Neutral Milk Hotel: "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" (Album Review)

Genres: Indie Folk, Indie Rock, Psychedelic Folk

Quietness and tenderness are often characteristics of folk and indie music, but that’s not always the case. In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is loud, abrasive, and obnoxious. There’s something special about how Neutral Milk Hotel put the rock in “indie rock”. It’s an expression of passion and pent-up energy. Powerful moments are created through several means, both ordinary and unorthodox. Greatness is achieved by carrying out traditions fantastically, as well as not being afraid to add original elements to make something new.

Within its nearly forty-minute runtime, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea juggles a vast number of concepts and different sounds. A story as grand and complex as the one that Neutral Milk Hotel tells needs to be dynamic and active, and this album has these qualities in spades. Even the instrumental track, “[untitled]” doesn’t feel like a waste of time or space haphazardly thrown in as an interlude. This is one of the most entertaining pieces on the album, building upon itself with a high-energy brass section and booming percussion.

The album’s soundscape helps to push its ideas forward, with heavy drumming and unconventional instruments giving an edge to the folk pieces. Drama is a keyword that gives momentum to the album. There is fantastic pacing which lends itself well to a complete experience and replays. For instance, the amount of downtime and the bursts of crazed instrumentation create the energy that flows throughout the album. Nevertheless, the composition of these songs doesn’t always work in service of the record. Playing with different sounds is admirable, but it does leave a level of emptiness in the tracks. Space that could be filled is left, but the album is too self-involved to care. On “Oh Comely”, great vocals are matched with melodic guitar playing, but there is something a little too standard about the eight-minute song. It does enough, but at the end of the track, I’m left wondering if there’s more that could have been done. Additional layers might have made it fuller sounding, but there’s a distinction between keeping things simple and being basic. Many songs on here are simpler folk songs done extremely well to the point that they can’t be considered basic. However, there is also the occasional missing element, to reinforce the strength of these songs.

Narratively, I can appreciate the spectacle of In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, even if it doesn’t really move me emotionally. The self-titled track represents the best of lyricism as a function of storytelling. They are tied to the grand epic that’s being weaved together but are grounded in relatable emotions. Other songs tackle the absurdist nature of the album much more straightforwardly and direct, which is fine but it just doesn’t elicit the same response from me. When I hear the lines, “And one day we will die / And our ashes will fly / From the aeroplane over the sea”, they’re powerful because they’re vivid and paint a picture of something easily recognized as meaningful. While I do appreciate In the Aeroplane Over the Sea’s complexity, it can feel drawn out. There’s difficulty in connecting with a story that tends to get caught up in its own self-importance. Sometimes a simplistic approach is better, especially when there’s needless overindulgence.

It’s hard to summarize an album that tackles as much as In the Aeroplane Over the Sea does. Although it may be fair to say that it is a little too ambitious with how much it is able to accomplish, most of what is done is executed wonderfully. The sheer amount of sounds, styles, and concepts is simultaneously the album’s biggest strength and weakness. With so much to explore, some qualities are left underdeveloped. Despite this, Neutral Milk Hotel is able to weave a compelling story about death and taking the things we do in life beyond the grave. It works out beautifully that after the band members pass, their influence and message will live on. But for now, let’s just lay in the sun and enjoy them in the present.

Favorite Tracks: Holland, 1945, Oh Comely, Ghost, King of Carrot Flowers Pt. 1, [untitled], In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, King of Carrot Flowers Pts. 2 & 3

Least Favorites: n/a

Enjoyment: Mid 8

Critically: Mid 8

Arbitrary Number: 8.5/10