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[FUZZY FREAK FOLK] Time has left few stones unturned in the wake of In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, Neutral Milk Hotel's
1998 psych-folk masterpiece. The blown-out, kitchen-sink orchestration
and mind-fuck lyrical content (Lust! Vegetables! The Holocaust!) made
the record an obvious college-rock classic, but the coffers of Aeroplane's
legend have mostly been cleared in the 16 years since it originally
bloomed in the consciousness of America's then-unborn "freak-folk"
scene.
Singer and mastermind Jeff Mangum became a hermit, residual
members carried on with other Athens, Ga., Elephant 6 projects, and the
vault was sealed on one of the most inimitable standouts in underground
music since Trout Mask Replica. Then Mangum started playing solo
again a few years ago, eventually resurrecting the whole band, and now
the album is once again a topic of discussion. A less-explored thread
worth following in the folklore of Aeroplane is its relationship
with Merge Records, the venerable indie label that put the record out at
the zenith of the pre-Internet CMJ era. Stylistic cues aside, your
favorites from indie heavy-hitters like Spoon, Arcade Fire and She &
Him may not have existed without Aeroplane. âEvery fall, kids head off to college and decide itâs their job to own a copy of Aeroplane
on vinyl,â a friend who works at Merge once told me. âItâs not Arcade
Fire money, but itâs kept the lights on long enough for us to be there
when Arcade Fire decided to shop for a label.â If nothing else, consider
zoning out to âThe King of Carrot Flowers, Pts. 2-3â your due diligence
to the livelihood of indie rock.
SEE IT: Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside St., 225-0047. 8:30 pm Sunday-Monday, April 6-7. Sold out. All ages.
SEE IT: Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside St., 225-0047. 8:30 pm Sunday-Monday, April 6-7. Sold out. All ages.
WWeek 2015