Explosions In The Sky: Take Care, Take Care, Take Care

Explosions In The Sky
Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
Rating: Grrrr

It is virtual impossible to mention Austin, Texas quartet Explosions In The Sky without mentioning Mogwai. Both bands are in complete control of their quiet-loud-slow-fast dynamics, which make them both live show powerhouses. Since Young Team, however, Mogwai has broadened and expanded their sound, making it more pop accessible; shortening song lengths, adding some vocals, and sticking to more formal song structures. Explosions In The Sky have basically stuck with their same template over the years, honing and focusing their sound rather that trying to expand it. Unlike their second album, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever, later releases have been less balls to the wall. On that classic album, the songs veered from outright gorgeous to almost painful to listen to in their intensity. Here, Take Care, Take Care, Take Care, is almost hushed, each track slowly building to a catharsis, heightening the emotion and tension through carefully timed ebbs and flows and false endings.

Pounding drums and swirling, interconnected guitars highlight opener "Last Known Surroundings," dropping off in the mid-section for a delicate bridge to the end of the song, where the guitars climb to amazing heights:

Last Known Surroundings by user6475848

"Trembling Hands," the most driving track on the album, flies under furious drum rolls and hummed melody, the guitars and bass pushing and tugging against the beat, everything coming together for a brilliant climax:

Trembling Hands by user6475848

"Be Comfortable, Creature," is gorgeousness personified; lovely washes of guitar bump up against atmospheric electronics. Midpoint in the song, rolling drum fills are set against treated guitars, the song moving up level by level, never losing control.

Be Comfortable, Creature by Constant Artists

"Postcard From 1952," has a slow build that can be a little too slow, however, the payoff, an almost 4 minute guitar raveup, is definitely worth the wait.

Postcard From 1952 by Constant Artists

The album ends on a definite highpoint with "Let Me Back In," the guitars building and building, shredding into amazing arpeggios, taking the listener on an very emotional journey. You can feel the pleading and desperation in the song. It will bring you to tears.



The only real misstep is the 8 minute "Human Qualities," which takes almost 7 minutes to get to the good part of the song, and then is abruptly over.



Take Care, Take Care, Take Care is a good entry point into Explosions In The Sky's catalog, however, unlike most of their other releases, it is not immediately intoxicating. The songs, most of which hover around the 8 minutes mark, take their time mostly, not in any hurry to get to the final destination. While I have no issue with the pacing, it might prove to be a little taxing to the first time listener. Give the album a chance to work its magic on you. You will soon fall under its spell.

Rating Guide

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top releases of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and peaks one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.