Emo? Twee? In unnecessary defence of Neutral Milk Hotel…
It wasn’t always like this. Over the past fifteen years I’ve watched Aeroplane grow from obscure gem to cult favourite to whatever the hell it is now, mostly organically, mostly via ‘word of mouth’ (albeit considerably enabled by occasional rereleases, the UK iteration of which was at least necessary seeing as their UK label Blue Rose went out of business not too long after putting Aeroplane out). While the album enjoyed some recognition in the US upon release, the UK press – save for Phil McMullen at stalwart ‘zine Ptolemaic Terrascope – mostly slept on In The Aeroplane Over The Sea. I know I tried to get the group attention in the Melody Maker, who I wrote for at the time, but was told that after some office wag had described the album as sounding like the work of "that panpipe band off The Fast Show" nobody could take it seriously anymore.»
