Explosions in the Sky

Explosions in the Sky is an American post-rock band from Texas. The quartet originally played under the name Breaker Morant, then changed to the current name in 1999. The band has garnered popularity beyond the post-rock scene for their elaborately developed guitar work, narratively styled instrumentals—what they refer to as "cathartic mini-symphonies"—and their enthusiastic and emotional live shows.[1] They primarily play with three electric guitars and a drum kit, although band member Michael James will at times exchange his electric guitar for a bass guitar. The band has later added a fifth member to their live performances. The band's music is almost purely instrumental.

"Eits" redirects here. For the torture techniques sometimes referred to as "EITs", see Enhanced interrogation techniques.

Explosions in the Sky
From left to right: Mark Smith, Michael James, Munaf Rayani, and Chris Hrasky
Background information
OriginAustin, Texas, United States
Midland, Texas, United States
Genres
Years active1999–present
LabelsTemporary Residence Limited, Bella Union
Associated actsInventions
Websitewww.explosionsinthesky.com
MembersChris Hrasky
Michael James
Munaf Rayani
Mark Smith

History

Originally called Breaker Morant, 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[2] or sight[3] 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.[2] Their 2000 debut album, How Strange, Innocence, was locally distributed in the form of CD-Rs. Rehearsal footage is featured on the feature film Cicadas, which won an Austin Film Festival award.[4]

Performing at Central Park SummerStage on June 30, 2009

Explosions in the Sky quickly gained a reputation for themselves among other established 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."[5]

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;[6][7] the concept had actually originated in 2000, and the album was officially released on September 4, 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".[2]

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.[8]

The band released The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place in 2003 and is generally considered their most famous album.[9] The album has been described as a concept album and was stated by guitarist Munaf Rayani as the band's attempt at love songs.[10]

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.[11]

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 remixes by multiple artists.[12] The band began touring on February 19 in the U.S. and Canada.[13]

On April 26, 2011, the band released their sixth studio album, Take Care, Take Care, Take Care.[14]

They were one of the support acts for Nine Inch Nails on their North American leg of the Twenty Thirteen Tour in late 2013, alternating dates with Godspeed You! Black Emperor.[15]

On stage in the Webster Hall, New York City, 2007

Musical style and characteristics

Although the band's music deviates from pop, Hrasky said that they have similar goals "like immediately grabbing your attention and getting to your emotions."[16] Rayani said, "We don't consider ourselves post-rock at all; we consider ourselves a rock band."[17]

In a post-show interview clip on Austin City Limits, guitarist Munaf Rayani said about their status as instrumentalists, "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 were comfortable enough." Drummer Chris Hrasky added, "I think we just liked the idea of a band that there was not a leader or main songwriter, everyone sort of 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."[18]

Most notably, Explosions in the Sky's music is heavily featured in the Friday Night Lights movie and television show. 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. A number of One Tree Hill episodes are named after the band's songs.

Band members
Touring musicians
Former touring musicians
  • Carlos Torres
  • David Wingo

Discography

Studio albums

Soundtracks

Compilations

Singles and Music Videos
  • Last Known Surroundings (2011)
  • Be Comfortable, Creature (2011)
  • Postcard from 1952 (2011)
  • The Ecstatics (2017)

See also

References
  1. Paper, The (March 17, 2007). "NPR Music". Npr.org. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
  2. Michael Chamy (October 24, 2003). "Born on the Fourth of July". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved June 28, 2007.
  3. "Explosions In The Sky, 4 July 1999". KVRX. March 24, 2006. Retrieved January 13, 2008.
  4. "Explosions in the Sky". Muze. February 1, 2007. Retrieved June 28, 2007.
  5. "Explosions in the Sky > Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved February 8, 2007.
  6. David Frazier (November 15, 2002). "Post-rock explodes in Taipei". Taipei Times. p. 17. Retrieved June 28, 2007.
  7. Adam Mayle (January 26, 2005). "The day the music died an accidental death". The Black Table. Retrieved June 27, 2007. And the creepiest detail of all is that the record had a track that was titled, unbelievably, "This Plane Will Crash Tomorrow," which was subsequently removed from the album.
  8. "Fugazi/Explosions in the Sky - International Ballroom". Gigposters.com. November 14, 2006. Retrieved February 8, 2007.
  9. "Explosions In The Sky, The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place". The Guardian. December 5, 2003. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  10. "A Slice of the Shiny 15: Explosions in the Sky". A Slice of the Shiny (Podcast). January 22, 2007. Archived from the original on August 6, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
  11. Explosions in the Sky. "Friday Night Lights Original Soundtrack". Archived from the original on February 9, 2007. Retrieved February 8, 2007.
  12. "Explosions in the Sky Album Details Surface". Spin. November 14, 2006. Retrieved February 8, 2007.
  13. "Shows". ExplosionsInTheSky.com. February 3, 2007. Archived from the original on February 9, 2007. Retrieved February 8, 2007.
  14. "Take Care, Take Care, Take Care". ExplosionsInTheSky.com. January 25, 2011. Archived from the original on November 22, 2010. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
  15. Minsker, Evan (2013). "Nine Inch Nails Announce Massive Tour With Godspeed You! Black Emperor". Pitchfork. Pitchfork. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  16. Billy DeFrain (October 15, 2004). "Explosions in the Sky to light up Sokol". Daily Nebraskan. Archived from the original on August 13, 2007. Retrieved June 28, 2007.
  17. Juliet Eilperin (September 25, 2006). "Out of Texas, a Wordless Wonder". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 28, 2007.
  18. "Austin City Limits". PBS.ORG. June 25, 2007. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
  19. "Cerveza Pacifico TV Commercial, 'Anchors Up'". iSpot.tv. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  20. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 21, 2009. Retrieved March 18, 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. "Explosions in the Sky Discography". Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  22. Colwell, Matthew (June 15, 2012). "Explosions in the Sky to score new film 'Prince Avalanche'". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 15, 2012.
  23. "IMDB - Explosions in the Sky Composer credits section". Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  24. "Explosions in the Sky to Score Al Pacino Film Manglehorn :: Music :: News :: Paste". Pastemagazine.com. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
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