History Music / NeutralMilkHotel

* LoudnessWar: ''In the Aeroplane over the Sea'' is really clipped for a folk album, with a dynamic range rating of DR6 and a ReplayGain value of -9.80 dB. The 2009 vinyl appears to have been sourced from the same master as the CD. This may be a case of digital distortion being used intentionally (the album actually credits "white noise" as a musical instrument) but it's still really disorienting at first.

* [[ThreeChordsandtheTruth Three Chords and the Truth]]: The band is known for using simple guitar chord progressions, with songs that have only three or four chords ("King of Carrot Flowers Pts. 1-3," "Ghost," "Oh Comely," and "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" just to name a few ) and one song with only one chord ("Rubby Bulbs"). Though [[YourMileageMayVary some people criticize it as being overly simplistic]], many see that simple structure as a big part of the band's charm.

* [[ThreeChordsandtheTruth Three Chords and the Truth]]: The band is known for using simple guitar chord progressions, with songs that have literally only three chords ("King of Carrot Flowers Pts. 1-3") and one song with only one chord ("Rubby Bulbs"). Though [[YourMileageMayVary some people criticize it as being overly simplistic]], many see that simple structure as a big part of the band's charm.

* [[ThreeChordsandtheTruth Three Chords and the Truth]]: The band is known for using simple guitar chord progressions, with songs that have literally only three chords (''King of Carrot Flowers Pts. 1-3'') and one song with only one chord (''Rubby Bulbs''). Though [[YourMileageMayVary some people criticize it as being overly simplistic]], many see that simple structure as a big part of the band's charm.

* ThreeChordsandtheTruth: The band is known for using simple guitar chord progressions, though [[YourMileageMayVary some people criticize it as being overly simplistic]].

** While ArcadeFire is the most immediately discussed candidate, their work after ''Funeral'' became progressively further from their NMH influence. Commonly discussed successors in [[ImageBoards certain communities that idolize Neutral Milk Hotel]] include The Microphones (specifically their album ''The Glow, pt. 2''), [[alllowercaseletters joordan mason and the horse museum]], and Seamonster.

* CreatorBreakdown: Mangum's growing obsession with the Holocaust caused a nervous breakdown in 1999, which led to the band to break up.

* MyNaymeIs...: It's Man'''''gum''''', not Magnum.

* CreatorBreakdown -- Mangum's growing obsession with the Holocaust caused a nervous breakdown in 1999, which led to the band to break up.
* EpicRocking -- "Pree-Sisters Swallowing a Donkey's Eye", "Oh Comely", "Message Sent", "Ferris Wheel On Fire", the "Rubby Bulbs"/"Snow Song Pt. 2" live medley-thing...
* EverythingsLouderWithBagpipes -- These guys loved their bagpipes and horns.
* FadingIntoTheNextSong -- Many of their songs faded into each other, especially live.

* LostEpisode -- Many songs performed live by the band, while probably recorded at some point, have never even been bootlegged in their studio incarnations. The most infamous example is perhaps fan favorite song "Ferris Wheel On Fire" or "My Skull".

* NotChristianRock -- "King Of Carrot Flowers Pt. 2" starts off with the lines "I love you Jesus Christ". Many people confuse this for a Christian rock song. Notice that a part of the lyrics for this song is absent from the booklet, [[AllThereInTheManual with this message being there instead]]: "a song for an old friend a song for a new friend and now a song for jesus christ and since this seems to confuse people i'd like to simply say that i mean what i sing although the theme of endless endless on this album is not based on any religion but more in the belief that all things seem to contain a white light within them that i see as eternal."
* ReclusiveArtist -- Mangum remained out of the limelight for ten years. In 2009, he began making live appearances again, usually sitting in with his friends' bands or playing solo gigs for charity.
* RecycledInSpace -- ''In the Aeroplane Over the Sea'' is Anne Frank... ON FREUD!

* SpiritualSuccessor -- The most likely candidate is ArcadeFire.
* WordSaladTitle -- Take a look at that band name.

** TheLancer: Scott Spillane
** TheSmartGuy: Julian Koster

** TheHero: JeffMangum

* CreatorBreakdown -- See above.

* EverythingsLouderWithBagpipes -- These guys loved their bagpipes. [[RunningGag And horns.]]

* LostEpisode -- Many songs performed live by the band, while probably recorded at some point, have never even been bootlegged in their studio incarnations. The most infamous example is perhaps fan favorite song "Ferris Wheel On Fire".
** Also, the song "My Skull".

* NotChristianRock -- "King Of Carrot Flowers Pt. 2" starts off with the lines "I love you Jesus Christ". Many people confuse this for a Christian rock song.
** Notice that a part of the lyrics for this song is absent from the booklet, [[AllThereInTheManual with this message being there instead]]: "a song for an old friend a song for a new friend and now a song for jesus christ and since this seems to confuse people i'd like to simply say that i mean what i sing although the theme of endless endless on this album is not based on any religion but more in the belief that all things seem to contain a white light within them that i see as eternal."

* SignatureSong -- "Holland, 1945"

** Notice that a part of the lyrics for this song is absent from the booklet, [[AllThereInTheManual with this message being there instead]]: "a song for an old friend a song for a new friend and now a song for jesus christ and since this seems to confuse people i'd like to simply say that i mean what i sing although the theme of endless endless on this album is not based on any religion byt more in the belief that all things seem to contain a white light within them that i see as eternal."

* ReclusiveArtist -- Mangum. By 2009, however, it seems he's finally decided to perform live again, albeit at sporadic charity concerts.

Jeff Magnum formed a band called Synthetic Flying Machine with high school friends Will Cullen Hart and Bill Doss in the late 1980s. Though the band never fully got much recognition, they stayed together for a couple of years, eventually changing their name to The Olivia Tremor Control. Mangum soon got the desire to do some experimentation with a separate project and that's where NeutralMilkHotel was born.

** Notice that a part of the lyrics for this song is absent from the booklet, with this message being there instead: "a song for an old friend a song for a new friend and now a song for jesus christ and since this seems to confuse people i'd like to simply say that i mean what i sing although the theme of endless endless on this album is not based on any religion byt more in the belief that all things seem to contain a white light within them that i see as eternal."

** Notice that a part of the lyrics for this song are absent from the booklet, with this message being there instead: "a song for an old friend a song for a new friend and now a song for jesus christ and since this seems to confuse people i'd like to simply say that i mean what i sing although the theme of endless endless on this album is not based on any religion byt more in the belief that all things seem to contain a white light within them that i see as eternal."

* MagnumOpus -- ''In The Aeroplane Over The Sea'' is considered a classic of indie rock (with both [[{{Fanboy}} Fandom]] and FanDumb to fit).
** More like [[IncrediblyLamePun MANGUM Opus]], amirite?

* SpiritualSuccessor -- ArcadeFire
** Maybe... {{YMMV}}.

Hints of reunions have circulated around over the past years, but nothing definite as to whether or not they'd truly get back together. ArcadeFire said that they signed to Merge Records because it was NeutralMilkHotel's record label. Because of this, the two bands are constantly compared.

These guys are literally worshiped by indie kids. Most publications (excluding Pitchfork) tend to ignore them, despite never really being critically panned by any of them. To some, they are overrated, to others they are underrated. No matter what side people stand on though, their influence is undeniable.