Post-rock crescendos and vehement musicians can inspire, ignite or provoke us to think and do beyond what we might believe possible. It’s often formulaic, but never fully so. Hearing passion in someone’s voice is unmistakable truth among an overflowing sea of prototypical lyrics and mass-produced beats. Take a trip with the selection below and feel how much closer they take you to where you want to be- mentally, physically, astrologically …
“Styrofoam Boots / It’s All Nice on Ice, Alright” – Modest Mouse (1997)
If you are a Modest Mouse fan, you know the band’s power to stimulate a song with a startling new tempo, instrument or vocal key. In the case of 1997’s The Lonesome Crowded West, “Styrofoam Boots” isn’t the only climactic gem, but it certainly jolts hefty adrenaline as it concludes. Let the drums jump start you and liven the pace to wherever you’re going, succumbing to the dreams that form once you allow music to carry you.
“Westfall” – Okkervil River (1997)
Maybe it’s true that hundreds of indie bands have worthily surfaced since Okkervil River’s initial fame in ’05 through ’07, but I still credit the group’s rousing crescendos as some of the most exciting and moving of its mountain folk genre. Lyrics screaming about a murderous night warrant passion and insanity in front man Will Sheff’s voice. As the story unveils so does his crazy vocal demeanor, and the song feels pure in this mixture of chaos and truth.
“Bells” – Electrelane (2004)
Progressive rock and multi-minute piano and percussive jams constitute the latter half of this five minute Electrelane saga. The Brighton all-female band sang in its early years but found its forte in instrumental rock. “Bells” builds on itself gradually and without caution, mixing high piano slams with melody to create an illusion of bells, or something of similar effect.
“New York, I Love You but You’re Bringing Me Down” – LCD Soundsystem (2007)
James Murphy, front man of LCD Soundsystem is more than familiar with the patient acceleration of a powerful crescendo. He expresses a paradox to a city that he loves while fully aware of its destructive powers on the soul, “Like a death of the heart, Jesus, where do I start? But you’re still the one pool where I’d happily drown.” Excited jams commence loudly as Murphy yells his frustrations with this irony, and an unofficial NYC residents’ anthem is born.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MKECkPawhU
“In The Flowers” – Animal Collective (2009)
Opening track on Merriweather Post Pavillion delivers ambient melodies and noises likening your world to a long-sought dreamscape of epic proportions. It builds nicely and rounds with signature Animal Collective frantic, while keeping poise and major key vocals to sing along with.
“Seriously” (live) – Shlohmo (2012)
Shlohmo’s live 2012 Cologne performance of his song “Seriously” in part redefines a method of crescendo. It builds layers and decibels in such a pendulous nature and with unique, subterranean sounds- so much so that you’re bound to travel with it each second through its 3:21 end. Set as background to a big thought and a long walk for optimal soaring.
“Wasted Days” – Cloud Nothings (2012)
A hardcore track begins by yelling defeat at the world and contempt with one’s life, repeatedly and in elongated chorus format, after which a seven minute percussion and bass solo capture your ears into hypnosis. It manages to get more intense as vocalist Dylan Baldi concludes the end with the same unabashed screams, “I thought I would be more than this.” This post-hardcore track is a treat of intense escape, flourishing with free feelings and Baldi’s absolutely admirable expression of them.
