Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
Posted by: Rasher on 21 May 2007
What is it with this album?
In the last few weeks I have heard all sorts of claims that it is the greatest album ever recorded, from all sorts of sources, and yet I've never heard it. I've now ordered it just to make sense of all the claims (hype?), but I'm still unsure where this has all come from and what it's all about.
If anyone has some info, and knows the album well, I'd love to hear the truth.
Posted on: 21 May 2007 by Bruce Woodhouse
I just looked on Pitchforkmedia who gave it 10/10; not sure I've seen that before. As usual with them I'm still not sure exactly what/who it sounds like though.
I don't know anything about the album but I'm really looking forward to your view now!
Posted on: 21 May 2007 by Chris Kelly
By no means all the reviews on Amazon are ecstatic, so I shall approach with caution.
Posted on: 21 May 2007 by Ron Brinsdon
Hello guys,
I too bought this on the strength of reviews, recommendations and outright curiosity.
My own opinion now is that it is a major "grower" but my first reactions were that it was vastly over-rated and hyped up out of all proportion. After many listening sessions, I now enjoy it for both the musical and lyrical content.
Although I have not read it yet, there is a volume in the "33 and 1/3" series dedicated to this album. I want to carry on forming my own opinions before I see too much in print.
Worth a punt but I will not be seeking out the back catalogue just yet.
Regards
Ron
Posted on: 21 May 2007 by Chris Kelly
Thanks for that Ron. I suspect I'll keep delving into my existing library a bit longer then.
Posted on: 21 May 2007 by droodzilla
I too bought this album, based on its great reviews, but was sorely disappointed. I gave it about half a dozen spins over a period of several months, but couldn't get into it. I recently traded it, along with 40ish other unplayed CDs for a dozen ECMs - so much better!
Posted on: 22 May 2007 by zerozero
Hey, that's a WONDERFUL album that I discovered a few years ago. Very nice lo-fi and weird kinda of freak/folk songs. It has some killer tracks like "Communst Daughter" and "The King of Carrot Flowers". "On Avery Island" is an other great album from NMH but not as strong and consistent as this IMO.
Posted on: 22 May 2007 by Philip Tate
If you want to try something in a similar vein but slightly more accessible, try fellow Elephant 6-ers The Apples In Stereo. (Or go in the opposite direction and try Olivia Tremor Control!)
Phil
Posted on: 22 May 2007 by Diccus62
They supported Apples in stereo on a long gone tour.
Posted on: 22 May 2007 by Diccus62
Sorry, ZeroZero and Phil, good to have you onboard
Regards
Diccus
Posted on: 28 May 2007 by Rasher
Ooooh, this is a good one, not quite what I was expecting, but very original. I think it's going to be played often.
My 9 year old daughter particularly likes Two Headed Boy:
"Two headed boy,
Tap on your jar,
I'm listening to hear where you are".
The whole album is a bit....Eraserhead.
