tisdag 19 Dec 2006, 0:30

So, today is the day of posts. Took my first exams today, and luckily for you guys the suicide attempts failed. Oh well, maybe tomorrow. So, we have post-punk, post-rock, and post-metal today, in that order. Huzzah!(?)

First, post-punk. The new CD from Interpol! Oh wait… they didn't release anything this year. Oh that's right! It's Editors! I honestly only bought this because of the Interpol comparisons (I would do this again later in the year, because this one worked out well), and I have to say they are apt. The lead singer probably is Paul Banks's brother, and this CD is almost as strong of a debut as Turn on the Bright Lights. However, where TotBL was wrought with sexual tension and brooding bass, The Back Room (Editors) is alot more frantic and kinetic. Instead of coldly calculating like Interpol, Editors choose to rashly react, imbue-ing their music with spiky speedy guitar riffs. However, their best song comes when they slow the pace down. "Fall" is one of my favourite songs of the year. With its gentler strummed chords, tensioned filled choruses, and distraught lyrics. Here, Tom Smith finds his own voice away from Paul Banks and Ian Curtis, and even uses the word "juggernauts". That instantly wins points for me. The background "ooooh"'s are subtle and really add a lot to the song. Worst song? Though none are bad, I would say "Someone Says", just because it seems like filler, following similar formulas with the rest of the tracks. Though it does have a good hook, don't get me wrong.

Next I decided I wanted to explore this "post-rock" thing more. I didn't actually own any at this point (I don't wholly consider Sigur Ros to be post-rock), and I decided it was time. So what did I decide to buy? The classical bombast of Godspeed You! Black Emperor? The massive guitars of Mogwai? The simpler, more affecting A Silver Mt. Zion? No sir. I decided to go for the reissued debut ("How Strange, Innocence") from Explosions in the Sky. In the CD case, it says that the band has been, at times, embarrassed with this CD. I have no reason why, as it starts out with what I consider a strong contender for the best post-rock song. Ever. "A Song For Our Fathers" enters with the sounds of helicopters and gently introduces the formula of the band. It’s post-rock, but with the standard two guitars, a bass, and some drums. Fair enough. The bass leads the song at first, until the guitars come in to play and intertwine with one another. A steady drum beat in the background buckles the song down, and makes it sound like some sort of solemn/joyous march. Then small bursts of feedback enter and the guitar notes rise and fall, giving way to more feedback (all fairly non-intrusive). Then everything but the bass drops out, and the "chorus" begins. A simple, yet haunting guitar line is picked out, and all of a sudden the drums come crashing in with feedback accompanying. Then the dust settles and only a guitar and slight feedback remain. However everything swoops back in once more and gives a second, much more propelled chorus. Amazing song. And that's just the first track. The whole CD is fantastic and this is probably the reason why I started buying so much post-rock. God it’s good. I have no clue why they were embarrassed about this. I still prefer this to some later efforts.

And finally, post-metal. Pelican. Intimidating at first, much better once given a chance. This is metal influenced post-rock, don't get confused. If Mogwai played metal, this would be it. Detuned guitars and sustained chords abound, while acoustic guitars occasionally show up. This is a very textured album. Almost every song seems to literally swell, and listening to Pelican reminds me of the tide rising and receding away from a beach. If you are afraid of metal, don't be afraid of Pelican. They are warm and inviting. They are not trying to scare you. Best song? Aurora Borealis, both because it has the best name and because it decides to be mellow without going acoustic. Great daydream song.

Tomorrow a CD I don't own and two sountracks. BOOOOO. sorry.

Tomorrow: Part 5 of 11 (The Fifth Three OR Soundtracks Are Better Than You Think)