Pullin’ ‘Tubes: Holland, 1945

Last week my 9 to 5er (actually its a 10 to 6er) had me away for a company “off site.” While for most of you out there that might mean being sent off to Tampa or Cleveland, working for a international company has its perks as we got sent over to our office in Holland. Not Holland, Michigan (where I’ve also been for work at a past job), but the real deal with windmills, wooden shoes and all.

As a geeky music fan a bunch of songs popped into my head for a potential playlist for the long plane ride, but the first one that I thought of was the Neutral Milk Hotel’s Holland, 1945. The song and their landmark album In The Aeroplane Over The Sea were inspired by the tragedy of Anne Frank-I know kind of heavy-but there is sort of an aching beauty that you can hear through the whole thing. Here’s NMH frontman Jeff Mangum performing it solo at the 40 Watt Club in 1997…

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Further Listening:

• NMH Live – King Of Carrot Flowers Part 2 & 3
• Jeff Mangum – Two Headed Boy – Live At Jittery Joe’s
• Dresden Dolls Cover Two Headed Boy