| | Full Review | Ratings (415) |
Give your Rating |
| 4.0 excellent | Ignimbrite | March 28th 16 |
They finally did something different.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.5 great | Nrap | March 18th 16 |
I... I think I like it? Ive enjoyed it more that TCTCTC for whatever thats worth.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Comatorium. | March 17th 16 |
Otherworldly and ethereal, carrying hits of dream pop, shoegaze, and some heavier moments than Explosions
ever really explored, The Wilderness sees the band finally branching out into some new and refreshing territory.
The production itself is unique and fits the atmosphere of the album perfectly. It loses momentum in some places,
but the whole affair is a much more subtle and nuanced one than the band's past works. It's nice to hear
something different out of EITS after all this time. Disintegration Anxiety and Infinite Orbit are some jams.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | 3waycrash | January 12th 17 |
After being stagnant for some time, Explosions finally mix things up a bit for something refreshing in their catalogue.
Bump |
| 3.0 good | TheManMachine | June 3rd 16 |
Sure, they cling to the proverbial post-rock patterns: the piecemeal pacing, the serene silkiness segueing into optimistic alleviation escalating into thunderous intimidation or some other amalgam of vice-versas. But for a sensibly configured 9 tracks in 46 minutes, this does pack in alotta intricate proteanism and satisfying shift-work, sidestepping undue lulls and readily tiptoeing movement to movement without wilting towards pure precision. Not that it's without many-a slack or stagy section, but many-a poignant ones and a primarily peachy overall package make for adequate amends. And though it seems they're chiefly used as an apparatus for stability, some xtra exertion on the drums would be nice: "Tangle Formations", I'm lookin' at you.
Bump |
| 3.0 good | EasterInTheBatcave | May 10th 16 |
Explosions in the Sky have never been a particularly original outfit; rather, their success has been based upon a deft execution of established post-rock tropes. The Wilderness sees the band extending their reach somewhat, going for shorter songs with more electronic influence. The results are good ("Disintegration Anxiety", "Logic of a Dream") more often than not, but more risk-taking would be welcome.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Alabaster Jones | April 5th 16 |
Being perfecters of a very simple, yet beautiful post-rock style that has influenced countless bands in the scene, Explosions In The Sky, totally undeservedly, have become the staple stereotypical post-rock band. It's through no fault of their own, but history has chosen to see it that way. That said, this change they've exhibited on their newest record, The Wilderness, is definitely the most obvious of their career. Through shorter songs, experimentation with electronics, and a curious lack of crescendos, Explosions In The Sky has tweaked their sound in a nice way. It's still Explosions, as the twinkly and gorgeous guitars show, but there are moments here unlike any other in their discography. The playful electronic melody on "The Ecstatics", or the oddly catchy bass riff and drumming that almost sounds like an electronic song on "Disintegration Anxiety", and the unnerving ending to "Colors In Space" are a few fine examples. Yet, the immense beauty of closer "Landing Cliffs" reminds you who you're listening to, and shows that despite these changes, Explosions In The Sky are still masters at making simple moments evocative and wonderful to hear.
Bump |
| 3.3 great | Trey STAFF | April 4th 16 |
This is some post rock I can get behind. Short, melodic and to-the-point songs without all of the useless silence.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Benjamin Kuettel EMERITUS | March 29th 16 |
The Wilderness signifies important changes for Explosions: most notably, an absence of sonic clutter and a willingness to fearlessly explore new sonic terrain. The band utilizes shorter track lengths lending to a more easily digestible listening experience, while taking their sound into bold new directions. Their musical style welcomes emphases of low end and electronica featured throughout. "Disintegration Anxiety" has stunning bass guitar and "Tangle Formations" is a moment of meditative beauty. "Landing Cliffs" is the real highlight, being one of the most blissful songs of the year. Overall The Wilderness is a diverse and heady post-rock release that should not be missed by fans of the genre, and especially if you thought Explosions were becoming too comfortable repeating past successes.
Bump |
| 3.0 good | Celtics2448 | March 25th 16 |
Explosions In The Sky have one of my favorite bands for the better part of a decade, so naturally after 5 years I set my expectations a bit too high for this album. It's drastically different from any other of their previous studio albums as they finally incorporate new elements to their sound, less twinkles, more dreamy, and much more electronics involved in what is a very heavily produced albeit well produced album.rIf you're expecting the "feels" like their previous works were capable of accomplishing, you're not going to get it, but if you're a fan of this band like I am who was disappointed on first listen, give this a few more spins and you'll at least appreciate the band's willingness to finally evolve.
Bump |
| 3.5 great | Alex C. | September 17th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sunnyvale EMERITUS | August 17th 23 |
| 2.5 average | HalapenYo CONTRIBUTOR | July 11th 23 |
| 3.5 great | Timmy | January 18th 23 |
| 3.5 great | Tunnel | July 17th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sowing STAFF | May 11th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Nbehre11 | February 13th 20 |
| 3.5 great | CK1991 | January 30th 20 |
| 3.5 great | FakeOne | September 16th 19 |
| 3.5 great | wg98 | August 14th 19 |
| 3.0 good | iglu | August 13th 19 |
| 3.5 great | ARDCWE | April 3rd 19 |
| 2.5 average | crab | January 29th 19 |
| 3.5 great | madtwoo | December 27th 18 |
| 5.0 classic | didymus | November 9th 18 |
| 2.5 average | Sam C. | September 7th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | stesta | May 25th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | cb123 | April 19th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Faint7 | February 20th 18 |
| 3.5 great | Crawl | January 11th 18 |
| 3.5 great | Keira | December 4th 17 |
| 3.0 good | RAGG | December 2nd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Anarres | September 22nd 17 |
| 4.5 superb | gnombyX | September 7th 17 |
| 2.5 average | Jan555 | August 22nd 17 |
| 3.0 good | Juanpa | August 13th 17 |
| 3.0 good | Wolfe | July 26th 17 |
| 3.0 good | Emo | May 31st 17 |
| 3.5 great | Prole | May 24th 17 |
| 2.5 average | emmny | March 30th 17 |
| 3.0 good | Pleb | March 17th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rmazer | March 10th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rizzo44 | January 7th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Rodstar | December 23rd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Thef | December 8th 16 |
| 3.5 great | tellah | December 1st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | JWT155 | November 21st 16 |
| 3.5 great | uhh | November 2nd 16 |
| 2.5 average | btati | October 18th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Oddsy | October 11th 16 |
| 3.0 good | Deubah | October 8th 16 |
| 3.5 great | algo | September 29th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Shamus CONTRIBUTOR | September 5th 16 |
| 3.0 good | Gueero | September 1st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Gnax | August 19th 16 |
| 2.5 average | czed | August 19th 16 |
| 3.5 great | mRA | August 7th 16 |
| 2.5 average | jmh886 | June 16th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Snide | June 6th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | ylfsmj | May 24th 16 |
| 2.5 average | Xerian | May 22nd 16 |
| 3.5 great | SB129 | May 16th 16 |
| 3.0 good | Rail | April 26th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | thhem2 | April 24th 16 |
| 2.0 poor | Irving EMERITUS | April 23rd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | chaywa | April 21st 16 |
| 3.5 great | Mojito | April 13th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Ulshad | April 12th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Xhoven | April 11th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Surette | April 8th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Greem | April 8th 16 |
| 3.5 great | t1gxrs | April 6th 16 |
| 3.5 great | ariich | April 6th 16 |
| 3.5 great | JS19 | April 6th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | YiftahG | April 6th 16 |
| 2.5 average | Pangea | April 5th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | SMK | April 5th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | cbjeeby | April 5th 16 |
| 3.0 good | jybt | April 5th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Adam | April 4th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Kronzo | April 4th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Gbhill | April 2nd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | robin | April 2nd 16 |
| 3.5 great | N2B3J | April 1st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Faraudo | April 1st 16 |
| 3.5 great | torts | April 1st 16 |
| 3.5 great | scx | March 31st 16 |
| 2.5 average | Rudy K. EMERITUS | March 30th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Poet | March 27th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | 081301 | March 26th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Veldin | March 23rd 16 |
| 3.5 great | Thor | March 22nd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | fdrc | March 18th 16 |
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