Jeff Mangum. "Jeff Mangum." Jeff Mangum. The man is more like an idea at this point than an actual human being... a Keyser Soze-like figure that haunts dreams and then vanishes. His band, Neutral Milk Hotel, released just two albums in the 1990s, yet is widely considered one of the most influential acts of that time. He helped start an incredibly prolific recording company (Elephant 6) in Athens, GA that's spawned a number of critically acclaimed bands like Of Montreal, Elf Power, and Apples In Stereo. But Mangum remains "in hiding," content with ending his legacy on In The Aeroplane Over The Sea. Such perspective.Without hyperbole, I would say that I've listened to this album no less than 40 times. Each listen necessitates completeness: if you aren't willing to experience the whole album, it's just not worth it. Yes, there are some songs ("King Of Carrot Flowers Pt. 1," "Two Headed Boy") that stand incredibly well on their own, but this is an album in the truest sense of the word. Loosely based on The Diaries of Anne Frank, Mangum composed an incredibly dark, twisted, sad, and sexually repressed album that flies from idea to idea, yet manages to stay within a specific construct. The album tells a story... yes, one that a psychiatrist could have a field day with (paraphilias, somatizations, and schizoid personality, oh my!), but it's a compelling nonetheless. Songwriting is rarely this personal, and it's almost impossible to avoid getting swept up in the narrative.
I haven't met too many people who are on the fence about In The Aeroplane. More divisive than expected, people either love or hate Mangum's emotive, runaway vocals. The instrumentation either sounds too antiquated or offers a compelling layer to the sound. The songwriting is either intentionally vague or refreshingly deep. To you, this album might be a waste of time. To me, it's one of the greatest albums released in the past 20 years. Regardless, it deserves a genuine listen.
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