If you tune into WUOG you might hear the latest from Texas post-rockers This Will Destroy You and California dance-poppers Lemonade. Both albums have blue covers, so this article is visually pleasing.
This Will Destroy You – Another Language
Many have heard of Texas post-rock band Explosions in the Sky. Their atmospheric sound has made it into the hit TV show (and movie) “Friday Night Lights”, bringing music lovers’ attention to the Texas Post-Rock scene. Although Explosions in the Sky is usually the headliner when talking about this style of music, San Marcos, TX quartet This Will Destroy You is revolutionizing the scene. The biggest difference is that most post-rock bands such as Explosions in the Sky will follow the same formula for each song: Intro, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action. This Will Destroy You was also guilty of following this set formula, but they seem to have break away from it in their latest record Another Language.
TWDY have been active since 2004 and they have come a long way in developing their sound. This record seems to realize the emotional effect certain sounds can evoke in a person’s mind. The band strays from using strictly guitar with delay pedals and pounding drums, focusing more on layering sounds and recognizing their effect on the listener. In tracks such as “Mother Opiate” the drums only use brushes to capture the hazy nature of opiates, while the spacey minor key offers a tone of depression and loss to the whole mix. The album ends with “God’s Teeth”, a track that I listened to constantly over and over again. The guitar swells drone in the back while a piano offers a progression that is calming. While that fades away, there are more sounds that come in offering the listener a pushing and pulling feeling, much like the internal struggle of someone struggling with faith, or someone on their deathbed. The song fades to black at the end, offering an eerie solace. This album is the perfect example of how music itself can speak so much to the soul. I highly recommend This Will Destroy You’s Another Language.
-Shubham Kadam
Lemonade – Minus Tide
This album by Lemonade provides the perfect synthesis between heavy electric beats and muted dance music. The vocals are harmonic and follow nicely with the instrumentals, creating a smooth synth pop experience for the listener. Sampling sexy saxophone for their ballads and heavy drums for the dance numbers Minus Tide is an extremely versatile album. The lyrics are the true gem. while dance music focuses on the beat and lyrics can fall by the wayside, that is not the case with Lemonade’s Minus Tide, as they combine inspirational lyrics with their tunes. The 80’s inspired vocals mesh well with the modern electronic beats, especially with softer songs such as “Durutti Shores,” providing pleasing hazy sounds, while “Water Colored visions” shows the lyrical capability of the band and the more dance music inspired “OST” allows for a high energy ending.
–Isabella Ballew