The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place

Doesn't remind me even a little bit of explosions, but I had a pleasant time with it nonetheless

The genius of this band was taking the slow burning cathartic post-rock formula, shedding most of the apocalyptic feel and miserableness (clue: the title explicitly rejecting doomerism) to create something affirming, inspirational, almost poppy. Could be one of the best guitar albums of the decade. There's a strong emphasis on the bright clean lead guitar lines - nothing pyrotechnic, but a beautiful crystalline tone and simple articulate phrasing - 2 interlocking voices articulating melodies/countermelodies that echo through the mix, picking up the ambience and carrying the songs to their peaks as the rest of band reaches a crescendo. It's a hackneyed, corny, and cheap formula - start slow to build the mood, step on the gas, let it off, step on it some more, martial snares to build up the pressure, ease it off, then bring it home - but it really does get close to being a shortcut to transcendence. You can't blame them for the thousands of God-awful church bands that have been abusing their reverb pedals and ripping this off in the name of Jesus ever since Friday Night Lights.

Maybe one of my favorite totally instrumental albums we’ve listened to.

Would’ve been better with lyrics.

Great post rock record, I’d rank below god speed and Mogawi, but still worthy of this list and one I listen to frequently.