If i had my way, there wouldnt be much to say about this album, or indeed much of tempory residence's (or constallation,krankys) output.This is emotive music, music which affects the listener so profoundly and personally that it should be put on a par above that of other experimental releases. Explosions in the sky dont set out to be clever or "post-rock". post rock is another term used to describe "post genre" in which a myriad of influences converge and ultimately create these grand and beautiful soundscapes,this cannot be contived. Im sure that the disspassionate pseudo critics in this world are looking for more in this trancendance and if thats the case, and thus the reason they listen to music, the void will never be satisfied. i havent spoke much about why this is so special because i cant, To me its like being analytical about what makes a beautiful woman beautiful.and in that i think i just have.

This is nice and it's in the same sort of Mogwai, Mono, Moneen, etc,etc, vein.

This is basically following the same pattern of all the bands mentioned above as having a slow peacefull introduction (usually involving some churning, building or repitition), followed by a great bombast of sound, and then a return to the peacefull part again. Nice, but a little formularic. Why not just play loud the entire time?

this album is amazing. i heard one of their songs on the radio and decided to buy this album. when the album finally arrived i put it in my car stereo. it stayed there for four months. with these six tracks explosion runs through their music pulling you inside for the ride. the emotion that the listener runs through and the same album will make you feel either more into the abyss of depression, or to the light of sunshine depending on the mood you set for yourself. i could go on saying how great this album is but that would be pointless, just buy this album and you will understand my review.

Explosions in the Sky is my favorite instrumental rock band next to Kent, Ohio's Six Parts Seven. They create brilliant cascading soundscapes full of hope, wonder, peace, and love. I will keep this short because everyone who has posted reviews has said everything that I believe to be true about the band. Bottom line: SEE THEM LIVE! they put on the most amazing live show and they are the best showmen of any instrumental band that i've ever come across. They are also super nice guys (I met them after the show). Check them out please! They give me hope for music, they seriously do.

I recently rediscovered and became hooked on this band's second album, and realized it's been too long since I've really listened to the first one and had it truly sink in, and that I shouldn't forget about it. Their first one is just as good if not better. Actually, it's impossible for me to decide which one is better.

This is a raw, organic post rock treasure that comes once in a lifetime. If you are familiar with Godspeed You Black Emperor, this album has much of the same song structures, moving through soft to loud // upbeat to calm parts, with amazing melodies every second, progressing and changing throughout the entire duration. The difference is this band has shorter songs overall, they are more "normal" length (around 7 minutes) instead of 20-30 minutes long, and they don't stick on the same melody for too long. (Don't get me wrong, I love Godspeed and their 25 min songs, just stating the differences.) Actually they never really keep playing the same melody, there is ultra-variation. Of course there are multiple climaxes and suspenseful crescendos throughout every song.

The calm parts of this album are so nostalgic and relaxing, and could really be interpreted as either sad/melancholic or joyful/relieving. It's perfect to listen to cuddling with your lover by the fire drinking hot tea. In each song, there is a very sudden explosion (in the sky) from super-calm to super fast and loud, some are so powerful they will make you tremble. Especially the one in the second track about two minutes in, it is almost startling and could catch you off guard. It climaxes and calms down as fast as it came, and goes right back into the calm melody before it, then starts slowly progressing towards a new light. The percussion on this CD is amazing adds so much to the music especially in this area of the song.

If you need a real reason to buy this album, listening to the song "The Moon is Down" once should do it. This album is worth buying if you only listen to this song. I can only say that it has all the best elements of the CD wrapped into one song, with some of the most brilliant melodies I've ever heard. Sometimes instrumental music can say so much more then music with vocals. The first part of "Have You Passed Through This Night?" actually does have some vocals, just more like a spoken sample part like in Godspeed songs, still with great melody underneath. It is barely distracting, does not ruin the album and is very short. Then comes some awesome drumming that starts building the layers of the song, a climax that comes and goes, then the EXPLOSION of the song, which ends up being VERY powerful and ends very suddenly just like how it arrived. The last song, "With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept" is the longest song, probably my second favorite and contains some of the best softer melodies and buildups. My only little problem is I think it would have been a better finale with a really powerful fast part to finish up, but it calmly fades out instead.

I'm sorry for so many Godspeed comparisons, if you haven't heard them either you must check them out along with EITS. I think EITS is generally a better introduction to post-rock because GYBE songs can be really "out-there" and harder to appreciate, but personally GYBE got me into post-rock. If you like Godspeed or Mogwoi or Silver Mount Zion you're sure to love this album. Currently I listen to this band more than them. You would be a fool to not at least give it a try. This band has already produced two amazing albums and I feel they have incredible potential.