Explosions in the Sky
The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place
2003, Temporary Residence Limited
post-rock, experimental
It’s amazing that this is my first review for Explosions in the Sky, considering how obsessed I’ve been with this band of late. I’ve chosen their third album as the first I reviewed because it is the only one, in my opinion, that is actually cohesive enough to be called an ‘album.’ It’s amazing how many chords are repeated throughout the five songs on this album.
Clearly I’m getting ahead of myself. If you don’t know who Explosions in the Sky is, think back to the movie (not the television show) Friday Night Lights. If you haven’t seen it I have to wonder what rock you’ve been living under, but if you have seen it then you’ll recognize EITS from the soundtrack.
No, EITS doesn’t include lyrics in their music. Yes, The Earth Is Not a Cold Dark Place contains only five ‘songs,’ all of which are at least 8 minutes in length. As one would expect from these details, EITS has a very canny sense of the dramatic. But almost in spite of the drama, the pathos of their music is absolutely pitch perfect. Any song of theirs could be considered both happy and sad, and I believe this album exemplifies that quality perfectly. This is a definite must-have from a band that has just started to hit its stride.
“Your Hand In Mine,” “First Breath After Coma.”
myspace, last.fm
The Receiving End of Sirens’s The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi, Thrice’s The Alchemy Index, Vol. 2: Water
