Album Rating: 4.0

yeah I wanted to review Weezer first, didn't have much time on the weekend to write anything for this



such a great set of releases that was Friday...the only one that really disappointed me so far was The Last Shadow Puppets, which is pretty plain

I explained in the other review thread about how it grinds my gears when people call Explosions in the Sky generic when they essentially invented a sound that OTHER bands subsequently beat to the ground. You have to put their albums in the context of when they were made.

But anyways. The thing that is so blatant with this album is that it was clearly a deliberate reaction to the internet chatter about their sound being generic now. If they had stayed off the internet and just made an album that they wanted to make for themselves I bet it would sound a LOT different. I'm sure this is the case for a lot of bands and albums, but it just seems even more obvious in this case. Who am I to question that though... they had a motivation that was borne from their experiences as a band and they let it manifest in their art.

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

I was just about to reference those exact posts minty, but here you are to say it yourself - agreed wholeheartedly.



Mongi it's a bit disillusioning to see you criticize The Earth... when it's clearly a post-rock milestone. You even posted a 5/5 review of it...

Album Rating: 4.0

Once again, I don't think that's what Mongi is saying. He said it established a played out formula, meaning others played it out after they established it.



Also, proud to say a ctrl-f reveals no mention of 'generic' in my review!

Album Rating: 3.5

Haven't head this yet but as someone who literally heard The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place the first time less than a week ago and who has heard less than 10 post-rock albums and thus whose experience with it is similar to that of someone who listened to it when it first came out, no matter how frequently copied the formula/sound of that album may be, that formula/sound is pretty damn great and EiTS definitely deserve respect for it.

Album Rating: 3.5

Exactly what sowing said. That's what I mean.



And that review of mine is like when I joined this site and absolutely dreadful, ignorant and pretentious lol

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

It wasn't just that, it's what you said in your review thread for this album and others, but glad to see that it isn't the case. Also I read it recently and don't remember it being that bad.

Album Rating: 3.5

Oh yea I don't feel bad about it, but it's still there. That and my Karnivool SA rev are my worst that are still live.



Yea it's definitely a sound they helped establish as the norm for post rock. I have it as a 4.5 now but however, there are parts that can be tedious about it and I still stand by my statement that I say generally: Just because an album established a sound does NOT make it immune from critiques.

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

I agree that it doesn't reserve it from critiques, there're plenty of classic albums that I find imperfections in or think are overrated.

Album Rating: 4.0

No such thing as perfect music, only music that is perfect to a person

Why don't I find bands until like, their 7th album? Oh well, add this to the giant backlog of albums/bands I already have.

Album Rating: 4.0

I'm like that too



But still, kinda hard to miss these guys all this time



Definitely give them a listen

Album Rating: 3.5

Tbh it's better to come to a band late in their career because it gives you more stuff to go through.

Album Rating: 4.0

That too, yeah

Fair point. Will definitely check these guys out. Like a lot of bands, I've heard of them, but just never listened to them for whatever reason. Still excited to get started though.

This is a really excellent review dude, great job! Coming from someone who has never been a huge fan of this band (though I love post-rock), I really, really like this album. I think what really makes this effort stand out in their discography as one of their best efforts (to me anyway) is how much more varied and interesting the songwriting is. I mean yeah these guys are clearly very good as the whole crescendo shtick but what makes this album so strong to me is that it takes the core melodic backbone of their sound and shapes it into songs that are so much more interesting and less formulaic. There are many unexpected songwriting turns on the album which I found to be very refreshing given this band's discog and what they typically go for.

And I couldn't agree more with what you said in the review about the balance between the brighter and darker elements of the music. As pretty as The Earth is, I really like the increased depth of the atmospheres and moods on this. The darker elements make the beautiful moments shine even brighter.

Album Rating: 2.5

i'm glad they shook things up a bit but this is honestly kinda boring, doesn't make me feel anything. neat review though

Album Rating: 4.0

Thanks Kubrick - and yeah, just the breaking the mold of that quiet to grand build up was important, I feel



Art - "neat review tho", sputnik's version of cool story bro

Album Rating: 2.5

nah dude i genuinely enjoyed reading the review

Album Rating: 4.0

Thanks. Wasn't as good as my White Album review but it says some good words and stuff.