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Neutral Milk Hotel
Neutral Milk Hotel
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The self-described "fuzz-folk" project Neutral Milk Hotel was one of the primary outgrowths of the Elephant 6 Recording Company collective, a coterie of like-minded, lo-fi indie groups -- including the Apples (in stereo), the Olivia Tremor Control and Secret Square -- who shared musicians, ideas, and sensibilities. While ranging in sound and concept from solo acoustic work to full band performances, Neutral Milk Hotel essentially remained the work of Jeff Mangum, a singer/songwriter from the remote town of Ruston, LA. Ruston was also home to Robert Schneider (later of the Apples), as well as William Cullen Hart and Bill Doss (who formed the Olivia Tremor Control); throughout high school, the aspiring musicians -- all influenced by the likes of the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Zombies, Pink Floyd, and Sonic Youth -- exchanged home recordings and played in each other's bands.

Neutral Milk Hotel first took shape in 1989 as a noise rock trio that played its debut gig at a local laundromat; a year later, Mangum, Hart, and Doss moved to Athens, GA, to form the group Cranberry Life Cycle, which later became Synthetic Flying Machine (and ultimately the Olivia Tremor Control) after Mangum's departure. In 1993, he and Schneider relocated to Denver, CO, where Schneider soon founded the Apples (in stereo). Eventually, Mangum gravitated to New York and resumed recording under the Neutral Milk Hotel aegis. After a series of singles and privately released cassettes, including Invent Yourself a Shortcake, Beauty, and Hype City, Mangum travelled back to Denver to record the critically acclaimed 1996 album On Avery Island on Schneider's four-track machine; in the the spring of 1997 he again returned to Colorado to begin work on the follow-up, the brilliant In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music GuideMore

Fan Comments

Oct 20th, 10:24pm
You know what.....music is amazing. My favorite band.
Jul 6th, 8:01am Last edited Jul 6th, 8:02am.
check out Modest Mouse's new 7" "Autumn Beds" that's available only at indie retail stores across America. There's a limited amount, so get on it!! ...thought I'd share with you guys since they're pretty in tune with Neutral Milk Hotel Both fantastic bands!

Jun 2nd, 4:26pm
you r a hoe
Jun 1st, 9:09am
how can i get to the 607 from 50?im not judgin,but i likee thee headee
Jan 5th, 5:46pm
&im not some hoeee [o:
Jan 5th, 5:45pm
come play in the 607[:


ill be thurrr, &you guys will have some guarenteed head, l0llz:d
Oct 8th, 5:26am
brilliance
Oct 3rd, 12:41am
i've been listening to ghost over and over ever since i heard it...haven't been able to find their albums though
Sep 5th, 6:54pm
Agreed. They need to reform.
js
Aug 7th, 8:32pm
this is the best band ever