CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

.

Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven

by: Godspeed You Black Emperor

Release Date December 01, 2003
This music is generally catorised as "post rock"; in fact it has nothing to do with rock. From a theory perspective this is music which explores the concept of "less is more" - it's a kind of minimalism that is exploring similar ground to many modern classical composers who have pared music down to a few key components and frequently dispense with rhythm, melody and other conventions of music. There is a strand in modern classical music referred to as "sacred minimalism" which seeks to make this approach listenable and take it beyond the fringe of pure creativity. I think that this is where GYBE is probing.

For me - and having auditioned this music on numerous occasions - this production fails on all counts; there is simply so ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

.

F# A# Oo

by: Godspeed You Black Emperor

Release Date June 15, 1998
You scarcely notice that the album has started: there's just a growing drone, then a male voice begins to speak: "The car's on fire - and there's no driver at the wheel." Gradually, sentence by sentence, he describes the collapse of urban civilisation. You look at your watch and realise that the standard length of a pop single has already passed and this is still just beginning ...
It's not party music, then; in fact, it's light years away from what's generally accepted as popular music at all. The three tracks clock in at 20 minutes or so each. Each is not a "song" as popular music has understood it, but a suite of several different sections. The instrumentation is surprisingly traditional, guitars and strings (even bagpipes) but deployed to form a ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

.

Yanqui Uxo

by: Godspeed You Black Emperor

Release Date November 04, 2002
There's no doubt these guys can make moving music that has real depth and feeling that will take months if not years to explore properly.... just beware. I want to add another perspective to the reviews your reading

I stumbled across these guys through Listmania recommendations and probably, like you reading this now, thought this may just be your nirvana. In some ways it may well be, but expectation can disappoint.

Post-rock sure is a broad cloak worn by many, so what you must know is that, in my opinion, one thing this is not is heavy. Many reviews talk about the quiet then loud approach, the light then dark, the distorted guitars, the apocolyptic climaxes etc etc. In fact these guys seem over and over to be referred to as the gods in this field. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

.

Slow Riot for New Zero Kanada

by: Godspeed You Black Emperor!

Release Date April 12, 1999
Ive never written a review about things ive bought, but i had to for this Ep.
If you like this genre of music, then all i can really say is buy this. If you dont know much about them, then I cant describe the music to you, thats something you will have to experience yourself. But i can say this, the last part of the song "Moya" is simply stunning. One of the best CD's and definatly the best Ep ive ever bought (Thats why ive given this 5 stars). In my view, a must have!

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

.

Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven

by: Godspeed You Black Emperor

Release Date October 02, 2000
This music is generally catorised as "post rock"; in fact it has nothing to do with rock. From a theory perspective this is music which explores the concept of "less is more" - it's a kind of minimalism that is exploring similar ground to many modern classical composers who have pared music down to a few key components and frequently dispense with rhythm, melody and other conventions of music. There is a strand in modern classical music referred to as "sacred minimalism" which seeks to make this approach listenable and take it beyond the fringe of pure creativity. I think that this is where GYBE is probing.

For me - and having auditioned this music on numerous occasions - this production fails on all counts; there is simply so little content that the music disappears. Clearly ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

.

Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven [VINYL]

by: Godspeed You Black Emperor

Release Date November 06, 2000
This music is generally catorised as "post rock"; in fact it has nothing to do with rock. From a theory perspective this is music which explores the concept of "less is more" - it's a kind of minimalism that is exploring similar ground to many modern classical composers who have pared music down to a few key components and frequently dispense with rhythm, melody and other conventions of music. There is a strand in modern classical music referred to as "sacred minimalism" which seeks to make this approach listenable and take it beyond the fringe of pure creativity. I think that this is where GYBE is probing.

For me - and having auditioned this music on numerous occasions - this production fails on all counts; there is simply so little content that the music disappears. Clearly music ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

.

F# A# Oo [VINYL]

by: Godspeed You Black Emperor

Release Date June 15, 1998
I don't actually have a record player, yet even that can't stop me from loving this album. The famed train-crushed penny is present in all its mangled glory, as are numerous gorgeous photos and other images, not to mention the hand-written thank you note from one of the guys at Constellation (cheers Sean). This is why the MP3 age sucks; such delights will never be offered to those seeking an easy fix, and this is why you should support you independent labels, even one with such a huge cult following as these Canadian dudes. Call it materialistic if you will but, for me at least, these are just some of the benefits of being a fan of musicians and labels who care more about art than money. My eternal respect and admiration.

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

.

Yanqui Uxo [VINYL]

by: Godspeed You Black Emperor

Release Date December 02, 2002
There's no doubt these guys can make moving music that has real depth and feeling that will take months if not years to explore properly.... just beware. I want to add another perspective to the reviews your reading

I stumbled across these guys through Listmania recommendations and probably, like you reading this now, thought this may just be your nirvana. In some ways it may well be, but expectation can disappoint.

Post-rock sure is a broad cloak worn by many, so what you must know is that, in my opinion, one thing this is not is heavy. Many reviews talk about the quiet then loud approach, the light then dark, the distorted guitars, the apocolyptic climaxes etc etc. In fact these guys seem over and over to be referred to as the gods in this field. I don't buy this.

Here ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

.

Slow Riot for New Zero Kanada [VINYL]

by: Godspeed You Black Emperor

Release Date April 12, 1999
Ive never written a review about things ive bought, but i had to for this Ep.
If you like this genre of music, then all i can really say is buy this. If you dont know much about them, then I cant describe the music to you, thats something you will have to experience yourself. But i can say this, the last part of the song "Moya" is simply stunning. One of the best CD's and definatly the best Ep ive ever bought (Thats why ive given this 5 stars). In my view, a must have!

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

.

Slow Riot for New Zero Kanada

by: Godspeed! You Black Emperor

Release Date
You know already that Godspeed! are a truly unique act; this CD encompasses the best and worst of the band.
The best is the opening track 'Moya' which is hard to describe without resorting to hyperbole. Suffice to say that it is the ultimate marriage of rock and classical/orchestral sounds, a beautifully constructed piece which builds on a theme to a spine-tingling crescendo. Anyone, regardless of their musical inclination, who regards themseleves as a serious music fan must own this masterpiece.

Unfortunately, track 2 'BBF3' does not hit these heights. The music is beautiful and restrained but I defy anyone not to become weary of the ranting street 'poet' featured on the track after repeated listens. In saying that, the music cleverly increases in volume to smother the words of Blaise Bailey Finnegan when ... Read More: