Posts Tagged: the receiving end of sirens

2003 / 5 stars / explosions in the sky / reviews — No Comments
26
Jan 09

The Earth Is Not… (2003) by Explosions in the Sky

The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place by Explosions in the Sky

Explosions in the Sky
The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place
2003, Temporary Residence Limited
post-rock, experimental
5

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

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2007 / 5 stars / reviews / the receiving end of sirens — 1 Comment
16
Oct 07

The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi (2007) by The Receiving End of Sirens

Genre: experimental post-hardcore
Rating:
Check Out: “The Salesman, The Husband, The Lover,” “Disappear (Oubilette),” “Stay Small”
Myspace, Purevolume

Before you even consider listening to this album, take heed of the ‘experimental’ genre that they’re a part of. Because once you listen to “Swallow People Whole,” the opening track, you’ll understand that this band isn’t just experimental; they’re beyond it. The only band that I’ve ever heard who comes close to imitating TREOS’s style is The Appleseed Cast, and even they aren’t nearly as dark, ambient, and cohesive. In short, this album is a winner on all counts.

All of my reviews for my favorite albums will show that I adore the lyrics just as much (if not more) than the actual music. For The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi, my lyrical obsession was more that satisfied. Every song here has been written carefully, so that the lyrics tell a massive story. “The Salesman, The Husband, The Lover,” is probably the best commentary on broken families that I’ve heard in a long time. “Disappear (Oubilette)” has a very simple chorus that begins with, “Don’t let me disappear, don’t let me fall apart,” and that cry has never sounded more desperate or more serious.

I still don’t remember how I stumbled upon this band’s myspace page, but once I did, I never looked back. This is an album that you need to listen to over and over again just to understand. But I promise you, once you’ve understood it, you’ll realize it’s worth as well. Also, make sure you check out their Wikipedia link above for more information on how the album title was decided on.

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