In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

ei pahaa sanottavaa

One’s always struggled with the record – never quite got the appeal (or reputation) – despite repeated efforts to sort and solve it. Still, no dice in getting anywhere near appreciation. Perhaps part of the problem is the legend; it’s incumbent on fans only to love the records they love, not the ones which they are supposed (much less browbeaten) to love; that latter category should actually inspire a touch more skepticism (certainly that’s one’s initial reaction to the overhyped or culty classics). One’s fine with oblique-surreal -nonsensical-whatever lyrics. NP re low-fi vibes, oddball instrumentation and egregious distortion. Re the Anne Frank enigma, one doesn’t much care – it doesn’t constitute anything like a meaningful mystery. The more relevant questions: why did they never do anything else important and why did the editors not include in the list proper? There are moments of musical note and interest – the horns on “The Fool” and “Ghost” and bagpipes on “Untitled” and the powerful harmonizing toward the close of the record. Sure, the feeling’s intense, but that can’t make up for massively annoying vocals (off-key, overstrained) and the many rudimentary passages. That influenced Bright Eyes and The Decemberists is a distinct con, not a pro. And just because Mangum was troubled and disappeared doesn’t make him JD Salinger or Nick Drake or Syd Barrett. Judged wholly, the music doesn’t merit the myth – no, not even close. It should probably be on the list proper because of its reputation and impact. So, good job recommender for putting it out there so the debate can continue, which debate might be the best thing about the record, so could be worth digging into the 33 ⅓ book.

It okayed a few times because I got busy and didn’t bother changing it, so it didn’t annoy me that much.

A bit of a voyage, this one. Wasn't expecting it to be this - for some reason I imagined that it would be some minimalist ambient thing, but no - it started out being awful, lumber-shirt wearing indie tosh, obviously from before it was cool. Honestly though - it got better. I'm not going to hurry out and listen to it again, but meh, it's OK innit?

Bugs me that it's basically a coin toss whether I'll like one of the audience favorites. Gave it a couple listens, and there's definitely stuff I liked in it, but I can't access whatever gets people enthusiastic about it

7/10

Interesting. A stepping stone between Wilco and The Flaming Lips. Liked the instrumentals. Yeah.

I didn't mind it

3.5

It was good

There are so many people obsessed with this band. It seems like if you love it, then you LOVE it, to the point that your whole personality is based on your love of this band. I know it, and I like it. But I don’t LOVE it. It doesn’t blow me away. It’s neutral. Heh heh

Indie rock, psychedelic folk, lo-fi. Ni fu ni fa.

Good!

Rating: 6/10

A slightly decent folk album that became a 4Chan darling. Not my thing, but it's listenable.

This was bad and discordant. I don't know why you would want to listen to this, let alone recommend it to anyone.

What 3 Words. A lake on an Island in Canada.

more sour than neutral

Undoubtedly should have been on the list. Had me at Pt.1, lost me on Pt.2 though. Alternating stretches of annoying and boring with the occasional dash of charming.

Heard a lot about this so was interested to see what the fuss is about. I don’t rate it.

One song at a time is fine, but I can't do a whole album of Neutral Milk Hotel. I find they really start to grate on me. I walked out of Pitchfork 2014 as they were playing.

Into The Aeroplane Over The Sea is quirky and okay in places, not so okay in others. It's better when the dude doesn't sing, because he can't really sing, and its often clashes with what they're doing musically. I liked Holland, 1945 and [untitled] (of course, it's instrumental) but the rest of it was mostly meh, I didn't hate it, just minor irritation by work that could've been better. 2/5 but not a low 2, the compositions were decent.