And our ashes will fly, in the aeroplane over the sea.
I’m going to take a break from taking about video games for a moment and discuss a favorite album of mine. It’s not the most popular album out there. Yet, it’s also not the most obscure. It’s the center of various internet jokes, and certain people will label it as “plebian baby’s first indie album”. But despite all of the mixed reactions to this album, it’s one of the few albums, where I can always go back and have a listen. And that album is, In the Aeroplane of the Sea (ITAOTS) by Neutral Milk Hotel. Now I’m not going to review this album tracks after tracks, but I will lay down my thoughts and personal anecdotes, one carrot flower at a time.
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The lyrics of ITAOTS is so haunting yet seemingly filled with pure beauty. For example, the opening track “King of Carrot Flowers Part 1” at first glance sounds like a blissful cheery little song. Same goes with “Holland 1945”. Such an upbeat song. But underneath all the smiles is something very dark. I used to sing along “King of Carrot Flowers Part 1” and “Holland 1945” with my then ex girlfriend. Then something struck me while we were singing one of the verse of “Holland 1945”. The verse was “But then they buried her alive/One evening 1945” for some reason really stood out for me that moment. Especially when Jeff (lead singer of Neutral Milk Hotel) mentions 1945 (It could of have been the after effects from watching too much Nazi UFOs from the History Channel that week, but I digress). I decided to look further into these lyrics and I found out that Jeff had read and was really into The Diary of Anne Frank. As I continued to dig and dig further into the lyrics of the songs in ITAOTS it was littered with references to Anne. The whole album was in fact, a tribute to Anne Frank, and with every strain, every raspy voice that was voiced out, Jeff was doing this for her. At first I found it very strange that that a grown man would devote a whole album to some 15 year old girl, but then, I realized, that this was pure dedication from Jeff. He must of felt a huge impact from reading her diary to go to such lengths. And I deeply admire that from him. He took something that was near and dear for him and decide to express it out through a way that is universally loved, which is music.
Being a history buff and somewhat well versed in World War 2 events (especially those concerning the Axis powers), I began to appreciate this album more and more. It provided a view of a small little corner of the world during that time through the sound of music. Through the eyes, or should I say lyrics of Jeff. And through the simple tabs being brought out by Jeff’s guitar. This album provides a somber story about a girl he has never met. And he delivered it in such a way that I even started to care about a girl I’ve never met. With each and each listen to the album, I became attached to it. I didn’t want it the album to end. But as the ending lyrics of “Two Headed Part 2” states, “but don’t hate her when she gets up to leave”, one has to accept the fact that everything good comes to a conclusion.
*side note, I used to collect vinyl, but not anymore. ITAOTS is the only one I have left.