I should probably admit that I’ve always been a little resentful of Explosions in the Sky’s success. I probably shouldn’t, but I am. They are a solid band that consistently make compelling music. The band hails from my home state, so I should have some local pride, and I was lucky enough to see them when they were opening for bands that couldn’t even fill large clubs, so I should be proud to say I was there from the start.

But the start of what? These guys are doing the same thing they were doing ten years ago. Even then, I thought they were just ripping off Mogwai. Yet in the last decade, Mogwai varied their approach, taking risks that usually haven’t paid off but nevertheless distanced them from their original template. On their latest release, Take Care, Take Care, Take Care, Explosions in the Sky sound more like Mogwai did ten years ago than Mogwai does today. I should probably give them a bit more credit; Explosions became more adept at delivering captivating instrumental guitar rock melodies than Mogwai, and this album is no exception. However, the problem remains: If I didn’t think they had anything interesting to say ten years ago, then the problem is only worse today when they’re not even bothering to say anything new.

This isn’t to say that it’s not an enjoyable listen. “Last Known Surroundings” opens the album with droning strings that quickly give way to a jerking beat before the guitars bring in an instantly enjoyable melody. Give these guys credit for figuring out how to make instrumental post-rock interesting without having to constantly play with dynamics. I find my attention wandering again though, on “Human Qualities”, when the volume gets turned down. This track spends way too much time making the listener wait for its final minute of catharsis. Then on “Trembling Hands”, the group falls into Mogwai’s trap of creating instrumentals that just sound like boring indie rock songs without a vocal track.

Explosions in the Sky are a textbook example of how a masterful grasp of melody is not enough to make good music. “Postcard from 1952” is about as melodically perfect as they come: it opens with beautifully restrained playing before reaching a rousing climax in its seven minutes. Still, I’m left feeling like I’ve heard this before. There’s nothing exciting anymore about a song that starts quiet and gets loud by the end. Album closer, “Let Me Back In” uses a similar approach, but without the benefit of such a strong melody.

I do genuinely wonder if I’m being too hard on these guys. After all, I’ll never complain about a country band like the Mekons failing to develop their sound. In fact, I hope to god that the next Mekons release sounds like most of their previous ones and isn’t a bizarre concept album like Me or Pussy, King of the Pirates. I value songwriting over musical composition, I’ll admit that bias is there. To me, instrumental music should be forward thinking and consistently creative. Otherwise, what’s the point? I’m forgiving of song-based music because I find a value in the expressiveness of song lyrics that I don’t see in instrumental music. Without words, music will never be able to move me as much.

But I don’t think I’m just biased against instrumental music. Explosions in the Sky seem hell-bent on mimicking all of the pomposity and self-righteousness of the other big name in post-rock: Godspeed You Black Emperor (the exclamation mark is stupid, so I’m leaving it out). For me, it starts with the title of the album. Take Care, Take Care, Take Care. What if I was doing just fine? What’s so terrible that I need to “take care”? Why does everything have to be so weighty and important? Why can’t we just enjoy some good tunes without it being a statement about how wounded we all are by our commercialized militarized society or whatever the fuck. There’s a seriousness to this music that feels un-earned and unnecessary. And that’s why the lack of development irks me. If these guys are so serious about the music they make, why does it all sound the same? If they really cared, they probably would have come up with some new ideas by now.

Track List:

1. Last Known Surroundings
2. Human Qualities
3. Trembling Hands
4. Be Comfortable, Creature
5. Postcard from 1952
6. Let Me Back In