge for yourself.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Track Listing:
01. The King of Carrot Flowers, Pt. 1
02. The King of Carrot Flowers, Pts. 2-3
03. In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
04. Two-Headed Boy
05. The Fool
06. Holland, 1945
07. Communist Daughter
08. Oh Comely
09. Ghost
10. [untitled]
11. Two-Headed Boy, Pt. 2
Fans of the following acts should consider Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over the Sea: Jim White, Eels, The Apples in Stereo.
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