Monday, April 4, 2011

Explosions in the Sky - Take Care, Take Care, Take Care (2011)

On April 26, 2011, West Texans Explosions in the Sky will release sixth studio full-length entitled Take Care, Take Care, Take Care. This will also mark the longest break the band has had (four years to be exact) since the release of All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone in 2007. According to the post-rockers official site, the music on Take Care, Take Care, Take Care "feels different than anything else we've done before and we're very excited for you to hear it". The music may be different but the band chose to work with John Congleton again, who co-produced All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone. I was able to get my hands on the album early and I wanted to share my thoughts and opinions with those that may be reading.

Opener 'Last Known Surroundings' starts off with an eerie sounding sample, followed by what has to be one of my favorite tracks by Explosions in the Sky. Distorted riffs overload the track, as well as folk sounding guitar resembling Fleet Foxes layered in between. The track builds up into an epic crescendo and the guitars are layered so well that they can almost be made out as horns. 'Human Qualities' also starts out with a glitch-like sample and this is something entirely new for the post-rock quartet. This track then takes the quiet to loud approach that the post-rock genre is famous for. 'Trembling Hands' is Explosions in the Sky's most different track-to-date and also the shortest, clocking in at 3 minutes and 31 seconds. This track starts off with chanting vocals and very fast musicianship that makes the listener feel as if he or she is on a mission to somewhere or something. 'Be Comfortable, Creature' begins with a melancholic, yet hopeful, guitar piece which leads into crushing bass and drums that help level the track out. 'Postcard from 1952' begins with a very subtle intro for about the first 3 minutes, which leads into a very melodic middle section, followed by epic distorted beauty at the 5 minute mark. Closer 'Let Me Back In' is the longest track on the album, clocking in at 10 minutes and 11 seconds. This track starts off with a very groove-oriented beat, recalling that of The Roots Of Orchis. Haunting guitar pieces underline the beat for the first 2 minutes, followed by intense, distorted riffs that continue until the 6 minute mark. The track leads out with the same hip-hop sounding beat and very smooth jazz guitar.

After hearing 2007's All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone, I was worried that Explosions in the Sky had gone stale. All of their music began to mesh and it was hard to find any new innovation in their pieces. Four years later, the band are back on top and are releasing something that is very different than their previous material. I am very pleased with what I hear on Take Care, Take Care, Take Care and I hope you will be pleased as well.

Check out the tracks 'Last Known Surroundings' and 'Human Qualities' off of Take Care, Take Care, Take Care:

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