So, I’ve spent a fair amount of time over the past few days at home with my parents, watching no small amount of television — rotting my brain, if you will. I’m not going to complain, as I do not often watch much television at all, so this break from my normally busy life has been much appreciated. Thanksgiving, thank you!
At any rate, much of the television I’ve been watching has been, well, football. Now, now, don’t fret — I haven’t been watching American football, or gridiron, as the Australian folks call it. No, I’ve been watching two forms of football I find quite enjoyable: association football, or, to most Yanks, soccer, and rugby union — as opposed to rugby league.
You may be wondering why I’m telling you this; I am wondering the same thing. You’re not alone, don’t worry. How does this relate to music at all? Isn’t this column titled, well, Music Geek? The answer to the former will become more clear; the answer to the latter is an easily discernible “yes.”
Post-rock, I think, is sometimes like association football, which I will call football in short, and I will simply refer to rugby union as rugby. To illustrate my point, first watch this wonderful goal from Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=hyKfEKCWJvo
Did you notice the buildup to the goal? If not, please, watch again. A great deal of post-rock deals with this same sort of buildup — also, consider the fact that this goal was scored in the final five minutes of the match. Post-rock often does the same sort of thing: the music and tension builds to an almost unbearable point; the guitars grow louder, the drums are hit more forcibly, and reverb is pushed to the ceiling. In the final moments, the song explodes into something glorious and intense. Oh, the wonders of post-rock; oh, the wonders of football!
To further illustrate my point, watch this live recording of Explosions in the Sky.
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=pP09piedtAk
Brilliant, isn’t it?