| In The Aeroplane Over The Sea |
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''In the Aeroplane Over the Sea'' is the second and final Album by American Indie Rock band Neutral Milk Hotel , released in February 1998 in the US on Merge Records and in May 1998 in the UK on Blue Rose Records. The album's musical style combines Vocalist Jeff Mangum 's singing, Acoustic Guitar accompaniment, such as Piano , Musical Saw , Uilleann Pipes , Bow -played Fuzz Bass , Wandering Genie , Accordion , Banjo , Flugelhorn , and other assorted Brass Instrument s. The album is conceptually based on the redeeming Beauty to be found in the life and death of Anne Frank , as well as similarly overwhelming Tragedies . The recording has become a ranked it 97th best album released between 1985 and 2005. BACKGROUND Neutral Milk Hotel, the band In 1996, immediately after the release of the album '' On Avery Island '', "Neutral Milk Hotel" was still simply a solo-moniker of Jeff Mangum 's. ''On Avery Island'' was written by Mangum, produced by Robert Schneider and performed by Mangum with the aid of Schneider and various Elephant 6 musicians. The beginnings of a functioning Neutral Milk Hotel band wouldn't form until after the release of ''On Avery Island'', when friend Julian Koster joined Mangum's project. Thus, Mangum, who had previously performed drums for Synthetic Flying Machine , effectively became Neutral Milk Hotel's frontman. Needing a drummer, the duo recruited Jeremy Barnes , who would drop out of DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois to join the band at Koster's apartment in New York City .Cooper (2005). p. 29 A fourth member was found when Mangum met up with Scott Spillane in Austin, Texas . Mangum and Spillane knew each other during their earlier years in their hometown of Ruston, Louisiana . Spillane, living in his van working at a miserable job at a pizzeria, jumped at Mangum's offer to join the band in New York.Cooper (2005). p. 31 The newly-formed Neutral Milk Hotel would now base itself at two residences: Koster's apartment on Christopher Street in the West Village , and Koster's grandmother's home at 986 North 7th Street, between Nassau and Queens (affectionately referred to as "Grandma's House"). The time between the formation of the band and the recording of ''In the Aeroplane Over the Sea'' was spent creatively; practicing together, recording demos, and learning their dynamics within the band. Mangum performed lead vocals and guitar on the majority of the band's songs while Barnes provided percussion. Though Spillane was initially encouraged to play guitar, he soon took to playing Brass Instruments , reasoning that someone had to perform the brass elements found in the songs from ''On Avery Island'' when performing live. Spillane would later remark that Rick Benjamin 's performances on the album had a huge impact on him: " {Link without Title} played horns on the first record, and if he hadn't done that then I never would have picked up a horn in a rock and roll setting, ever. No way."Cooper (2005). p. 34 Koster's instrument would vary, and he encouraged others to try the same. The four would often trade instruments while practicing; a habit that would eventually carry on through to their live performances. The band would perform their debut gig on April 28 , 1996 and tour the country through the summer, playing early versions of songs that would appear on ''In the Aeroplane Over the Sea'' as well as songs from ''On Avery Island''. Mangum would also tour solo with The Olivia Tremor Control in October. Writing the album in Athens, Georgia After touring the country, the band relocated to Athens , Mangum and Koster to a house on 156 Grady Avenue. Also sharing the house were fellow musicians Robbie Cucchiaro , Laura Carter , and Bryan Poole . Mangum would spend his time writing the new album's material not with pen and paper, but by performing the new songs repeatedly, memorizing their patterns until desirable lyrics began to take shape.Cooper, Kim (2005). ''In the Aeroplane Over the Sea 33⅓''. (New York) Continuum International Publishing Group. ISBN 0-8264-1690-X. Writing continued through 1997 as the band performed locally in Athens, revealing some of the new material to fellow Elephant 6 members. The music was met with enormous support within the Elephant 6 community. Filmmaker Lance Bangs began following the band to gigs, filming concerts and sharing cassette tapes of shows to various members of the record industry (including Michael Stipe of R.E.M. and acclaimed music video director Spike Jonze ).Cooper (2005). p. 49 Mangum finished writing the new material in spring, save for "Holland, 1945" which was still unfinished. He recorded demos for the band members to listen to and practice in preparation for the upcoming recording sessions. RECORDING Recording for ''In the Aeroplane Over the Sea'' began in a manner similar to the ''On Avery Island'' sessions. Mangum moved from Athens to Denver, Colorado to prepare the bulk of the album's material with producer Robert Schneider , this time at Schneider's newly-created Pet Sounds Studio at the home of Jim McIntyre . TRACK LISTING
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