Wednesday, November 26, 2003
(3:01 AM) | Anonymous:
Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die. Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever.
Okay. Upon reconsideration of a previously unstated belief that Explosions In The Sky was not the greatest band in the universe, I must state that Explosions In The Sky is the greatest band in the entire universe. I used to like this band called Godspeed You Black Emperor! for my post-rock needs. They were from Kanada. They spelled it with a K. That was great and fine. But I haven't seen them live.
Tonight I saw Explosions In The Sky live. They are from Austin and spell it with an A. They are the greatest band in the world. I am downgrading from universe only because typing that the first time scared me. I can't describe post rock. Take classical music to start with. Fast forward through time until now. While fast forwarding, pick out all the mistakes music has made along the way. Now, pretend people never found that vocal chords could be used as instruments. This leads us to a sort of repetitive music. It is repetitive, but not in a Britney Spears way. Repetitive in the way that Beethoven's 9th carries a theme throughout so many different sub-themes. This also leads us to a music of massively cascading dynamics. This also leaves us with some guitars and stuff. Pretend you find some people who are incredibly talented at playing these instruments.
This is the post-rock. Explosions In The Sky is the greatest Post Rock band in the world. This is controversial. People love their Godspeed. People love their "Mogwai." There's another band called Mum. Sometimes people like Do Make Say Think. Sometimes people even like A Silver Mt. Zion, which is a Godspeed subgroup. Your mom, by now, likes Sigur Ros, and they only debatably fit in this category anyway. I apologize to all, but my friends exploding in the sky win. Be thankful for the post-rock intro I just gave you in this paragraph and take my word for it.
It is strange music. The crowd at music performances by these bands is weird. It's not a rock show, and yet it doesn't fit anywhere but rock clubs. It isn't quiet by any stretch..the louds are as impactful as anything the greats have ever written.
Whatever the score, go and buy it. If you have been charged a ridiculous 750 dollar fine by an assinine city (Oklahoma City, roughly 18.5 times the size of Kankakee, has free parking on the streets after 5. Free parking in the garages after 8 when there is no big event downtown. I think New York City and others may be similar. That Kankakee feels the need for a city-wide parking sticker is laugh out loud funny - until it hurts, then we cry. I am sorry Anthony. I'm also sorry to you all for making this the longest parenthetical thing ever, rather than posting it in the comments below) than download it with the intent to buy when life smiles upon you again, as it will soon, I promise. The band wouldn't seem to mind that sort of thing too much.
If nothing else, just go to some cool little indie shop near you and listen to the thing. It's worth it to catch the genre that your kids will be getting into 20 years from now.
Entirely too long. I suck like a duck that costs less than a buck.
Eternally Prancing Around Without Ever Landing Upon The Dreaded,
-Robb
