In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Occupation
Vocals, Guitar: Jeff Mangum Horns: Scott Spillane Drums: Jeremy Barnes Bass, Banjo: Julian Koster other participating musicians: see below
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is the second and so far last album by American indie rock band Neutral Milk Hotel.
The album was released on 10 February 1998 in the U.S. on the independent label Merge Records. On 18 May 1998, the album was released in the UK on Blue Rose Records, where it was re-released on 5 September 2005 on Domino Records.
The only single from the album is the song Holland, 1945.
The album sold well and today was the sixth best-selling vinyl album of 2008.
Recording
The album was recorded under the direction of producer Robert Schneider between July and September 1997 Pet Sounds Studio in Denver. Both producer Schneider as well as the four band members and some of the studio musicians were part of the musicians ' collective Elephant Six, the next Neutral Milk Hotel have spawned numerous other bands that Apples in Stereo ( Schneider's main belt ), of Montreal, The Olivia Tremor Control, Beluah, Elf Power and the Music Tapes were the most successful.
Content
The album is characterized by varied instrumentation and provocative, often ambiguous texts whose significance can hardly at first glance it is clear from.
A lyrical motif of the plate is the transience of youth; it is said, for example, in the chorus of the title track
" " ... And one day we will love and our ashes will fly from the airplane over the sea. But for now we are young let us lay in the sun and count every beautiful thing we can see. " "
" ( ... And one day we will die and our ashes will fly from the airplane over the sea. But for now we are young, let us lie in the sun and all the beautiful things we see, count. ) "
In the single Holland, 1945 is about the fate of Anne Frank, whose biography Jeff Mangum had read shortly before recording the album. Similar references to Anne Frank fall in the songs " Communist Daughter", "Ghost ", " Two-Headed Boy Part 2 " and especially " Oh Comely ", where Mangum sings:
"" ... I know they buried her body with others, her sister and mother and five -hundred families. And will she remember me? Fifty years later? I wished i could save her in some sort of time machine. " "
"" ... I know they buried her with others, with her sister and mother and five hundred families. And they will remember me? Fifty years later? Oh, I wish I could save it by using something like a time machine. " "
Title list
All songs written by Mangum, except The Fool ( Spillane ) and King of Carrot Flowers Pt. Two ( Barnes / Koster / Magnum / Mangum / Spillane )
Cover design
The album cover was designed by bandleader Mangum and Chris Bilheimer (also known for his work with REM) selected. Basis of the artwork is an old postcard with a picture of bathing people in a holiday resort, which was used as a cut and edited cover.
Reception
In its release, the album attracted any unusual attention. The album received good reviews in the College Music Journal and Pitchfork Media (8.7 out of 10 points ), Rolling Stone described it, however "thin - blooded, woolgathering stuff" ( dünnblütiges, airborne stuff ) and were only 3 out of 5.
To mark the re-release in 2005 saw the review of the album considerably better. The Rolling Stone raised its rating from 3 to 4 by 5 points and Pitchfork Media gave even a full 10 points and lists the album on a list of the 100 best albums of the nineties.
PopMatters described the re-release of one of the best of 2005 and wrote " Aeroplane is a manifesto for a different way of making pop. To hear ' Two-Headed Boy' in 2005 is to realize did Mangum 's art is simply superb songwriting. " ( " Aeroplane is a manifesto for a different way to write pop music. In 2005, to hear Two-Headed Boy, it can be seen that it is Mangums art of writing simple, great songs. " )
For Win Butler, lead singer of the band Arcade Fire was In the Aeroplane Over the Sea to sign for it, the main reason for Merge Records.
Jesse Lacey of Brand New called the album even " the greatest record ever written" ( The greatest album ever written ). The band also coverte the songs Oh Comely and Two Headed Boy Pt. II at their concerts.
Persons involved
The following information comes from the credits and are translated as much as possible.
- Jeff Mangum - guitar, vocals, organ, floor tom, bass guitar, tape, short wave radio, art direction
- Jeremy Barnes - drums, organ
- Scott Spillane - trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone, euphonium
- Julian Koster - Wandering Genie organ, musical saw, banjo, accordion, White noise
- Robert Schneider - home organ, fuzz bass, harmony vocals, piano
- Laura Carter - electronic MIDI saxophone ( Zanzithophone )
- Rick Benjamin - trombone
- Merisa Bissinger - saxophone, flugelhorn
- Michelle Anderson - Uilleann Pipes
- Chris Bilheimer - Art Direction
- Brian Dewan - Illustrations