Welcome, Ghosts – Explosions in the Sky
Coming in at #3 on the list of the best atmospheric post-rock albums of 2007 (behind 65daysofstatic and Pelican), but still well-worth a listen, is All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone, the new record from Texas band Explosions in the Sky.
The whole record is a jigsaw puzzle, and it can really only be understood as a complete work. Each piece sitting alone reveals very little, but when when given a broader context, a complete picture emerges.
Loud/soft dynamics, layers of tension, swirling guitars, machine-gun-like percussion and the obligatory 13-minute epic, it’s all here. I suppose the worst thing I can say about it is that it does nothing to surprise. I keep waiting for that “ahhhh” moment, and it never quite arrives. The closest is probably the gentle release about halfway through “It’s Natural To Be Afraid,” far more powerful in my mind than overdrawn finale.
Still, for a record that hints at a full sonic and reflective arc, the lack of defining moments is troubling. To return to the puzzle analogy, it’s as if the last 5 or 10 pieces are missing – you can make out the whole picture and fill in the gaps for yourself if you want, but it remains vaguely unfulfilling nonetheless.