Topic: Let's Talk About Our Mogwai Boners (Read 29189 times)

jeph · « **on:** 17 Jan 2008, 17:24 »

It's better than their earlier stuff, but still reeks of Mogwai/EitS.

Discuss?

öde · « **Reply #1 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 17:27 »

Filed under Nice Post-Rock. I'll give it another listen but I guess it's pretty forgettable seeing as I've listened to it a few times and can't think of anything more than 'nice' to say about it.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #2 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 17:36 »

I think it's miles ahead of their EP and is the best post-rock album since Mono's You Are There.

I don't think it sounds like Mogwai/EitS much, as it is far more ambient and not focused on building crescendos.

jeph · « **Reply #3 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 17:43 »

I guess we're hearing different things, then, because to me it sounds like you took the production values and orchestration of Rock Action and mixed it with the melodic sense of The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #4 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 17:51 »

Well, that is EitS's quietest album, so I can sort of see it. To me TWDY is more interesting, composition-wise, though. All of Earth is Not... just kind of blends together in my mind into an inoffensive but unambitious soup. I'm guessing what you mean by "Rock Action's production" is the level of glitchy-sounding things and the way the drums are handled, which is a valid observation I suppose but I don't think Mogwai pioneered that sound; for that I think you'd have to look all the way back to mid-era Tortoise and early Jessamine.

Maybe that's what I like so much about the album, that it reminds me more of those late-90s albums than it does the current standard post-rock sound. I also enjoy the segments which are somewhat reminiscent of Stars of the Lid.

jeph · « **Reply #5 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 17:57 »

Oh absolutely, arrangement-wise it's far more varied than anything EitS has done thus far. That is in fact what reminds me most of Rock Action, which is incidentally Mogwai's most underrated album to my ears. But the actual notes being played, the melody and repetition, the builds, and ESPECIALLY the drumming, remind me of nothing so much as later-period EitS.

It's not a bad album, I'd be comfortable saying it's a very good album. It just hits the influence-button in my head pretty often, correct as that button may or may not be.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #6 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 18:06 »

I think Come On Die Young is technically the most underrated Mogwai album since many people go so far as to say it's actively bad, which just confuses me. "cody" and "Ex-Cowboy" are worth the price of the disc alone.

jeph · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 18:08 »

I have a hard time thinking of ANY Mogwai album as "actively bad." Sure, some are better than others, but not a one fails to deliver for me on some level.

I still maintain that "Take Me Someplace Nice" is Mogwai's best song, but other people don't realize this because it isn't all hella distorted and rock-y.

imapiratearg · « **Reply #8 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 18:14 »

I guess I must be the only one that prefers Young Mountain over their self-titled? Maybe I just haven't given it a thorough listening.

Composition-wise, I think the stuff Explosions in the Sky does is brilliant. Even if it is two or three repeating melodies intertwined with each other.

jeph · « **Reply #9 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 18:15 »

EiTS's biggest problem isn't their compositions, it's their instrumentation. When every guitar has the same tone and the drums are all recorded in the same way, the songs start to sound the same.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #10 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 18:20 »

The only problem I have with "Take Me Somewhere Nice" is that it is basically the same song as "cody", so it didn't really impact me much when I first heard it.

imapiratearg · « **Reply #11 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 18:22 »

Quote from: jeph on 17 Jan 2008, 18:15

EiTS's biggest problem isn't their compositions, it's their instrumentation. When every guitar has the same tone and the drums are all recorded in the same way, the songs start to sound the same.

I guess so. I don't really pay attention to the subtleties in tone and such. This is more than likely due to the fact that my ear is not trained enough to hear them. Then again, I'm paying more attention to the melodies and harmonies than what sorts of tones are being used, because that's generally how I enjoy music. I mean, it'd be a lot of fun to pick out the different kinds of tones or shapes the songs I listen to contain, but I'd still devote a good part of my attention to listen to the notes and stuff.

jeph · « **Reply #12 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 18:25 »

Quote from: zerodrone on 17 Jan 2008, 18:20

The only problem I have with "Take Me Somewhere Nice" is that it is basically the same song as "cody", so it didn't really impact me much when I first heard it.

See, for me it is all of the quiet, sad Mogwai songs rolled into one and turned up to eleven. It's like distilled cocaine whereas Cody is coca leaf.

jeph · « **Reply #13 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 18:29 »

Also I have no idea whether this says anything about the band or its music, but iTunes just went from the S/T to the Young Mountain EP and I didn't even notice.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #14 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 18:34 »

I'm the opposite, I think "cody" is the aural equivalent of soma, the alleged ancient Hindu "perfect drug". The only better "sad" Mogwai songs are "Hunted By a Freak" and "Stanley Kubrick".

All this said, Mr. Beast is still my favorite album of theirs as a whole.

jeph · « **Reply #15 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 18:38 »

It's weird, having seen them live- I used to think Young Team was tops, but their somewhat lackluster performance of "Mogwai Fear Satan" and their utterly crushing renditions of "Ratts of the Capital" and "My Father My King" (best encore ever) make me prefer their later stuff.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #16 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 18:51 »

I have never understood people who think Young Team is the pinnacle of their career.

The two times I've seen them, both on the Rock Action tour, they didn't do anything pre-CODY and they really, really destroyed. I don't much like the overlong recorded version of "My Father My King" because the just-right live version was still fresh in my mind when it came out.

I saw a homemade of them on the Mr. Beast tour and they were the epitome of confidence and execution.

I guess the thing about Young Team for me is that it's a mess. Sure, everyone knows "Like Herod" is the business, but a full 75% of the album is them trying out different things, most of which never made it onto future albums at all. And as the band themselves will readily admit, the version of "Summer" on there is complete crap when compared to the Ten Rapid version.

"R U Still In 2 It?", however, may very well be one of the most depressing songs I know, but its effect would be diminished if it hadn't been Aidan Moffat doing the vocals. I used to not even be able to listen to that song because it would send me into a crushing depression worrying about whether my girlfriend at the time would leave me, or that I would die and she would move on to forget me (4 years later, she did in fact leave me, in a completely horrible and crushing way, so it was prophetic).

jeph · « **Reply #17 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 19:10 »

That's funny, because the encore version of MFMK was easily 10-20 minutes longer than on the EP. It was insane. Would've ruined their set if it hadn't been the encore, but made a perfect follow-up to the set proper.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #18 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 19:23 »

They played a 40-minute one-song encore?

I'd have to see it to believe it could hold my interest. There's such a thing as "too much" sometimes.

Johnny C · « **Reply #19 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 19:26 »

Quote from: jeph on 17 Jan 2008, 18:15

When every guitar has the same tone and the drums are all recorded in the same way, the songs start to sound the same.

You're going to have a problem with my band, dude. I rock it Mackaye-style.

jeph · « **Reply #20 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 19:31 »

But over the course of FOUR ALBUMS your tone knobs will probably get wiggled one way or the other.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #21 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 20:02 »

I'm pretty sure EitS have them glued in place.

Johnny C · « **Reply #22 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 20:16 »

I guess I could buy one of those knob-turners from Neil Young.

mberan42 · « **Reply #23 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 20:53 »

Man, this is my favourite thread in the Music forum ever. You guys are expressing everything about Mogwai (and EitS/TWDY/etc...) that I cannot possibly put into words. Thank you!

I was always in the Young Team court, but as of lately, I'm moving more towards Rock Action. Mogwai Fear Satain will always be my favourite song of theirs, but 2 Rights Make 1 Wrong has become a very close second...

Johnny C · « **Reply #24 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 21:31 »

Rock Action is so, so fine. Incredible album from start to finish.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #25 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 21:43 »

While I don't dislike anything on Rock Action I think that its brevity (37 minutes or so IIRC) makes it suffer. I know it's a silly thing to complain about, but to me it feels more like an EP than an album proper. What I like most about Mr. Beast is that it is both fairly short and perfectly done by having no songs exceed 6 minutes and many under 4 minutes.

Johnny C · « **Reply #26 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 22:07 »

Your sig is especially evocative in this thread.

Calaveth · « **Reply #27 on:** 18 Jan 2008, 06:55 »

But it's alright to masturbate to Mogwai, right? ...Right?

mberan42 · « **Reply #28 on:** 18 Jan 2008, 08:11 »

When did it not become alright to masturbate to Mogwai?

amok · « **Reply #29 on:** 18 Jan 2008, 09:01 »

Quote from: zerodrone on 17 Jan 2008, 18:06

I think Come On Die Young is technically the most underrated Mogwai album since many people go so far as to say it's actively bad, which just confuses me. "cody" and "Ex-Cowboy" are worth the price of the disc alone.

If it's any consolation, that's the only one I really like.

I've never whacked it to any of their CDs though, so I guess I'm a pretty bad Mogwai fan anyway.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #30 on:** 18 Jan 2008, 09:37 »

I only jerk off while listening to Wolf Eyes.

Lexington, 125 · « **Reply #31 on:** 18 Jan 2008, 15:14 »

Quote from: zerodrone on 18 Jan 2008, 09:37

I only jerk off while listening to ~~Wolf Eyes~~ Black Dice.

KickThatBathProf · « **Reply #32 on:** 18 Jan 2008, 15:30 »

Quote from: zerodrone on 18 Jan 2008, 09:37

I only jerk off while listening to ~~Wolf Eyes~~ Beethoven.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #33 on:** 18 Jan 2008, 15:39 »

Quote from: zerodrone on 18 Jan 2008, 09:37

I only jerk off while listening to ~~Wolf Eyes~~ "1234" on repeat.

E. Spaceman · « **Reply #34 on:** 18 Jan 2008, 16:57 »

guys, the best sad Mogwai song is the Kid Loco remix f Tracy

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #35 on:** 18 Jan 2008, 17:58 »

This thread is about masturbating now. Get with the times.

(Yes that remix is pretty good.)

jeph · « **Reply #36 on:** 18 Jan 2008, 20:12 »

Apparently Stuart from Mogwai has a habit of greeting fellows by grasping them firmly about the man-basket.

Matt from Get Him Eat Him (OtterErotic) told me this so it must be true!

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #37 on:** 18 Jan 2008, 20:55 »

Hahaha.

I did actually talk to Stuart once. The second time I saw them, at the 40 Watt in Athens, while Bardo Pond was playing he was just sitting on a bench like anyone else, and I whispered to my girlfriend and buddy "Holy crap, that's him, right there. That has to be him."

So I went up between songs and admittedly I had been drinking and was quite stoned already, and I was like "Excuse me, but aren't you Stuart Brathwaite?" He was sitting alone so I didn't feel like I was imposing much. He kind of mumbled "Eh... aye..." and I said "Just wanted to say hey, loved you guys last night in Atlanta, looking forward to tonight's set, don't let these idiots get you down" (NOTE ABOUT THE 40 WATT CLUB: No matter what show you see there, it is filled with hipsters who have loud conversations while completely ignoring the band, it is a horrible place to see a band you really care about) and he said something which I vaguely remember as being "Don't worry, we'll shut them up" and gave a little grin, and I was like "Right on" and went back to my companions.

Also after Mogwai was done us three went around back and caught Bardo Pond and I was by that time drunk enough to totally gush about how fucking amazing I think they are, and asked Isobel if she remembered me from years ago because we have a mutual friend from Austin named Lee, and I SWEAR TO GOD she smiled and said "Yeah, totally man, Lee is free, right?" And we had a nice little chat. I'm pretty sure Bardo Pond were all on some heavy psychedelics that night because her pupils were the size of dinner plates.

Good times.

Ishotdanieljohnston · « **Reply #38 on:** 19 Jan 2008, 01:30 »

This thread should be retitled. Great discussion by the way.

valley_parade · « **Reply #39 on:** 19 Jan 2008, 08:47 »

Quote from: E. Spaceman on 18 Jan 2008, 16:57

guys, the best sad Mogwai song is the Kid Loco remix f Tracy

I'm gonna say We're No Here.

Johnny C · « **Reply #40 on:** 19 Jan 2008, 10:11 »

My Mogwai boner's more like a priapism.

bbqrocks · « **Reply #41 on:** 19 Jan 2008, 11:23 »

I'm gonna go right ahead and say; I have never listened to mogwai. Which of thier albums would you recommend to a mogwai noob?

sean · « **Reply #42 on:** 19 Jan 2008, 12:11 »

I'd probably either start with Young Team or Mr. Beast. Both induce very long and hard boners on a first listen.

Don't forget to get drunk and masturbate to them!

bbqrocks · « **Reply #43 on:** 19 Jan 2008, 12:19 »

Are you guys being serious about this? I mean, I knew a guy who masturbated over frost's (black metal drummer) work...

amok · « **Reply #44 on:** 19 Jan 2008, 12:20 »

Quote from: Objects inside Clouds on 19 Jan 2008, 12:11

Don't forget to get drunk and masturbate to them!

watch out for whiskey dick though, they might get offended

KickThatBathProf · « **Reply #45 on:** 19 Jan 2008, 13:26 »

Of course we're being serious about this.

We're serious about everything.

All the time.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #46 on:** 19 Jan 2008, 13:32 »

Quote from: bbqrocks on 19 Jan 2008, 11:23

I'm gonna go right ahead and say; I have never listened to mogwai. Which of thier albums would you recommend to a mogwai noob?

I'd say Happy Songs For Happy People. It's not my favorite, but it's my second favorite and I think it's the most accessible balance of their various sounds.

bbqrocks · « **Reply #47 on:** 19 Jan 2008, 13:47 »

Heh, I don't mind how accessable it is. Just the best...But thanks, I will try and get some of these.

jeph · « **Reply #48 on:** 19 Jan 2008, 17:05 »

Happy Songs, Mr. Beast, Young Team are all good starting points.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #49 on:** 19 Jan 2008, 17:18 »

For a very long time, I considered Mogwai's EP+2 their best release. It's actually around the same length as Rock Action so it pretty much qualifies as an album. It seems to often get overlooked in their catalogue (as does the 4 Satin EP) which is a shame.

Can't wait for the new one, The Hawk is Howling.

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Author Topic: Let's Talk About Our Mogwai Boners (Read 29189 times)

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