Godspeed You! Black Emperor: Dead Flag Blues (Intro)

I feel like, with the close of 2013, this is more than apropos. Burn 2013 and what it had to offer--learn from it, but don't go back. Cheers to 2014, folks.

"the car's on fire and there's no driver at the wheel
and the sewers are all muddied with a thousand lonely suicides
and a dark wind blows

the government is corrupt
and we're on so many drugs
with the radio on and the curtains drawn

we're trapped in the belly of this horrible machine
and the machine is bleeding to death

the sun has fallen down
and the billboards are all leering
and the flags are all dead at the top of their poles

it went like this:

the buildings tumbled in on themselves
mothers clutching babies picked through the rubble
and pulled out their hair

the skyline was beautiful on fire
all twisted metal stretching upwards
everything washed in a thin orange haze

i said: "kiss me, you're beautiful -
these are truly the last days"

you grabbed my hand and we fell into it
like a daydream or a fever

we woke up one morning and fell a little further down -
for sure it's the valley of death

i open up my wallet
and it's full of blood"

Mogwai: Mexican Grand Prix

Mogwai is a band from Glasgow, Scotland. Most of their songs are elaborations on a single theme, playing it out lengthily, through the use of alternatively loud and soft dynamics, clearly defined bass riffs, and a protruding ambient sound that wavers between dark and grandoise. Their influences are include  The Cure, Joy Division, The Jesus & Mary Chain, Pixies, My Bloody Valentine, as well as post-rock Slint--even though the band detests the post-rock classification that is given to them.

And, yes, Mogwai is named for the Gremlin, which is spectacular--just don't feel them after midnight, get them wet, or expose them to direct sunlight

Hammock: (Tonight) We Burn Like Stars That Never Die

Hammock is a post-rock/ambient project involving Marc Byrd and Andrew Thompson who, unlike their post-rock cousins, utilize a sound that is more dream-like that leaves your ears happy. Their sound is densely-textured, and is driven by shimmering guitar-licks, due to the use of delay. Byrd describes it as "There are times when the need to create a thing begins to interrupt your life. And if you don't give in to it, everything else starts to suffer." I'm rather glad that he gave in.

This Will Destroy You: A Three Legged Workhorse

This Will Destroy You was formed in San Marcos, Texas. They started out performing vocal tracks, but decided quickly that their niche was instrumental. The band name is a rejected title from an early recorded track, which they found to be pretentious, then hilarious and furthermore the name they desired. It was just abominable enough for a rock band, creating the proper amount of hatred from mothers and grandparents, alike. "Hey Mom, can I get "This Will Destroy You"'s new album?" "OF COURSE YOU CANNOT!!" It grabs your attention, makes you listen to the music, and then you're trapped in the black hole of awesome that is This Will Destroy you, caught in the gravity created from a serious blend of mellow and rock. 

Low: Lullaby

Low is a Duluth, Minnesota based slowcore band involving slow tempos and minimalist arrangements. Also, of note, the band hates this label, so...I'm going to call them a minimalistic-dreamrock group because I can.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor: The Sad Mafioso...

Godspeed You! Black Emperor is quite different than anything I've posted thus far. They're in a league of their own. Eclectic, soul-stirring renditions of astounding power, GY!BE indeed alters the state of consciousness, playing with heart-strings and opening parts of your brain (some that ought stay closed!) GY!BE should be taken in small doses, as a person's spirit can only take so much moving!

Explosions in the Sky: Postcard from 1952

One of my earliest memories was fireworks. Magical doesn't begin to describe what the memory is. Much like this song. Explosions in the Sky is always a good choice for mellow music, light with a hint of the world. Explosions in the Sky is an instrumental post-rock band from Austin, Texas; who, much like my memory of fireworks, are known for their live performances.