Boxodreams wrote on April 9, 2010

The hardcore Explosions fans have clearly spoken here and they find this disc wanting. This is the first time I’ve heard this band, so there is no prior point of reference to earlier albums, and this epic, echoey instrumental guitar rock (you can say ‘pretentious’ if you like, but I’m saying ‘epic, echoey’) has a hollow heart. It floats up into the dust haze of the basement party room on a cloud of sweet sensy smoke, occasionally rousing itself mightily . . . because the needle on the record is stuck . . . and then lowers you back down into the space puffs, the pockets in time for the fantastic soft couch zone out where through your head drifts past thoughts of ex girlfriends, missed relatives, where you parked the car, your cell phone, work, that . . . huh? oh, yeah, the album is still on. Sorry, I spaced. . .
Rating: 3 / 5

Parkansky wrote on April 9, 2010

First off, let me say that from mid 2003 to late 2005, I was a huge Explosions fan. I absolutly loved “Those Who Tell The Truth,” and was even more blown away with “The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place. ” When How Weird, Innocence was reissued, I loved it immiediatly. I used to listen to these guys nonstop.

Then after a while, I kinda stopped listening to them. I guess I kinda overlistened to it, but I pretty much stopped. I was also going through some different musical phases at the time too. But, I gave the albums a listen just recently, and fell in like with it all over again.

So, why am I dissapointed with the new album? Well the main reason is that it took them 4 years to come up with a followup to The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place, and I don’t hear any progress or evolution in their sound at all. If you told me that these were outtakes from the last album, I would instantly believe you.

4 years is a long time. There are some bands that have evolved with their sound during a hiatus like that. Nine Inch Nails went through a change with The Fragile, and Tool evolved their sound to the max with Laterlus. But Explosions In The Sky are still clinging to what they know. I guess that’s excellent for them, but the formula is getting really predictable now.

Plus, the songs are just not as fascinating as their earlier work. It all just seems to blend together with no real staying power. I must admit I did like Welcome, Ghosts a bit, and I feel that that is the most powerful song on the album. But, I couldn’t really point at any sections and go “God, that’s awesome” like I did with earlier works.

So, in closing, some Explosions fans will delight in this. Some won’t. End of tale.
Rating: 2 / 5

Hammer-Y wrote on April 9, 2010

Experimental Rock is so varied and even more experimental now than when this kind of Post-Shoegazing type of music started to slide to the mainstream and be accepted. This kind of melodic instrumentations are far too simple to copy and rip off and re-produce on the computer that most people can’t tell the difference from one to another until someone sings on one of the songs.
Sorry, but the Amazon reviwer gushes over EITS a small too much. I reckon EITS doesn’t stretch far out enough, doesn’t experiment far enough, doesn’t try hard enough and sort of play the current-trendy theme tracks that get soon forgotten when the fad’s gone. These tunes are far too light and simple, too catchy and obvious that yeah, sure they sound OK in the background but do you really remember the tunes afterwards? Not really – play M83 immediately afterwards or previously and I can guarantee you M83’s tunes will remain in your head for much longer.
Would EITS be as known or exposed as they are now if they hadn’t done “Friday Night Lights”??? I doubt it.

Yeah I can know why you miss everyone all of a sudden – they left you because you’re still doing the same thing you were doing 7 years ago, man. You need to go onto and really experiment, try something new, instead of playing this safe music. You’ve got the tools, so use them.
Rating: 3 / 5

Mogwai8myball wrote on April 9, 2010

It’s ok, but where are the sweeping melodies? There’s no “Your Hand in Mine” or “The Only Moment We were Alone” on this album. Not terrible, but not a must-buy either. Frankly, i’ve been listening to more of Yndi Halda’s new album.
Rating: 3 / 5

IRate wrote on April 9, 2010

3 1/2

Explosions, one of the most gorgeous young rock bands of our time, have faltered a bit on their latest attempt at upwards mobility, making their newest disc’s quality heavily dependent on a fan’s prior relationship to this group. On the one hand, initiates and casuals will likely marvel at the 43 minute array of instrumental emoting, undoubtedly the Austin foursome’s most synthesized testament of their crafted sound to date. On the other hand, fans who have admired them since their incredible debut with “Those who tell. . “, and swooned at the more mature “The Earth. . . ” will likely find their ears apathetic to the once brilliant melodic sense these twin guitarists brought. Reluctantly I have to admit the majority of this album felt completely derivative of their previous release, with a few sprinkles of amateur piano and electronic flourishes thrown in to mask the lack of growth. Maybe I’m just ancient fashioned when it comes to art and cannot always relate to a “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” sentiment when sensing the moldy creative process behind a group previously proven masterful. This is not blaming new songs for sounding like previous material strictly for sake of it, this is blaming songs that don’t touch the authenticity, scope, and raw power of previous material because you remember how distinctly on-point their instrumentation rang right in the past.

The first few tracks as usual demonstrate the band’s gorgeous melodic sense, but what stands out most is the lack of glue to hold any of the derivative writing into any powerful whole. Compared to their first two albums, heck even some of their earlier compositions, “All of a Sudden. . ” feels emotionally empty, but with all the bells and whistles, toppings and condiments one could want. This is no more apparent then in their “epic” 3rd track, a lengthy time waster that should sound gorgeous to virgin ears but play like every poor cliche the band’s alarming lack of range is starting to show. Rounding out the album a bit more tightly, the music’s obvious self-inflation due to a rapid spike in demand throughout the past few years humbles out a bit, delivering the last few standardized exercises in beauty.

Rating: 3 / 5