Post Rock: Background Music as a Genre

There have been a million comments made about how bands like Godspeed! You Black Emperor and Explosions in the Sky sound like they should be in the soundtrack to a movie. Their music is peaceful, ambient, and generally instrumental. In 2004, the music of Explosions in the Sky was paired with the mediocre football film Friday Night Lights. Then in 2006 Mogwai was called on to score the documentary about legendary French football player, Zinadane Zidane called Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait.

Since the use of post-rock in films went from discussion fodder to actuality, the genre has dropped off significantly. Explosions in the Sky released the poorly-rated All of the Sudden, I Miss Everyone and Mogwai's Mr. Beast and The Hawk is Howling were received to little excitement by otherwise-adoring fans. I'm sure that its only coencidence that the genre began to dissapate around the same time that its music began finding its way into popular films... but it makes you wonder. Many of the artists found that there is little room for progression in a genre that takes so much pride in minimalism.

I have compiled a few of my favorite post-rock albums as a bit of a retrospective to the genre. This list is by no means all-inclusive (like Sandals Jamaica). I'm sure I will miss a few gems.


Godspeed You! Black Emperor - “Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven” EP Kranky Records, 2000 (Canadian orchestra-rock that utilizes samples and an onslaught of musicians)


A Silver Mt. Zion - “He Has Left Us Alone but Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corners of Our Rooms”, Constellation Records, 2000 (features members of the aforementioned Godspeed You! Black Emperor)


The Album Leaf - “In a Safe Place” Sub Pop Records, 2004 (Electronic ambience with minimal vocals. One of two bands that I've seen live that required a bathroom break halfway through the set)


Explosions in the Sky - “The Earth in Not a Cold Dead Place”, Temporary Residence Limited, 2003
(Texas Post-Rock that helped bring the genre into popular culture)


Mogwai - “My Father, My King” EP Matador Records, 2001
(Scottish band known for being organ-rattling loud)

Recommended Listening - Noah and the Whale

Noah and the Whale is an indie band from London. I first heard about them when they were recently featured in Relevant Magazine. Their album "The First Days of Spring" will be out on August 31st. You can hear a preview of the title track from that record here:

Noah and the Whale Myspace

Album Review - Iron and Wine

Iron and Wine “Around the Well”
Sub Pop Records, 2009

To music fans, very few things are as irritating as rarities and b-sides collections. The only worse things are concert DVDs and solo-projects. All of these things have one particular purpose: milk as much money out of the fact that people like your band while having to put forward the least amount of effort. These projects normally come out in between releases (especially when a follow-up CD is overdue) and serve to satisfy the consumer without having to go through the process of writing or recording new material.

It has been two years since the release of “The Shepherd’s Dog” and Iron and Wine is in desperate need to keep the attention of the twenty-something’s that scooped up their music in the aftermath of their contribution to the Garden State soundtrack. That attention grabber is “Around the Well”: a two-disc rarities and b-sides collection that spans Sam Beam’s entire career as an acoustic performer.

Unlike most rarities collections, many of the songs on this CD are actually good enough to put on proper releases. Songs like “Sacred Vision”, “Communion Cups and Someone’s Coat” and “Love Vigilantes” sound just as good as any other track that Iron and Wine has released. Some tracks (like “Friends they are Jewels” and “Hickory”) are more lo-fi than others. However, the grittiness of Beam’s earlier recordings lends itself well to this kind of sound.

As a whole, this album does a great job at bridging the gap between Iron and Wine releases. Someone who isn’t an avid fan could put in this record and listen to it from start to finish with at least moderate contentment. In an attempt to build appreciation for “Around the Well” I have prepared a list of rarities and b-sides collections, solo projects, and DVD’s from other musicians (ranging from horrible to unpleasantly mediocre).

-Bright Eyes – “A Collection of Songs Written and Recorded 1995 and 1997”
-Death Cab for Cutie- “You Can Play These Songs with Chords”
-Headphones – David Bazan’s side project from Pedro the Lion
-Thom Yorke’s solo CD that came out between “Hail to the Thief” and “In Rainbows”
-The Blood Brother’s DVD that I got as a companion purchase with “Crimes”… whatever that piece of junk was called

…that became a bitter rant toward the end. I apologize.

(7.5/10)

Iron and Wine on Myspace

Random Myspace Band - Cains and Abels

Cains & Abels is an indie/rock band from Chicago. I found them through Anathallo's myspace and loved them instantly. The most remarkable thing about their music is the distinct sound of an interesting vocalist. Their singer has a voice that is not easily digestible, but creates beautiful melodies that carry dark, but well-constructed lyrics. My favorite tracks so far are "Killed by Birds" and "Dark Days"

Cains and Abels Myspace