So for Xmas this past year, my brother got me “The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place” by Explosions in the Sky – it’s absolutely rocked my world, one of the best albums I’ve listened to in a long, long, time. I got “Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever”, and I found I couldn’t get into those songs quite as well as with the other album…
I’m actively searching out similar music to Explosions in the Sky, and I’ve been told Mogwai or Godspeed You Black Emperor! are good bands to start with… Anybody want to recommend particular albums that are more similar to TEINACDP vs. TWTTTSDTWTTTSLF?
If you liked those albums, you’d probably like everything GSYBE! ever put out. So I’d grab them all if I were you, except possibly yanqui UXO, which has a somewhat different feel from the other albums. Still worth it, but not the best example of godspeed’s work.
I’ve got “Yanqui U.X.O.” and love it, but I’ve never heard anything else by Godspeed You Black Emperor!, and I’ve never even heard of the other bands mentioned here.
So all I can say is that “Yanqui U.X.O.” is GREAT for making out to.
My recommendations might be off, as I thought Those Who Tell the Truth was better than their new one, but for Mogwai I liked My Father, My King (one track EP, but lik 23 minutes long). Also, Rock Action is worth the boring songs just for “You Don’t Know Jesus” and “2 Rights Make 1 Wrong.” Young Team is probably their most solid album, though. If I could recommend some other artists/albums…
Mono - One More Step and You Die - sort of a Japanese Mogwai
Emery Reel - …for and Acted Upon through Diversions - similar to Explosions
Murder by Death (or Little Joe Gould) - Like the Exorcist, but More Breakdancing - there are some absolutely amazing tracks here, especially the “Those Who Stayed” and “Those Who Left” combo
Do Make Say Think - both their albums - they are really, really good, sort of like a less-angry Mogwai maybe?
That’s a good summary of my favorite artists/albums in the apocalyptic post rock genre.
Copy from my posting on a Grateful Dead message board:
I’ve been a fan of GYBE! for a while now. I’ve seen them live a few times and they put on a great show. I have even convinced my mother to come with me to one of the shows and she ended up loving it. I’ll give my reviews of all their albums, because 1.) I’m sick, 2.) board, 3.) and I love doing this.
-f# a# oo: A lot of people think this was their best work, but I don’t agree. It’s good, but the three tracks don’t have a nice flow to them. To me it sounds like too many of the songs are broken up by field recordings. However, the spoken word reading on the first song has to be heard - absolutely haunting: “the buildings tumbled in on themselves - mothers clutching babies picked through the rubble and pulled out their hair:”
-Slow Riot For New Zero Kanada: This is just an EP, 2 tracks, but still 30 minutes. The first track, Moya, is absolutely astonishing. They played this live at one of their shows - and I can’t even describe being brought to tears and then joyously uplifted by and instrumental track - or maybe I can, I’m amongst Deadheads. The other song would be a perfect complement to the first if not for the over the top ramblings of an Estimated Prophet. This come with my recommendation for Moya alone.
-Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven: What I see as the highpoint for the band. The movements flow beautifully. The field recordings actually work to enhance the music. Highpoint for me is the 1st song, the “Gathering Storm” movement - the way it builds (hence gathering storm, I guess) and the horn interplay never disappoints. I think this is the best starting point for Godspeed - it has worked on my friends.
-Yanqui U.X.O.: I was really disappointed by this album. It feels they lost some of the lushness and fullness of the band. They also became less dependant on string arrangements. I have a feeling this might be due to Steve Albini
I’m not too well up on GSYBE, but Mogwai always sounded like a poor version of Tortoise to me. You might want to check them out as well as a lot of the other stuff on Thrill Jockey records. and so:
Tortoise:
Millions now living will never die
TNT
Standards
Its all around you
Remixed
Brokeback
Chicago Underground duo/trio/quartet
similar stuff to the bands you mention. worth a listen IMO.
No one has mentioned GYB! countless side projects as well. You could start with A Silver Mount Zion, their newest album has a less depressing feel then their last.
Basically, anything by GYBE is good. Personally I am a little partial to their first album, “F# A# (Infinity)”.
Their “sister” band, A Silver Mt. Zion (and its multiple name variations) is as strange and beautiful, and I find their stuff to be a little better constructed, too.
Also highly recommended is 1 Mile North, especially their Minor Shadows. Subtler and sparser than GYBE et al, but no less beautiful.
The French band Cyann & Ben’s album Spring sounds a little like GYBE at times.
Incidentally, members of both A Silver Mt. Zion and Do Make Say Think are part of the collective known as Broken Social Scene, whose album You Forgot it in People was one of last year’s finest records. It sounds nothing like GYBE, but it is heavily influenced by art rock – it is, quite literally, a bunch of art-rock musicians who have gotten together and decided to try their hand at “ordinary” indie rock.
And that fine band, Piano Magic, often sounds a lot like GYBE, due to their delicate combination of guitars and chamber-orchestra arrangements; The Tollbooth Martyrs, especially, on the Trouble Sleep album, is like a GYBE song set to vocals.
Thanks all – I’m about to head to the local Newbury Comics and pick up a couple of the suggested discs. I’ll report back in when I’ve got something to say about them… Thanks again!
