Neutral Milk Hotel is Elephant 6 co-founder Jeff Mangum, Julian Koster (of Music Tapes), Scott Spillane (of the Gerbils) and Jeremy Barnes (of Beirut, A Hawk and a Hacksaw).

Originally released in 1998, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea was named Best Album of the `90s by Magnet Magazine.

When reissued in 2005 the album rated 10.0 at Pitchfork. In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is one of the best-selling Merge titles of all time.

"Jeff Mangum's masterpiece mixes hushed folk, explosive brass, and unforgettable vocals that touch on pain, loss, memory, and hope." - Pitchfork