Album of the Week #17: "Lift Yr. Skinny Fists..." by Godspeed You Black Emperor!

John

By far and large one of the best and most beautiful albums I ever had the pleasure of owning, even if the cardboard that is used for the sleeve smells of vomit. Anyone care to disagree?

loyatemu

its actually the point at which i grew bored with them

I liked the first album and the Slow Riot EP, but with Lift yr Skinny Fists there seemed to be a lack of progression - its all just build, build build, EXPLODE, and then repeat.

Don't really listed to them at all these days.

PiE

Haha I noticed that scent too.

This album was my first taste of "Post Rock". Bought the album after spending about 8 hours downloading one track via 56k modem back in the day (I know, I know).

"Sleep" still brings me close to tears; as does most of the album.

Was also the first album that made me realise my £3 earphones might not be the best way to listen to music.

John

loyatemu wrote:

its actually the point at which i grew bored with them

I liked the first album and the Slow Riot EP, but with Lift yr Skinny Fists there seemed to be a lack of progression - its all just build, build build, EXPLODE, and then repeat.

Don't really listed to them at all these days.

I started off with Skinny Fists so maybe that's why I prefer it to the earlier releases. I think the Slow Riot EP is where they found their feet, first album is great but personally I think they peaked with Skinny Fists.

honru

I've always been meaning to buy this album but I've never gotten round to it.

That's my contribution.

Rich_Why

During a train or bus journey on a wet winters afternoon, the hairs on the back of my neck can't decide whether "Storm" or "The Dead Flag Blues" is my favourite Godspeed track. Either way I'd probably prefer the Skinny Fists album as a whole. Really glad to see Godspeed You Black Emperor get noticed for album of the week. Fantastic band

bluto63

Never heard of them. Wouldn't mind giving it a shot.

But I'm poor

John

While I can't offer you a free legal download of GYBE's studio work, you can download band sanctioned live shows for free from here.

RE*AC*TOR

Hey sweet - you lost the "2" in your name. - I'll give this album a listen - and post back later.

Miguel_Sanchez

Can't really fault it as an album. I love Storm and Sleep. Great great stuff.

I just wish I'd seen them when they played the Roisin Dubh about six or seven years ago. Blew the ****ing roof off I'd say.

fish-head

I remember not liking this album that much. I borrowed it off a friend once, I did however like the packaging. I love cardboard packaging!

I prefer Slow Riot myself.

mp3guy

Brilliant album, my first post-rock one. Probably their best

jtsuited

think i prefer yanqui x.o

although i probably haven't listened to 'lift your..' half as much

Tazzle

Fantastic album, I rememeber listening to it years back while cramming for my leaving cert the next day.

John

Tazzle wrote:

Fantastic album, I rememeber listening to it years back while cramming for my leaving cert the next day.

I did the same funnily enough!

ZWEI_VIER_ZWEI

YEAH GODSPEED YEAH YEAAHHHHH

Brilliant album...Sleep over and over and over YEAH Brilliant LOVE IT NEVER GETS OLD GODSPEED YEAH!

bluto63

John wrote:

While I can't offer you a free legal download of GYBE's studio work, you can download band sanctioned live shows for free from here.

cheers, I'll buy the album if these are any good. I've been looking for some new bands to get into so I hope this can be one

nlgbbbblth

good album but I prefer the first two records.

great live.

I have a cold so I can't smell anything off the LP sleeve.

John

Wait until it clears up, my sleeve stinks up the room as soon as I pull it out of the plastic sleeve.

autofanticide

One of the most beautiful albums I've ever heard. Extraordinary piece of work. Don't know if its their best but I like it the most, not as solid as their e.p. as a whole but "Monheim" in "Sleep" is just astounding. Nothing comes close to GYBE.


Edit: Been listening to A Silver Mt. Zion lately too, not quite the same as Godspeed, but worth a listen. I've been listening to Born Into Trouble..., normal length songs so I think its the easiest to start with. Reall heartbreaking music.

Smurfpiss

ahh I love this album. I absolutely adore storm. Also my first post rock album, would recommend it to anyone interested in the genre. actually anyone who likes good music. feckin fantastic stuff.

bowsie casey

I think "Lift Yr. Skinny Fists..." was the last great GSYBE! recording, but did not quite reach the dizzy heights of the Slow Riot EP or F#A#.

IMHO, if you want an introduction in GSYBE!, start with the incredible Slow Riot for New Zero Kanada EP.......Almost 6 years since I heard it first, it never ceases to make my hair stand on end. Great stuff.

I love the first two Silver Mt Zion albums, but the latest offerings are a bit same-old, same-old.

Any fresh listening suggestions for a GSYBE / SMZ fan ?

indiewindy

the Earth is not a cold dark place by "explosions in the sky" is a pretty good cd to check out. As mentioned on another post you can download some songs by them free from their website.
. "Flies the fields" by shipping news is another one of my favourites of that genre.

I agree with you on Godspeed I love slow Riot stunning stuff a band at their peak and amazing live. Didnt like their last album at all they seemed to have run out of ideas

ZWEI_VIER_ZWEI

I love Yanqui U.X.O., possibly prefer it to LY.SF...

Which of the GY!BE sideprojects/related bands ( A silver mt. zion etc.) put out songs of the same length as GY!BEs? (if any) I don't think I'd particularly like their "normal" length stuff..

Garret

saw some people asking about further post-rock recommendations, well The Exquisite Death Of Saxon Shore by Saxon Shore is well worth a listen. Just got my limited edition vinyl copy in the post a few days ago.Its brilliant

metrovelvet

I just listened to Storm five consecutive times. Its hypnotic. Wow. It does what music and art is supposed to do, transport you.

John

I personally think ASMZ get better with each album, the last one (Horses in the Sky) was absolutely amazing.

As for bands in the same vein as Godspeed, try Larsen's Play or SeieS albums. Both are incredibly beautiful. Also the new album by Grails (Black Tar Prophecies Vols 1, 2 and 3) is cool, although all their earlier stuff is post rock by numbers.

Attractive Nun

Damn anarchists...

youcancallmeal

LYSF is a great piece of work but my favourite GSYBE song has to be East Hastings, after watching 28 days it’s the song that got me into them.

Been listing a lot to A Silver Mt. Zion aswell lately and I find it lot more accessible especially their new album, God Bless Our Dead Marines is a genius of a song :eek:

Valmont

I love album of the week. I bought Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven last week and while it has taken a good while to get into it, I think it completely outdoes F#A# Infinity, which I didn't think would be ever possible. Thanks!

EDIT: Sorry for the zombie thread but I didn't want to start a new one where no one would reply.

JerryHandbag

A friend told me about 9 years ago to get GYBEs records.....and have only got into them in the last year, and jesus christ have I been missing out! Monumental stuff, being a fan of Sigur Ros and Mogwai it hasnt been hard to get into. This is the only album I dont have so far, cant wait to get it going on the reviews here!

You gotta love Blaise Bailey Finnegan III from the slow riot EP! Just massive!

Valmont

I don't like Sigur Ros anymore after listening to GYBE!, mainly because to get to the really good Sigur Ros stuff, you have to wade through a lot of ****e imo and I have all their albums except the new one.

I also find the 22/23 minute tracks with the different movements to be awesome, it's just such a unique way of listening to music and allows them transcend the limits of the average 'song'.

John

Valmont wrote: »

I love album of the week. I bought Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven last week and while it has taken a good while to get into it, I think it completely outdoes F#A# Infinity, which I didn't think would be ever possible. Thanks!

All in a day's work

And JerryHandbag, have to agree with you totally about BBF3, it is immense. After listening to it you just want to go out and overthrow the system!

Dudess

Valmont wrote: »

Sorry for the zombie thread but I didn't want to start a new one where no one would reply.

Not being smart, but why would someone be guaranteed to respond to a zombie thread?

Avoid bumping threads - start a new one. This one is particularly out of date. Thanks.