Top Post Rock Bands

So here we have my top post rock bands. Can we just re-emphasize the whole ‘MY” part of the previous sentence, I know we all have our own preferences and such but this a list based on the following:

How many times played / Days Known Band.

Roughly anyway. Actually I just picked them in order of how much I enjoy them, but I enjoy them all equally. Not really.

Anyway…

1. This will destroy you
Homepage:  This Will Destroy You

Favorite track:  Quiet

This Texas band haven’t been on my playlist for that long but by golly (what did I just say? golly? Shit.) they will remain on it for a long time to come. Almost every track on both albums I have (This Will Destroy You & Young Mountain) is a masterpiece to my little Irish ears. Closely followed by ‘Quiet’ as my favorite track there’s ‘A Three-Legged Workhorse’  & ‘Threads’. If you haven’t heard of them before or you have but haven’t heard their music, I advise it muchos. (grassyass).

2. Mogwai
Homepage: Mogwai

Favorite track: New Paths To Helicon Part 1

Mogwai were going to be number one on my list, but their latest stuff has disappointed me beyond despair. So they get a penalty of ONE postion droppage. That’s gotta hurt?

I’ve probably listened to Mogwai the most out of all these bands to be honest and I can’t fault their old material. Mogwai Fear Satan, Tracy, Helicon, Ratts of the capital, Cody, Christmas Steps, Kids will be Skeletons….and so forth, all amazing. I can listen to Mogwai in whatever mood I’m in.

I’ve also seen Mogwai 6 times now or so live…no I’m not sad. What? No you are. Exit now. Fine, read on.

3. Explosions in the sky
Homepage:  Explosions in the sky

Favorite track: Your hand in mine

Ahhh Explosions in the Sky, how their guitars play off each other. I tend to listen to EITS when I’m working on something or feeling a bit…’eehh meeeeehh….ppfftt……..wtf?………….’. In fact, I’ll pretty much listen to them whenever I’m in the mood for niceness.

I guess one negative thing (EITS extremist fans go nuts..NOW) about them is that you could listen to their whole collection and pretty much not know when a song ended or started, some people would say this, some would argue that they are the most formidable quiz team in the UK, oh wait, that’s Eggheads (Everyone outside UK go “Huh?”), sorry….anyway. It’s not a negative as long as you enjoy their music.

They’re number 3 anyway, score!

4. 65 days of static
Homepage:  65 Days of static

Favorite track: Install A Break In The Heart (that clicks time in arabic)

65 days of aboslute manic madness they should be called. These guys are bloody brilliant and I aspire one day to sit next to their drummer and go “That’s rubbish, listen to this”. In other words, he’s amazing. Saw them live at Latitude this year and I have a little story to tell:

You see, at the ripe old age of 26 I’d assumed that seeing 65dos would be entertaining, peaceful and beautiful. Instead, I was surrounded by 16 year olds in the centre of a mosh pit. To my now, disgrace, I pushed one of them and said “THIS AINT F’CKING MARILYN MANSON’, the kid stopped moshing. Said sorry. I walked to the back in shame and watched from afar.

They’re a good band.

5. Sigur ros
Homepage: Sigur Ros

Favorite track Untitled #1 (’Vaka’)

“You soooooooooooooooooo” is all he seems to ever say on most of their albums but you got to love these guys. A lot of people get put off by his ‘unique’ voice but I say “Ignore it! Listen to the music”.  Their ( ) album is my favourite.  I’ll only now listen to their old stuff as the BBC has managed to play every one of their new songs over every single one of their BBC shows.

“One man…one gun…a lot of enemies with more guns”

“dum dum dum dum deee daa doo dooo dooo” (hoppipola)

You know the track don’t you…Planet Earth?

Anyway..Staralfur was close second for favorite song.

6. Caspian
Homepage:  Caspian

Favorite track: Of Foam and Wave (www.last.fm/music/Caspian/_/Of+Foam+and+Wave)

Caspian are another US post rock band making the genre cool. I think they’re all dapper chaps as well, so perhaps they’ll crack the Hannah Montanna market. I don’t think they’d like me saying that, so I retract.

I don’t know much about these chaps but I bought their album off Play.com for £7.95 not so long ago and it’s been played a lot. I tried looking everywhere for ‘Of Foam And Wave’ on Youtube but zero luck. So I found the above video of a track which I don’t have but I did include the link to the Favorite track on this one as it’s marvelous.

7. Do make say think
Homepage:  Do make say think

Favorite track: A Tender history of rust

Right, let’s get one thing straight.  I don’t like all their material. It gets a bit circus like at times (bit like Efterklang, who I couldn’t give a shite about. Sorry) but lets face it, they write some corkers (that means good songs). I also like saying their name out loud really fast. It’s like “Red lorry yellow lorry red lorry yellow lorry” but not, and you will get it wrong.

Anyway, nice.

8. Godspeed you black emperor
Homepage: Godspeed you black emperor

Favorite track: Moya

Ahhh GYBE, the epic songs, the beautiful strings, guitars…. You were played a lot, I spent my earlier days slightly more than drunk listening to you with some close friends and you still get the occasional play when I’m in the mood. Here’s to a solid position 8. Cheers!

9. God is an astronaut
Homepage: God is an astronaut

Favorite track: All is Violent, All is Bright

Only started listening to these guys in the last few months, I like. Look, they beat Mono at position 10 who I’ve been listening to way longer.

They’re more upbeat than most and have catchier melodies.

10. Mono
Homepage: Mono

Favorite track: The Kidnapper bell

Japanese Mono are very much the definition of Post Rock. On top of that, they never change their style (Take note Mogwai) however this seems to be their only downfall. (Ahhh I see where you are going now Mogwai…..you’re still number 2 though). Kidnapper Bell is a tune.

11. If these trees could talk
Homepage: If these trees could talk

Favorite track: From Roots to Needles

I’m really into their latest album Into The Earth, Below The Sky. It’s got a blend of all the above bands and it’s starting to win me over more and more. Maybe next time I do a list they will be in the top 3. Who knows….

Be warned, they have blends of the above bands but also a bit of Metalica style heavy guitar, as you’ll see 5mins into From Roots to Needles. So if you’re not a fan of that guitar style then they’re maybe not for you, pussy.

12. Mimas
Homepage:  Mimas

Favorite track: Englen

Mimas rock. Played with Mimas with my old band (See Special mentions).  Check them out and make up your own mind. Their electronics guy left  a while back so I think their sound differs a fair bit between the 1st/2nd album. Anyway, they’ll always be a band to mention in any list I do. Look forward to seeing them again!

13. Ef
Homepage: Ef

Favorite track: Hello Scotland

I discovered Ef when I was in my old post rocky band (See Special Mentions again below) on myspace. I got a message from one of them saying

“Hello TSP.

Like your songs. Check ours out.”

To which I thought, meh, another standard myspace band message. For some reason though, maybe it was the tingle on my neck or twitch in my eye I went and had a listen.

My reposnse to them:

“Hey EF!

Jezus, you are fcking good. Really enjoyed your stuff. How long have you been together? Are you coming over to the UK to play soon??”

Now I look back and think that was a bit over eager and excited. I was myself, also in a band. So the whole cool etiquette went straight down the toilet.

‘Hello Scotland’ is one of my all time favorites.

14. and so i watch you from afar
Homepage: And So I watch You From Afar

Favorite track: A little solidarity goes a long way

These guys are mental. Saw them live a couple of months ago in Norwich and they were fecking good. I’m still relatively new to them, but they’re getting there. Let’s give them a it more time on the playlist!

15. maybeshewill
Homepage: Maybeshewill

Favorite track:  He Films the Clouds Pt.2

Ok, love these guys on CD. Live, pretty let down. It was like watching a cardboard band with a boombox behind them. No offense to them (offense probably taken) but their music gets quite dramatic and dynamic at times yet I didn’t see a single movement. Plus their sound wasn’t the best, maybe it was that. Maybe the sound engineer will be more on her toes next time. May be she will…. haha. It was a male sound engineer anyway.

He films the clouds pt/2 is a very good track. I hope to hear more like it, if not better.

Special Mention:
-The Shadow Project
Homepage: http://www.theshadowproject.com
Listen here: http://www.myspace.com/theshadowproject

This is my old post rocky band. Give it a listen, see what you think. We’ve split up now, but you can still buy the CD in most places.

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Feel free to add your favorite bands, I look forward to hearing them. Well I hope I do.

Voila.