In the Aeroplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel

In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is the second album by American rock band Neutral Milk Hotel. It was released on February 10, 1998, by Merge Records. A musically complex album, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea features a lo-fi sound, primarily influenced by indie rock and psychedelic folk. Traditional instruments such as guitars and drums are paired with more unique instruments, including the singing saw, zanzithophone, and Uilleann pipes. The tempo will sometimes abruptly shift from song to song, while a heavy layer of distortion permeates the music. The lyrics are surrealistic and opaque, with themes ranging from nostalgia to love. Bandleader Jeff Mangum was influenced by the life of Anne Frank, the teenage diarist who died in a Nazi concentration camp. In the Aeroplane Over the Sea was recorded at Pet Sounds Studio, from July to September 1997. Producer Robert Schneider worked closely with Mangum to improve upon the lo-fi sound of Neutral Milk Hotel's first album On Avery Island. To create the heavy layer of distortion found throughout the album, Schneider used heavy compression and placed a Bellari RP-220 tube mic pre-amp close to Mangum's guitar. Schneider then ran the sound through a mixing console, and maxed out the sound on a cassette tape. To promote the album, Neutral Milk Hotel embarked on a tour of the United States and Europe. The band gained a reputation for their chaotic and physically demanding performances, which often scared the audience members. Contemporary reviews were mostly positive, although most critics did not believe the album warranted further discussion. Over the next few years, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea gained a cult following through the Internet, and Mangum struggled to cope with his newfound stardom. He grew tired of performing and explaining his lyrics, and disappeared from public eye. Since its release, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea has received critical acclaim, and is often described by music journalists as both a landmark album for indie rock, and as one of the best albums of the 1990s.