I've been listening to "Explosions in the Sky" this afternoon. Like two other bands I listen to: "Sigur Ros" and "Godspeed you! Black Emperor", there's not a good succinct way to describe the bad. They're a rock instrumental band, and their songs are typically over 7 minutes long, but they're not a progressive rock band. They're noisy, they're jangly, they're melodic and dynamic...
When I listen I do hear the Texas countryside, big skies, predawn hours, helpless longing, and uncrushable hope. I hear driving in your car towards a complete and unavoidable but unknowable fate, driving 6 hours to meet a girl you've only ever talked to online, and know almost nothing about, headed towards what will either be the greatest story of your life or the most crushing defeat you've faced so far in your life. You don't know which it will be, but you do know you're only one hour out and there's no turning back now, so you speed up, pushing further and faster into the darkness, hopelessly optimistic and filled with dread.
That's listening to "Explosions in the Sky".
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