Neutral Milk Hotel...In an Aeroplane Over the Sea.
Merge Records...1998

I've played this three times in the last day and a half. I think it's one of the best albums I've ever heard, but what do I know.
Anyone else care to comment? And if you think it's good, what else, if anything, is like it?

It is a special album, notwithstanding the vocals that hurt my ears.

It is a special album, notwithstanding the vocals that hurt my ears.

The dirge-like brass gets me.

I think a lot of people, myself included, have been totally hooked on that album at one time or another.

Certainly this album stands up head and shoulders as rock's "underground classic" of the last ten years.

A lesser man would nitpick that it's called "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea." But not me.

I think a lot of people, myself included, have been totally hooked on that album at one time or another.

Certainly this album stands up head and shoulders as rock's "underground classic" of the last ten years.

A lesser man would nitpick that it's called "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea." But not me.

:stupid:
I played this for my almost 15 year old son the other night. And to his credit he listened to the whole thing without once asking for a Metalicca album instead. Tried to explain a little history of the release as well.

I got it when it first came out and did not pay it much attention. I probably played a few times. I started playing it again about 5 months ago and I really enjoy it now. It has been in heavy rotation for me. I guess I had to catch up :)

What do you guys think of On Avery Island? I'm think I'm the only person on earth who likes it better... You've Passed is amazing to me...

I played it every day for a month or more when I first got it. Something unique. I love the early American style cover art, the heavy funeral procession style horns and pace, yet it has very pretty melodies and a deep layered production. Lyrics precariously balance between poetry and cornball. An alt classic.

What do you guys think of On Avery Island? I'm think I'm the only person on earth who likes it better... You've Passed is amazing to me...

I was thinking of getting that as well, and on your recomendation I believe I will.

It is one of my favorite albums of all time.

I was unfortunately underwhelmed by on Avery Island. Can't say exactly why, but it doesn't have the same magic as "Aeroplane", which, like others here, is one of my favorites. I discovered it about five years ago and it moved me, and blew me away. On one hand, its such an odd-ball of a record, and on other hand it would make Brian Wilson proud with it's experimental use of instruments (singing saws and bagpipes). It also has the magic of flowing as one continuous stream of though spun out by someone who sounds like a street musician gone mad. Sure, his vocals aren't Mel Torme smooth (but I'd still rather listen to him than that Flaming Lips guy whine) but he puts so much into his delivery -- it wins me over. And those lyrics.... Everytime I give someone a copy of that album (that's how much I love it), I tell them they MUST devote 38 minutes to listening to it in its entirety. With recurring motifs and that intense emotional thread - I think with the right listeners - "Over the Sea" is one of the greatest emotional trips ever laid down on vinyl.

There's something very special about this album. I generally like tunes that sound good, not necessarily pleasing, but not jarring. Only the rare example - and this is one - is so brilliant that it may not always sound good, but it sounds significant ... and makes you want to listen again.

I used to wake up to the song "In the aeroplane over the sea"...it just made the days better. This album took a moment to click with me, but when it did, there was no going back. I LOVE this album. It is such a unique personal vision from a truly interesting guy. I wish Jeff Magnum was still making music. There's just so much passion in those songs...the raw feeling is what sets this kind of music apart from all the pop-crap-american idol BS out there. I need to go listen to this right now.

I used to wake up to the song "In the aeroplane over the sea"...it just made the days better. This album took a moment to click with me, but when it did, there was no going back. I LOVE this album. It is such a unique personal vision from a truly interesting guy. I wish Jeff Magnum was still making music. There's just so much passion in those songs...the raw feeling is what sets this kind of music apart from all the pop-crap-american idol BS out there. I need to go listen to this right now.

Wow John...I couldnt have said that any better if I had tried. :thmbsp:

I used to wake up to the song "In the aeroplane over the sea"...it just made the days better. This album took a moment to click with me, but when it did, there was no going back. I LOVE this album. It is such a unique personal vision from a truly interesting guy. I wish Jeff Magnum was still making music. There's just so much passion in those songs...the raw feeling is what sets this kind of music apart from all the pop-crap-american idol BS out there. I need to go listen to this right now.

I have always liked this album for the raw sound too.

Good stuff. :yes:

I don't know if there's anything else like it, but I always thought the Decemberist's "Her majesty the decemberists" was kind of in the same ballpark. There were a lot of bands on the Elephant 6 label whose names escape me that used to be brought up in the same circles of friends.

Ekmanning/ed...we seem to like a lot of the same music. I'd recommend (though its not really like Neutral Milk Hotel) Galaxie 500, Ballboy, Tindersticks' first two or three albums, Luna, Decemberists, Yo La Tengo...I'm not sure why those are coming to mind, but when I was really listening to In The Aeroplane Over the Sea a lot, these bands were getting a lot of play, too, so maybe there's a common thread.

Ekmanning/ed...we seem to like a lot of the same music. I'd recommend (though its not really like Neutral Milk Hotel) Galaxie 500, Ballboy, Tindersticks' first two or three albums, Luna, Decemberists, Yo La Tengo...I'm not sure why those are coming to mind, but when I was really listening to In The Aeroplane Over the Sea a lot, these bands were getting a lot of play, too, so maybe there's a common thread.

Thanks John, I'll look into a few of these.

that album practically has its own culture.