Donnerstag, 17. Jan 2008, 21:02
7. Irepress - The Samus Octology
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Why? Though I've heard this called full on "post-metal" and being compared to Isis, it feels more or less like a standard post-rock album with a few flourishes of heaviness. That's not to say the band is cookie cutter, either, as those bits of heaviness in addition to some interesting clean-jazz inspired breaks make the album an entertaining and not entirely cliche'd listen.
6. *Shels - Sea of the Dying Dhow
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Why? I realized when writing this blurb that I have no idea what a "Dhow" even is, and according to Dictionary.com it is "any of various types of sailing vessels used by Arabs on the east African, Arabian, and Indian coasts, generally lateen-rigged on two or three masts."
I suppose then, this title could be meant to somehow give the image of a sailing ship at sea, not necessarily sinking, yet just fading into the sunset, moving lifelessly with the tides. To me that image fits with the music here, anyway.
*Shels play an interesting brand of progressive rock and metal with a prominent post-rock base. The songs are often epic in stature and sound, yet also often mournful rather than completely inspiring. The implementation of clean vocals, brass (trumpet and trombone), and various samples all help to give the album a lush feeling. My main complaints are that these eclectic pieces of instrumentation could have been used to a greater advantage, and that the pieces lose steam/memorability as the album goes on. Still, a great album from a band I knew nothing about before this… And it also taught me a new vocab word.
5. 65daysofstatic - The Destruction of Small Ideas
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Why? It's hard for me to say why, but this is probably my least favorite album that 65dos have put out. I guess it could be that I was expecting something dramatically better than their older works, as I had just gotten into the band only a few months before hearing this. Or it could simply be that I don't find the songs as appealing as those on The Fall of Math or One Time for All Time.
That's not to say the songs on this album aren't appealing, however. 65daysofstatic still do what they do quite well here; combining electronic effects and the standard post-rock formula to create melodic, swelling climaxes and scenes of musical beauty. And if there's one thing they have improved in, it's their production. Everything on this album just sounds so smooth and natural. In an era where any album with an electric guitar is typically compressed to death, it's nice to hear a recording with such pleasant restraint, allowing the listener to really experience the peaks and valleys of the music.
The last track, also, deserves its own mention. Featuring collaborative vocals from members of Circle Takes the Square, the track brings out the best in both bands, showcasing an incredible sense of passion and dynamics.
4. Caspian - The Four Trees
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Why? Caspian's album is probably the least original on this list, but that's about as far as I can fault it. "The Four Trees" is a swooning, climactic, and efficient iteration of the typical Explosions in the Sky-inspired post-rock sound, and it doesn't do anything to convince you it's something more than that.
If there were one thing to define Caspian among the hordes of electric guitar-driven post-rock, however, I'd say it's their slight emphasis on acoustic guitar passages.
3. Envy - Abyssal
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Why? If you're not familiar with Envy, do yourself a favor and get familiarized… Quick. The Japanese band has had a rather prolific, gradually changing career, and one filled to the brim with intense, impassioned music. The band started out as a full-fledged screamo act and have progressively been adding more and more post-rock influence to music with each piece of new material. On this amazing EP, I'd consider most that screamo in Envy's sound to be whittled down to mild stylistic additions, such as Tetsuya Fukagawa's throat tearing scream (which he still always seems to deliver in the same three beat cadence… Weird).
No, this is largely a brilliantly executed post-rock album, that excels on every level, from the sublimely epic "A road of Winds the Water Builds" to the lovely closing ballad "Fading Vision." I'll admit it seems unfair to put a four track EP so high on an end-list like this… But each track is so undeniably good, that I can't stand putting it any lower.
2. Do Make Say Think - You, You're a History in Rust
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Why? A very soothing and folksy post-rock experience. There is seriously something going on here that builds such a sense of community and warmth… I don't know if it's just the fact that a lot of this album relies on a lo-fi sound coupled with banjos and acoustic guitar segments, or if it's simply created by the few vocal segments in which many of the band members sing. There are even some special, select moments where the music dies down, and the band can still be heard going off in tangents of laughter and simple conversation. This is truly an album that makes you feel like you're not just listening to music being made, but you're listening to music being made by people that have a deep felt appreciation for one another.
The icing on the cake to all of this, for me, is The Universe!. It's a 5 minute bombastic departure from the lazier feel of the first two tracks that breaks out into a fully distorted and active guitar riff that repeats throughout most of the song. It is surely one of the most exciting and consistently energetic song I've ever heard on post-rock album, and it makes me want to travel through… THE UNIVERSE!
1. Explosions in the Sky - All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone
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Why? As their sound has become more and more replicated throughout the ranks of post-rock, Explosions in the Sky has seemed to have become a little less relevant to hardcore explorers of the style. And the truth is, EitS was probably the first real post-rock band, along with Godspeed You! Black Emperor, I had ever heard. So perhaps one might expect me to give them a little less credit now that I've listened to various bands with similar goals and skills?
Not really. Despite my fascination with post-rock, and all of the bands I had unearthed as a result of my fascination, those two immense bands remain my favorites. And in the case of Explosions in the Sky, I can only say that it is simply because they affect me like few other bands can.
The first time I truly "got" this album, was when I took a long walk around my wooded community here in Lancaster Pennsylvania. I put this album on, and what I experienced was my very demeanor being transformed along with the state of the music.
"The Birth And Death Of The Day" gave me hope, and put a giant spring in my step. All was good in the world, and I remembered of all the reasons I was glad to be living in it. Then, as the album gradually began its descent into a more somber tone, I truly felt… Lonely. Amidst the scores of trees around me, and the day which was quickly turning to night at it's early, Winter hour… I thought of my life through a drastically different lense. I thought of the relationships I had that were dead or dying, how everything was different in my life from the past few months, and how people were distancing each other more and more. It all came to me in full force.
And then, with "Catastrophe And The Cure," and finally "So Long, Lonesome," I was given a resolved feeling of contentment for the remainder of my walk. From the beautiful shrilling melodies of the former song, to simplistic yet blissfully tearful piano notes of the later, I was filled with a sense of peace.
That's what this album can do to you, if you let it. Or maybe it's just me, I don't know. Regardless, this is my favorite post-rock record of 2007, and quite possibly my favorite overall.
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Honorable Mentions/Albums That Need More Time:
-Ghastly City Sleep - Ghastly City Sleep
-Loss of A Child - Adam and Eve
-The Pax Cecilia - Blessed Are the Bonds
-Sigur Rós - Hvarf-Heim (not new material, but worth mentioning, because they're Godly)
-Stellardrive - ERS-2
-World's End Girlfriend - Hurtbreak Wonderland
As always, inform me on what I missed out on, how you disagree with the list, or if you just hate me in general. :-)