Explosions in the Sky
Encyclopedia
Explosions in the Sky is an American post-rock
band from Texas
. The band has garnered popularity beyond the post-rock scene for their elaborately developed guitar work, narratively styled instrumental
s, what they refer to as "cathartic mini-symphonies," and their enthusiastic and emotional live shows. They primarily play with three electric guitar
s and a drum kit
, although band member Michael James will at times exchange his electric guitar for a bass guitar
.
, Explosions in the Sky was formed in Austin, Texas
in 1999. Drummer Chris Hrasky is from Rockford, Illinois
, and the rest of the band hails from Midland, Texas
. The new name of "Explosions in the Sky" came from a comment Hrasky made in reference to the noise or sight of fireworks when they left KVRX on the night they played their first set and recorded their first track, "Remember Me as a Time of Day", that would be released on a compilation
. Their 2000 debut album, How Strange, Innocence
, was locally distributed in the form of CD-R
s. Rehearsal footage is featured on the feature film Cicadas, which won an Austin Film Festival
award.
Explosions in the Sky quickly gained a reputation for themselves among other established local bands such as Lift to Experience
. Temporary Residence Limited
signed the band on the strength of their demo after only half a listen; the demo was submitted by fellow Austin band The American Analog Set
with a brief note saying, "This totally fucking destroys."
They garnered a small amount of media attention with their second album, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever
, due to rumors linking it to the September 11, 2001 attacks
. The band denied any connection in interviews. The album art shows an airplane with the caption "This plane will crash tomorrow." There were false reports that the last track was called "This Plane Will Crash Tomorrow" and that the album was released on September 10, 2001; the concept had actually originated in 2000, and the album was released on August 27, 2001. Bassist Michael James was detained in an airport as a threat to security, and had to explain why his guitar contained the words "this plane will crash tomorrow".
The band also received a considerable amount of attention playing before large audiences as the opening act of Fugazi's spring 2002 US tour in support of The Argument
.
After being contacted by Brian Reitzell, Explosions in the Sky wrote the soundtrack for the 2004 film Friday Night Lights. Despite having access to rare equipment in the studio for that project, the band kept to their songwriting style in creating original material.
Their album The Rescue was written and recorded in eight days as part of the TRL Travels in Constants series. As such, the album was originally only available at the band's live shows.
Explosions in the Sky's fifth studio album, All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone
, which debuted February 20, 2007, exists as both a one-disc version and a two-disc special edition featuring remix
es by multiple artists.
The band began touring on February 19 in the U.S. and Canada.
On April 26, 2011, the band released their sixth studio album, Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
.
, Hrasky said that they have similar goals "like immediately grabbing your attention and getting to your emotions." Rayani said, "We don't consider ourselves post-rock at all; we consider ourselves a rock band."
In a post-show interview clip on Austin City Limits
, guitarist Munaf Rayani said about their status as instrumental
ists, "I mean, I think we discussed singing for half a second, and then it just kinda, we just dropped it. We just didn't go back to it because we weren't comfortable enough." Drummer Chris Hrasky added, "There were a couple of instrumental bands at the time that we were heavily into: Dirty Three
and Mogwai
; we were listening to those bands a lot. And I think we just liked the idea of a band that there was not a leader or main songwriter, everyone collaborating and has their own say. I don't think any of us want the sort of 'leader role', so a leaderless band is kind of the best option for us."
. It is a common misconception that the band wrote and recorded the television show's theme song. Instead, it is an original composition by W.G. Snuffy Walden. Music by Explosions in the Sky has been used in several television programs and commercials: "The Birth and Death of the Day" for the BBC
documentary Lost Land of the Jaguar, All the Real Girls
, Shopgirl
, One Tree Hill
, Love the Beast
and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
, as well as various songs for the PBS documentary The Street Stops Here.
Their song "Six Days at the Bottom of the Ocean" is also featured in the narrative sports documentary series 24/7
Mayweather vs. De La Hoya.
Another song, "Catastrophe and the Cure" is used during the intro to Get Collins, an Irish documentary on Michael Collins
and the film Kaboom
by director Gregg Araki
in which the male lead is also given a signed copy of All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone
as a birthday gift.
In 2009, their song "First Breath After Coma" is used for the introduction of feature presentations on the television network, Versus
. The song is also used in the trailer for the Steve Hwang directed documentary Focus.
The song "The Only Moment We Were Alone" is shortly featured in Michael Moore
's documentary Capitalism: A Love Story
.
The song "The Birth and Death of the Day" was used by soccer team FC Barcelona in a promo video "At the Gates of Wembley" to motivate the fans and alike prior to the 2011 Champions League Final.
The song "Your Hand in Mine" is featured in the films Paul Blart Mall Cop and The Big Empty (short film)
.
The song "Glittering Blackness" is featured in the film "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past".
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
band from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. The band has garnered popularity beyond the post-rock scene for their elaborately developed guitar work, narratively styled instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
s, what they refer to as "cathartic mini-symphonies," and their enthusiastic and emotional live shows. They primarily play with three electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
s and a drum kit
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, although band member Michael James will at times exchange his electric guitar for a bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
.
History
Originally called Breaker MorantBreaker Morant
Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant was an Anglo-Australian drover, horseman, poet, soldier and convicted war criminal whose skill with horses earned him the nickname "The Breaker"...
, Explosions in the Sky was formed in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
in 1999. Drummer Chris Hrasky is from Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
, and the rest of the band hails from Midland, Texas
Midland, Texas
Midland is a city in and the county seat of Midland County, Texas, United States, on the Southern Plains of the state's western area. A small portion of the city extends into Martin County. As of 2010, the population of Midland was 111,147. It is the principal city of the Midland, Texas...
. The new name of "Explosions in the Sky" came from a comment Hrasky made in reference to the noise or sight of fireworks when they left KVRX on the night they played their first set and recorded their first track, "Remember Me as a Time of Day", that would be released on a compilation
Refurbished Robots
Refurbished Robots is compilation album released by KVRX Studios in 1999. The album was titled Local Live Volume 4 and is a mixture of tracks from artists featured on the station.-Track listing:# Dooms U.K...
. Their 2000 debut album, How Strange, Innocence
How Strange, Innocence
How Strange, Innocence is the first album recorded by post-rock band Explosions in the Sky, released on January 17, 2000. It is their only album for the Sad Loud America label. Initially only 300 copies were issued in the form of CD-Rs...
, was locally distributed in the form of CD-R
CD-R
A CD-R is a variation of the Compact Disc invented by Philips and Sony. CD-R is a Write Once Read Many optical medium, though the whole disk does not have to be entirely written in the same session....
s. Rehearsal footage is featured on the feature film Cicadas, which won an Austin Film Festival
Austin Film Festival
The Austin Film Festival was started in 1994 in Austin, Texas and is claimed to be "the first organization of its kind to focus on the writer’s unique creative contribution to the film and television industries"...
award.
Explosions in the Sky quickly gained a reputation for themselves among other established local bands such as Lift to Experience
Lift to Experience
Lift to Experience was a band from Denton, Texas that formed in 1996 with vocalist and guitarist Josh T. Pearson, drummer Andy "The Boy" Young and bassist Josh "The Bear" Browning...
. Temporary Residence Limited
Temporary Residence Limited
Temporary Residence Limited is a Brooklyn, New York-based record label. TRL was started in Baltimore, Maryland in late 1995. The label's first release was The Concord Anthology Process/Nero split 7", released April 1, 1996. After moving the operation to Portland, Oregon, owner/operator Jeremy...
signed the band on the strength of their demo after only half a listen; the demo was submitted by fellow Austin band The American Analog Set
The American Analog Set
The American Analog Set is an Austin-based indie rock band. They have released six studio albums, on the record labels Emperor Jones and Tiger Style, with their latest on Arts & Crafts.-History:...
with a brief note saying, "This totally fucking destroys."
They garnered a small amount of media attention with their second album, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever
Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever
Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever is the second album recorded by post-rock band Explosions in the Sky, released on September 4, 2001...
, due to rumors linking it to the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
. The band denied any connection in interviews. The album art shows an airplane with the caption "This plane will crash tomorrow." There were false reports that the last track was called "This Plane Will Crash Tomorrow" and that the album was released on September 10, 2001; the concept had actually originated in 2000, and the album was released on August 27, 2001. Bassist Michael James was detained in an airport as a threat to security, and had to explain why his guitar contained the words "this plane will crash tomorrow".
The band also received a considerable amount of attention playing before large audiences as the opening act of Fugazi's spring 2002 US tour in support of The Argument
The Argument
The Argument was released by Dischord Records on October 16, 2001, along with their EP, Furniture + 2, almost 4 years after the release of End Hits. The album was met with critical and commercial success entering the Billboard charts and selling 174,000 copies in its first week of release...
.
After being contacted by Brian Reitzell, Explosions in the Sky wrote the soundtrack for the 2004 film Friday Night Lights. Despite having access to rare equipment in the studio for that project, the band kept to their songwriting style in creating original material.
Their album The Rescue was written and recorded in eight days as part of the TRL Travels in Constants series. As such, the album was originally only available at the band's live shows.
Explosions in the Sky's fifth studio album, All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone
All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone
All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone is the fifth studio album from American post-rock band Explosions in the Sky. It was released February 20, 2007.-Overview:...
, which debuted February 20, 2007, exists as both a one-disc version and a two-disc special edition featuring remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es by multiple artists.
The band began touring on February 19 in the U.S. and Canada.
On April 26, 2011, the band released their sixth studio album, Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
Take Care, Take Care, Take Care is the sixth studio album by American post-rock band Explosions in the Sky, which was released on 18 April 2011 in the UK, 25 April 2011 in Europe, and 26 April 2011 in the US.-Track listing:...
.
Music styles and characteristics
Although the band's music deviates from popPop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, Hrasky said that they have similar goals "like immediately grabbing your attention and getting to your emotions." Rayani said, "We don't consider ourselves post-rock at all; we consider ourselves a rock band."
In a post-show interview clip on Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits is an American public television music program recorded live in Austin, Texas by Public Broadcasting Service Public television member station KLRU, and broadcast on many PBS stations around the United States...
, guitarist Munaf Rayani said about their status as instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
ists, "I mean, I think we discussed singing for half a second, and then it just kinda, we just dropped it. We just didn't go back to it because we weren't comfortable enough." Drummer Chris Hrasky added, "There were a couple of instrumental bands at the time that we were heavily into: Dirty Three
Dirty Three
Dirty Three are an instrumental trio consisting of Warren Ellis , Mick Turner and Jim White , originating from Melbourne, Australia. Since the Dirty Three formed in 1992, they have spent a lot of time overseas...
and Mogwai
Mogwai
The word mogwai is the transliteration of the Cantonese word 魔怪 meaning "monster", "evil spirit", "devil" or "demon".-Mogwai/Mogui in Chinese culture:...
; we were listening to those bands a lot. And I think we just liked the idea of a band that there was not a leader or main songwriter, everyone collaborating and has their own say. I don't think any of us want the sort of 'leader role', so a leaderless band is kind of the best option for us."
In popular culture
Most notably, Explosions in the Sky's music is heavily featured in the Friday Night Lights movie and television showFriday Night Lights (TV series)
Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team...
. It is a common misconception that the band wrote and recorded the television show's theme song. Instead, it is an original composition by W.G. Snuffy Walden. Music by Explosions in the Sky has been used in several television programs and commercials: "The Birth and Death of the Day" for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
documentary Lost Land of the Jaguar, All the Real Girls
All the Real Girls
All the Real Girls is a 2003 romantic drama film written and directed by David Gordon Green. The film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2003. It stars Paul Schneider, Zooey Deschanel, Shea Whigham, Danny R. McBride, Patricia Clarkson, Maurice Compte and Benjamin Mouton...
, Shopgirl
Shopgirl
Shopgirl is a 2005 American romantic drama film directed by Anand Tucker. The screenplay by Steve Martin is based on his 2000 novella of the same name.-Plot:...
, One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
, Love the Beast
Love The Beast
Love The Beast is a 2009 documentary film directed by Eric Bana, and featuring Bana, Jay Leno, Jeremy Clarkson and Phil McGraw.- Content :...
and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (film)
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is a 2007 biographical drama film based on Jean-Dominique Bauby's memoir of the same name. The film depicts Bauby's life after suffering a massive stroke, on December 8, 1995, at the age of 42, which left him with a condition known as locked-in syndrome. The...
, as well as various songs for the PBS documentary The Street Stops Here.
Their song "Six Days at the Bottom of the Ocean" is also featured in the narrative sports documentary series 24/7
24/7 (TV Series)
24/7 is an American reality television series that follows sportsmen, and sporting organizations, for a period of weeks in the lead-up to a major sporting event. The show premiered with episodes featuring pairs of boxers as they prepare for their upcoming boxing match against one another...
Mayweather vs. De La Hoya.
Another song, "Catastrophe and the Cure" is used during the intro to Get Collins, an Irish documentary on Michael Collins
Michael Collins (Irish leader)
Michael "Mick" Collins was an Irish revolutionary leader, Minister for Finance and Teachta Dála for Cork South in the First Dáil of 1919, Director of Intelligence for the IRA, and member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations. Subsequently, he was both Chairman of the...
and the film Kaboom
Kaboom (film)
Kaboom is a 2010 film, written and directed by Gregg Araki. The film stars Roxane Mesquida, Thomas Dekker, Juno Temple, Haley Bennett, and James Duval...
by director Gregg Araki
Gregg Araki
Gregg Araki is an American independent filmmaker. He is involved in New Queer Cinema.-Early life:Araki was born in Los Angeles but grew up in Santa Barbara, California...
in which the male lead is also given a signed copy of All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone
All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone
All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone is the fifth studio album from American post-rock band Explosions in the Sky. It was released February 20, 2007.-Overview:...
as a birthday gift.
In 2009, their song "First Breath After Coma" is used for the introduction of feature presentations on the television network, Versus
Versus
Versus, often abbreviated v. or v, vs. or vs may refer to:- Media :* Versus , a United States sports channel, to be renamed NBC Sports Network in 2012* Versus , a Japanese action/horror film...
. The song is also used in the trailer for the Steve Hwang directed documentary Focus.
The song "The Only Moment We Were Alone" is shortly featured in Michael Moore
Michael Moore
Michael Francis Moore is an American filmmaker, author, social critic and activist. He is the director and producer of Fahrenheit 9/11, which is the highest-grossing documentary of all time. His films Bowling for Columbine and Sicko also place in the top ten highest-grossing documentaries...
's documentary Capitalism: A Love Story
Capitalism: A Love Story
Capitalism: A Love Story is a 2009 American documentary film directed, written by and starring Michael Moore. The film centers on the late-2000s financial crisis and the recovery stimulus, while putting forward an indictment of the current economic order in the United States and capitalism in general...
.
The song "The Birth and Death of the Day" was used by soccer team FC Barcelona in a promo video "At the Gates of Wembley" to motivate the fans and alike prior to the 2011 Champions League Final.
The song "Your Hand in Mine" is featured in the films Paul Blart Mall Cop and The Big Empty (short film)
The Big Empty (short film)
The Big Empty is a 2005 short film starring Selma Blair about a woman with an unusual condition that baffles scientists and everymen alike. It was written, directed and produced by Lisa Chang and Newton Thomas Sigel. It is based on the short story The Specialist, by Alison Smith...
.
The song "Glittering Blackness" is featured in the film "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past".
Band members
- Munaf RayaniMunaf RayaniMunaf Rayani is a guitarist for the Texan post-rock band Explosions in the Sky. He is the youngest member of the band at age 31. He is of Indian and Pakistani descent. His mother grew up in Pakistan, and he was raised an Ismaili Muslim...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Mark Smith – guitar
- Michael James – guitar, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Chris Hrasky – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Studio albums
- How Strange, InnocenceHow Strange, InnocenceHow Strange, Innocence is the first album recorded by post-rock band Explosions in the Sky, released on January 17, 2000. It is their only album for the Sad Loud America label. Initially only 300 copies were issued in the form of CD-Rs...
(2000) - Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live ForeverThose Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live ForeverThose Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever is the second album recorded by post-rock band Explosions in the Sky, released on September 4, 2001...
(2001) - The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead PlaceThe Earth Is Not a Cold Dead PlaceThe Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place is the third album recorded by post-rock band Explosions in the Sky, released on November 4, 2003 on the Temporary Residence label.-Overview:...
(2003) - The Rescue (2005)
- All of a Sudden I Miss EveryoneAll of a Sudden I Miss EveryoneAll of a Sudden I Miss Everyone is the fifth studio album from American post-rock band Explosions in the Sky. It was released February 20, 2007.-Overview:...
(2007) #76 US, #58 UK - Take Care, Take Care, Take CareTake Care, Take Care, Take CareTake Care, Take Care, Take Care is the sixth studio album by American post-rock band Explosions in the Sky, which was released on 18 April 2011 in the UK, 25 April 2011 in Europe, and 26 April 2011 in the US.-Track listing:...
(2011) #16 US, #58 UK
Compilations
- "Remember Me as a Time of Day" on Refurbished RobotsRefurbished RobotsRefurbished Robots is compilation album released by KVRX Studios in 1999. The album was titled Local Live Volume 4 and is a mixture of tracks from artists featured on the station.-Track listing:# Dooms U.K...
(1999) - "The Long Spring" on Thank You (TRR50)Thank You (TRR50)Thank You TRR50 is a 2004 compilation album by Temporary Residence Limited to celebrate their 50th release.-Track listing:# Fridge - "Five Combs"# Howard Hello - "The One"# Kilowatthours with JDV - "Jignauseum"# Tarentel - "Bell Jar"...
(2004), Temporary Residence LimitedTemporary Residence LimitedTemporary Residence Limited is a Brooklyn, New York-based record label. TRL was started in Baltimore, Maryland in late 1995. The label's first release was The Concord Anthology Process/Nero split 7", released April 1, 1996. After moving the operation to Portland, Oregon, owner/operator Jeremy... - "Welcome Ghosts" sampler on Destroy Independent Music!Destroy Independent Music!Destroy Independent Music! is a free music sampler, featuring various artists from record label Temporary Residence Limited that was released in the spring of 2007.-Track listing:# "Easy Magic" by Prints - 4:58# "I Hate You Rob Crow" by Rob Crow - 2:10...
(2007), Temporary Residence LimitedTemporary Residence LimitedTemporary Residence Limited is a Brooklyn, New York-based record label. TRL was started in Baltimore, Maryland in late 1995. The label's first release was The Concord Anthology Process/Nero split 7", released April 1, 1996. After moving the operation to Portland, Oregon, owner/operator Jeremy... - "First Breath After Coma" on Friday Night Lights (television soundtrack)Friday Night Lights (television soundtrack)Friday Night Lights is the soundtrack for the television series Friday Night Lights, a program inspired by the film of the same name.Although post-rock band Explosions in the Sky wrote most of the film's soundtrack, the music for the television series was a more accessible affair, with bands such...
(2007), Adrenaline Records - "Your Hand in Mine" on The Steel People (2009)
- "Your Hand in Mine" on the Love Happens soundtrack (2009)
External links
- Podcast of Explosions in the Sky's 2008 Lollapalooza performance
- Explosions in the Sky live show, 930 Club in DC at NPR.
- Live Audio Archive at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
- Explosions in the Sky interview with Chris Hrasky at Ground Control.
- Explosions in the Sky interview at Webcuts (February 2008)