On the heels of their soul-stirring Cleveland show, the 106th episode of The ’59 Sound will focus on Neutral Milk Hotel’s In The Aeroplane Over The Sea – a masterpiece and easily one of the most influential alternative albums of the late-90s. Few albums before or since are quite as affecting.
Setlist (“Song Name” – Artist – Album)
“The ’59 Sound (Acoustic)” – The Gaslight Anthem – The B-Sides
“King Of Carrot Flowers Pt. One” – Neutral Milk Hotel – In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
“King Of Carrot Flowers Pts. Two and Three” – Neutral Milk Hotel – In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
“In The Aeroplane Over The Sea” – Neutral Milk Hotel – In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
“Two-Headed Boy” – Neutral Milk Hotel – In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
“Fool” – Neutral Milk Hotel – In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
“Holland, 1945” – Neutral Milk Hotel – In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
“Communist Daughter” – Neutral Milk Hotel – In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
“Oh Comely” – Neutral Milk Hotel – In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
“Ghost” – Neutral Milk Hotel – In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
“[untitled]” – Neutral Milk Hotel – In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
“Two-Headed Boy Pt. Two” – Neutral Milk Hotel – In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
“Stereo” – Pavement – Brighten The Corners
Pavement and Neutral Milk Hotel are musical contemporaries and both massively influential alternative rock acts.
“Truly Great Thing” – Sebadoh – III
I consider Sebadoh to be an influence on Neutral Milk Hotel’s work.
“Rorschach” – Tall Dwarves – Weeville [by Request]
Neutral Milk Hotel’s Jeff Mangum cites Tall Dwarves as an influence.
“That’s It!” – Preservation Hall Jazz Band – That’s It [by Request]
The horns throughout In The Aeroplane Over The Sea are surely influenced by Louisiana bands like these legends, whom Mangum probably heard during his childhood in Ruston.
“Heaps of Sheeps” – Robert Wyatt – Shleeps [by Request]
Magnum cited this as a contemporary work with Aeroplane that is a particular favorite of his.
“Falling For You” – Weezer – Pinkerton
The epic fuzz summoned on some of this album’s songs is contemporary with early Weezer.
“I Love How You Love Me” – The Paris Sisters – The Best of the Paris Sisters [by Request]
Jeff Mangum is known to cover this song live and has covered it for one of this solo releases.
“Lift The Shell” – Elf Power – Sunlight On The Moon
Having been influenced by Neutral Milk Hotel and now touring with them for a few their North American dates, Elf Power is a band that has grown up with and in the musical heritage of Neutral Milk Hotel.
“Daysleeper” – R.E.M. – Up
A contemporary R.E.M. work with Aeroplane, the album’s cover was designed with the help of R.E.M.’s staff designer Chris Bilheimer.
“Seems So” – The Apples In Stereo – Tone Soul Evolution [by Request]
For Ed and Brandt! The Apples In Stereo are part of the Elephant 6 Collective, a recording company co-founded by Jeff Mangum.
“Jumping Fences” – The Olivia Tremor Control – Dusk At Cubist Castle
The Olivia Tremor Control are also members of the Elephant 6 Collective.
“I Am A Scientist” – Guided By Voices – Bee Thousand
I consider Guided By Voices to be both musical contemporaries of and influenced by Neutral Milk Hotel.
“Alcohol” – The Kinks – Muswell Hillbillies
This baroque Kinks tune recalls some of the songs on Aeroplane and shows the band’s influence on Neutral Milk Hotel.
“Wake Up” – Arcade Fire – Funeral
Arcade Fire are one of modern music’s most Neutral Milk Hotel-inspired bands.
“Scenic World” – Beirut – Gulag Orkestar
Beruit’s Zack Condon draws some vocal influence from Jeff Mangum’s signature croon.
“Chariot” – Page Frances – Hello, Dear Wind
The same can also be said for Page Frances’ Michael Nau.
“Make You Better” – The Decemberists – What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World
The Decemberists also draw musical influence from Neutral Milk Hotel.
“Last Rites At The Jane House” – of Montreal – Aureate Gloom
of Montreal are another member of the Elephant 6 Collective.
This week’s show will be archived here until 8am on April 30th: http://wruw-stream.wruw.org/archives/128/the-59-sound.mp3