The band quickly gained a reputation for their live shows even amongst other established local bands such as Lift To Experience. They also garnered a small amount of media attention as a result of 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 terrorist attacks - The album was released in late August 2001, with liner notes containing a picture of an airplane and the text "This Plane Will Crash Tomorrow".
"The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place" is their third full-length album (counting "How Strange, Innocence" as their debut, see below). It shows the band has developed their characteristic sound to its full potential and the album has been critically acclaimed.
Friday Night Lights, the football movie based on the book of the same name, featured a soundtrack consisting mostly of songs by Explosions in the Sky, both original (as found on the Friday Night Lights soundtrack ) and from earlier releases. They are also frequently played in the TV-series sharing the name.
21: The Rescue, an experimental work for which the band sat down for eight days creating a song for each. The clapping and finger snapping on "Day Eight" is a good example of a harmonic restructuring of their old sound.
How Strange, Innocence, the band's debut album, was finally remastered and re-released, making it accessible to a much larger audience. The first pressing consisted of only 300 CD-Rs that the band would later regret handing out as they felt the work to be naive, musically simple and not up to their standards. They have since learned to love, as well as hate, their debut as a showcase of their emotional range and emerging talent.
They recorded a live session in 1999 at KVRX Radio in Austin, Texas when they were still called 'Breaker Morant'. Early rawer versions of some How Strange songs were played plus the version of 'Remind Me as a Time of Day' they used for that record. The performance is also noted for featuring several songs whose original titles have been lost in time's memory hole that remain unreleased to this day. The band probably felt the songs were too juvenile and abandoned them for good, considering the way they felt about How Strange as a record itself. After exiting that live session, they saw fireworks in the sky and that is where the name 'Explosions in the Sky' came from.
On 20 Feb 2007, the band released, 'All Of A Sudden, I Miss Everyone'. The band's next album "Take Care, Take Care, Take Care" was released in April 2011. Their latest and most polarising record to date was called 'The Wilderness' from 2016. It marked their complete departure from their usual sound.
The band is considered nowadays as an entry-level point to post-rock for many people and they are often held responsible for the popularisation of (modern) post-rock and its subsequent flood of 'copycats' of a sound that has been done to 'exhaustion'. They are post-rock's poster boy band, perhaps even more so than Mogwai themselves. However, this should not remove the intrinsic value in their music or what they did for post-rock many years ago even though the quiet-loud-quiet structure/dynamic is anything they even hardly pioneered.
Their music simply added a then unseen emotional dimension to post-rock with exclusively instrumental songs. Although as with most of the original 'crescendocore' bands of yore, they have since abandoned this approach in favour of a more 'experimental' sound even bordering electronic.
Munaf Rayani - guitar
Mark Smith - guitar
Michael James - electric guitar/bass
Chris Hrasky - drums
Bandcamp | Official Website
The Birth and Death of the Day
Explosions in the Sky Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Anderson Bruford Wakeman And Howe
The Life And Times Of Bobby Dread
(Anderson / Howe / Wakeman / Bruford)
Jump out this next world
Is gone overground
That sky is ecstasy dancin'
My daughter my son
Together planning to party
Just wait for me
Out in the street
Teakbois in everywhere
Dancing with you
We're coming thru
Somehow we'll all be there
This time is surely
Come once and for all
We've waited so now
We are ready
Be quick be ready
Be sure and be smart
No need the energy wasted
I've dreamed of music
That comes from the heart
As tho' the eagle has landed
Just wait for me
Out in the street
Teakbois is everywhere
Dancing with you
We're coming thru
Everyone will be there
She smiles my mind
Is just blown I can't stop
No time is better than now
I wake up everyday
Before the sun is coming up
Bobby Dread and the kool running
The fish to catch
The sea to swim
They say I gotta life
To live
Bobby Dread and the kool running
My music is my only witness
To my very soul
Bobby Dread and the kool running
So when you need me
All you have to do is help me
Lose control
Bobby Dread and the kool running
They say the world's a stage
So let me play for you and you and you
Bobby Dread and the kool running
It's all I ever in my life
I really wanted
To sing and do
Bobby Dread and the kool running
We form a group a simple name
A secret harmony like
Bobby Dread and the kool running
We write our songs
We symphonise
Some people say they like us
Bobby Dread and the kool running
This summer you couldn't get it
The Birth and Death of the Day by Explosions in the Sky is an instrumental piece of music that tells a story with soaring guitars and immersive soundscapes. The song builds up from a quiet and reflective start to a climactic burst of energy, representing the cycle of life from birth to death, and the fleeting nature of human existence. The title itself is a reference to this, suggesting that each day is a new beginning and a new end.
The first verse of the song describes a world that has gone overground, where the sky is ecstasy dancing. The imagery here is dream-like and otherworldly, suggesting a vision of a utopian future where all is well. The second verse is more personal, focusing on family and friends making plans to party together. The chorus, "Just wait for me, out in the street. Teakbois is everywhere. Dancing with you, we're coming thru. Somehow we'll all be there," reinforces the idea of community and togetherness, but also acknowledges the uncertainty of life and the need to enjoy the moment while it lasts.
The middle section of the song represents the ascent towards death, where the music becomes more intense and urgent. The third verse describes the singer waking up early every day, eager to chase his dreams and live life to the fullest. The repeated refrain of "Bobby Dread and the kool running" serves as a mantra, reminding us that even in the face of death, there is still hope and joy to be found in the simple pleasures of life.
Overall, The Birth and Death of the Day is a powerful and emotional piece of music that speaks to the universal experience of being alive. Through its soaring melodies and intricate soundscapes, it encourages us to cherish each moment and appreciate the preciousness of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe
Acknowledging the members who created this song.
Anderson Bruford Wakeman And Howe
Naming the band members again to give higher recognition.
The Life And Times Of Bobby Dread
Introducing a character named Bobby Dread that will be referenced throughout the song.
(Anderson / Howe / Wakeman / Bruford)
Crediting the songwriters with the lyrics in parentheses.
Jump out this next world
Leaving behind the current world and entering a new phase of life.
Is gone overground
Moving towards a more open, public stage in life.
That sky is ecstasy dancin'
Observing the beauty of the sky and its joyful movements.
My child my woman
Addressing loved ones that hold special importance.
My daughter my son
Continuing to address family members with affection.
Together planning to party
Anticipating future celebrations with loved ones.
Just wait for me
A request to be patient while making a necessary preparation.
Out in the street
Going outside to meet up with others.
Teakbois in everywhere
Noticing an abundance of wooden structures or nature around.
Dancing with you
Joining someone in their joyful dancing.
We're coming thru
Promising to meet others soon.
Somehow we'll all be there
Sharing the belief that everyone will be able to come together in time.
This time is surely
Feeling assured that this moment is the right one.
Come once and for all
This moment is definitive and will only happen once.
We've waited so now
Acknowledging the anticipation felt for this moment.
We are ready
Confirming readiness to proceed with the moment at hand.
Be quick be ready
A reminder to stay alert and to be prepared.
Be sure and be smart
Urging caution and wisdom in decision making.
No need the energy wasted
Avoiding unnecessarily expending energy.
I've dreamed of music
Sharing aspirations related to music creation.
That comes from the heart
Only valuing meaningful and emotional music.
As tho' the eagle has landed
Feeling like something momentous has just occurred or been achieved.
She smiles my mind
Being struck with a positive and memorable experience.
Is just blown I can't stop
Being so affected by an experience that it is impossible to ignore or dismiss.
No time is better than now
Encouraging action in the present rather than delaying it for later.
I wake up everyday
Starting each day and seeking new opportunities.
Before the sun is coming up
Beginning the day early, before the sun rises.
Bobby Dread and the kool running
Repeating the name of the character mentioned earlier.
The fish to catch
Having a desire to catch fish.
The sea to swim
Desiring to swim in the ocean.
They say I gotta life
Reflecting on the opportunities in life.
To live
Affirming the desire to live a full and meaningful life.
My music is my only witness
Believing that music is the only proof of individual identity.
To my very soul
Music is the deepest representation of the self.
So when you need me
Extending an offer to be there for others.
All you have to do is help me
Requesting assistance from others in order to serve them better.
Lose control
The artist trusts others to guide them in this moment.
They say the world's a stage
Reflecting on the idea that life is a performance.
So let me play for you and you and you
Wanting to create and perform music for as many people as possible.
It's all I ever in my life
Expressing a lifelong passion for music creation.
I really wanted
The singer has a deep desire for this dream to be fulfilled.
To sing and do
Simply wanting to sing and create music.
We form a group a simple name
Creating a new musical group given an uncomplicated name.
A secret harmony like
Striving for a balance between secrecy and unity in the group's creative process.
We write our songs
Focusing on the group's collective efforts to create music.
We symphonise
Harmonizing with one another to ensure a pleasing end result.
Some people say they like us
Acknowledging that some people enjoy the group's music and that this is appreciated.
This summer you couldn't get it
Reflecting on the idea that some outcomes can't be achieved or reached.
Contributed by Adrian T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.