Mogwai - Mr. Beast
Rating
RIYL
God is An AstronautMono
Do Make Say Think
65daysofstatic
Explosions In the Sky
Tracklist
1. Auto Rock2. Glasgow Mega-Snake
3. Acid Food
4. Travel is Dangerous
5. Team Handed
6. Friend of the Night
7. Emergency Trap
8. Folk Death 95
9. I Chose Horses
10. We're No Here
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Mogwai have been around for a long time. Since the mid-90’s in fact. However, ever since 1997, every release of theirs has been under careful scrutiny and criticism. 1997 marked the release of Young Team, one of the most influential and popular post-rock albums to be released so far. The album is a carefully constructed masterpiece of screeching guitars, bombastic drums, while still leaving room for some quiet, lilting melodies and more “heartfelt” pieces. Flash forward to 2006 and the release of Mr. Beast, their first proper album since 2003’s Happy Songs for Happy People, and 2005’s collection of live BBC performances, Government Commissions. The wait for Mr. Beast has been a nail biting, nerve wracking wait as everyone has been extremely eager to see if this album would be a “return to form” (Young Team) or a continuation of their softer sound (Happy Songs for Happy People). The wait is over and… what we have is a little mix of both.
Opening with “Auto Rock”, we quickly see that Mr. Beast is going to be a varied album. A quiet piano plays as electronic blips slowly begin to swirl around. Everything begins to crescendo as a fuzz swoops back and forth and a bass drum slowly begins to grow. Everything quickly climaxes into a roaring beast, howling in the woods to let the other creatures know it has returned to feast (and it’s looking right at Explosions In the Sky) and regain its place on top of the throne. As soon as the beast halts its warning call, it quickly rises again, rushing through the lush foliage as “Glasgow Mega-Snake” begins to play. Crashing cymbals, hi-octane (oooh buzz word!) bass and furious guitars all weave together to create a loud, angry symphony for the blood feast that awaits. This is a song to play on your headphones with the volume up high (but not too high or you might lose your hearing) to truly appreciate the grandiose nature of Mogwai.
As the beast tears through its first victim, it sits in an open patch of grass and looks up at the fool moon. “Acid Food” is a much slower, relaxed song than what is typical of Mogwai. Twangy guitars, a shuffling drum beat (from a drum machine, surprise!) and a cooing keyboard wrap around you as Barry Burns and Stuart Braithwaite quietly slip a roofie in your drink and whisper sweet nothings in your ear. A nice twist is towards the end of the song, they pull out a slide guitar right out of their pockets and slide their way straight into your pants. Oh! The beast, it rises again (perhaps it sees Do Make Say Think off in the trees) and “Travel Is Dangerous” begins. Quiet at first, the beast inches towards the figure in the trees. Closer it gets, as the guitars grow more earnest and the drums begin to smash and destroy. The beast lets out a howl as it lunges onto its unsuspecting prey and tears it apart limb to limb (this is to symbolize the smashing drums, screeching guitars and creepy singing). The beast is not satisfied, however, so it continues on through the forest. “Team Handed” begins, a morose, depressing, and gorgeous song. A sorrowful piano plays and the drums march along slowly, barely lifting their feet off the ground. The guitar tries to sing a little song to get everyone’s spirits up, but it’s to no avail.
The beast is alone. It sees nor smells nothing, but it can still sense that something is near. Ah! A surprise attack from above (that blasted Mono!), as “Folk Death 95” begins. Noisy guitars lay over a driving drum line, but quickly the guitars take over and release a sonic boom of awesome. The beast struggles against its unknown enemy, and quickly manages to get the wicked creature off its back and stabs it with its six-inch claws. The beast is victorious. It quietly slinks back into its cave to sleep, but it will be back and it will be hungrier than ever.
--Eirikur Hallsson
Comments
St. Louis, MO
That being said, it did make me want to listen to the album.
~Tom
The Silent Ballet: The very best in instrumental and post-rock reviews and coverage.
Boston, MA
Stereo Typing
Tweet at me, bro
NY/PA
Haha!
Sheffield
brightblack morning light
My website
Boston, MA
Isn't Come On Die Young clearly their worst album?
Stereo Typing
Tweet at me, bro
Anytown USA
Self-deprecating will get you nowhere.
You play to win the game.
nj
Nope not even close. I'd go with Happy songs for happy people as the worst.
Tuscaloosa, AL
brightblack morning light
Lol, you're funny. Do you do stand-up for a living?
My website
Anytown USA
I hate when people say this, it's so misguided. Don't jade would be fans by spreading this propaganda.
You play to win the game.
amish country, USA
nj
Sheffield