Neutral Milk Hotel

USA, 1989–1999

Vehicle for Jeff Mangum, a cornerstone of the Elephant 6 collective. Their 1998 In the Aeroplane Over the Sea — fuzzy folk-punk, brass, and Mangum's raw voice orbiting imagery from Anne Frank's diary — became one of the most beloved and influential indie albums of its era.

MusicRoots documents 4 artists who influenced Neutral Milk Hotel and 2 artists Neutral Milk Hotel influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Neutral Milk Hotel?

• The Beatles — Jeff Mangum and his Elephant 6 circle shared a passion for 1960s pop, the Beatles above all, behind Neutral Milk Hotel's melodic core.
• The Beach Boys — The Beach Boys' harmony-rich 1960s pop is part of the psychedelic melodicism at Neutral Milk Hotel's heart.
• Sonic Youth — Alongside their pop love, Mangum's circle prized noisier bands like Sonic Youth, whose fuzz colours In the Aeroplane Over the Sea.
• The Zombies — The Zombies' baroque 1960s pop is among the vintage touchstones behind Neutral Milk Hotel's songcraft.

Which artists did Neutral Milk Hotel influence?

• Yeah Yeah Yeahs — Karen O has said Neutral Milk Hotel's Jeff Mangum was one of her two biggest early vocal influences.
• Arcade Fire — Neutral Milk Hotel's ragged, cathartic indie-folk is a clear model for Arcade Fire's emotional, acoustic-driven grandeur.