In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998)

Jeff Mangum's Neutral Milk Hotel pair punk-strength acoustic strumming with fuzzed-out singing saw, brass and drums that sound like a village band. The raw, surreal and devotional lyrics give it a world of its own. Holland, 1945 is the fastest, loudest way in; Oh Comely, over eight minutes of voice and guitar, shows how little the songs need.