In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
Released in 1998, In The Aeroplane Over The Sea has since gained a cult following from members of the indie music community. Revolving around the story of Anne Frank’s life, the album’s dense lyricism and lo-fi instrumentation attracted little attention upon release, but with the advent of the internet, the album’s popularity exploded. The singer and songwriter of the band, Jeff Mangum, wrote the songs over a 5 year period between 1993 and 1998. Some time during 1997, he read the Diary Of Anne Frank, and it heavily influenced his songwriting from that point on, becoming the focus of the final movement of the song Oh Comely, the opening track King Of Carrot Flowers Pt. 1, and the title track In The Aeroplane Over The Sea. The unprecedented success
of this album bothered Mangum, who withdrew from the musical scene, and many people believed he went into hiding. However, Jeff himself has stated that he is not hiding, and that he “wake[s] up everyday, [he] walk[s] out into the world and [he] say[s] hello to the people [he] meet[s]”. A variety of online music groups hold the album in very high esteem, and it is rated by RateYourMusic.com as the 18th best album ever recorded.
of this album bothered Mangum, who withdrew from the musical scene, and many people believed he went into hiding. However, Jeff himself has stated that he is not hiding, and that he “wake[s] up everyday, [he] walk[s] out into the world and [he] say[s] hello to the people [he] meet[s]”. A variety of online music groups hold the album in very high esteem, and it is rated by RateYourMusic.com as the 18th best album ever recorded.