My Top 10 Albums of the 90s: (9) In the Aeroplane Over the Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel

[This is the second in a series of ten posts. The list'll be revealed as entries are written.]

In the Aeroplane Over the Sea opens with the simple sound of Jeff Magnum: an insistently strummed acoustic guitar and vocals that from the outset sound endearingly strained, even when they aren't reaching into their upper register. As the album evolves, and increasingly complex sounds begin surrounding him, that core fortunately remains unchanged. Aeroplane is an amazingly personal album, one that stakes its entire identity on the hypnotic pull of Magnum's songwriting. What's immediately striking is his capacity to come across as soul baring through lyrics whose literal meaning is unrelentingly obscure. Indeed, though the album was inspired by Anne Frank's diary, distinct references to her emerge only occasionally, and all of the words are more evocative than they are descriptive. Yet this never weighs the album down; remarkably, in fact, it’s rarely ever even noticeable. Certainly, this is in part due to the singular strength of Magnum’s songwriting, reminiscent of Syd Barrett in its way of simultaneously suggesting the innocence of childhood and something more darkly unsettling, without any feeling of incongruity. Just as important, though, are the distinctive sounds used to embellish the otherwise stripped-down recordings. Arrangements vary in style and tempo to suit the individual nature of each song, and for every moment of hushed calm , there's another that rocks surprisingly hard. The instrumentation is even better tailored, and appropriately kaleidoscopic: fuzzed-out guitars and basses intersect with waves of organ, accompanied by the now-famous horn sections, which alternately shiver and soar, as required. But best of all is the use of the singing saw, whose dulcet tones provide an astonishing duet with Magnum's voice, producing the most stunning signature moment for any instrument in popular music since Brian Wilson had employed an electro-Theremin on "Good Vibrations" 32 years earlier. Unfortunately, again like Wilson (though thankfully, without the mental health concerns), following the album's release Magnum would go into a self-imposed exile from music-making, one which has effectively persisted ever since. One can only hope that the inspiration that led him to create In the Aeroplane Over the Sea one day compels him to record again, but even should that never take place, the album constitutes a formidable legacy all on its own.