Search - Mogwai :: Rock Action

ROCK ACTION!!!! YEAH!

Jason | CaLiFoRNIA | 06/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Such a beautiful composition. Couldn't relate to anyone who was not moved by such a work; in fact I'd likely want to murder them. Just kidding!?



Bottom line is, for me, this is Mogwai's masterpiece (thus far), capturing both their amazing sense of technical, sonic subtlties and bringing in their most resonant, loving melodies. It's so wonderfully sad.. so tenderly glum. The first two tracks alone bring more out of my soul than virtually any modern music being written.



My favorite music makes me think of, you know, certain things -- most prominately the things that I cherish.. Things that, despite my gross affection for, I don't always have time to meditate on for whatever reason (and there are certainly many). Myself, loved ones, the world at large...God. Like one of my favorite albums, Godspeed You Black Emperor!'s "Slow Riot for New Zero Kanada", "Rock Action" is so perfectly melancholy that you'd wonder if their could possibly be a more moving piece of music that doesn't touch with its glorifying mournfulness. Pretty music is always pretty, but the world is not pretty. It is both horrendous and simultaneously full of the most amazing possibilities; this contrast, for me, allows any artist to bring out the most in my Human spirit. C.S. Lewis stated somewhere that if the world was perfectly beautiful and content, there would be no reason to question the existence of God. And most understand that without suffering there is no potential for empathy, at least in this world. So, for me -- especially at this point in time, where the general heart of Man seems far fallen from its home -- this type of music can offer so, SO much. You just have to go along with your imagination.



It's unfortunate that a part of me can get so much out of this music while, admittedly, I still maintain a good feeling of spite for those who would dismiss the music for their own personal reasons. But, coming to grips with that is a personal issue that I need to attempt to overcome... If you have (or haven't), but have a reservation within your soul for haunting, benevolent sounds of grace, please divulge... For you and me."

The only thing better than listening to this album, is seein

S. P. Edwards | UK | 07/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Anybody who hasn't heard Mogwai, and is looking to get into them should buy this album, as in terms of Mogwai's outstanding ability to create gorgeous tracks, this throws you right in at the deep end.

Personally my favourite album by the band, closely followed by Happy Songs... I beleive the music contained on this CD is Mogwai incarnate, as it is almost perfect, delivering spine tingling explosions of sound that will never leave you, and it's amazing that every time you hear these songs a new noise or layer becomes apparent, which adds the overwhelmingly simple complexity of it all - never before have I heard such a technically simple album with so much to offer (being a fan of The Dillinger Escape Plan and Converge to name a couple).

Also, along with all the praises I've attached to the album so far, it has an unairing ability to put you in a reflective mood as soon as it starts, and is great to listen to if you need to think about something or reminis to... it's THAT powerful.

This is without a doubt one of the best albums I have heard, if not 'the' best!

The only problem with this album is that it is to short, which makes it less than perfect, otherwise it would be - but if, nay, WHEN you want more after hearing this album, move onto Happy Songs For Happy People!

Buy this album, you will never be sorry and these timeless songs will never fail to impress you. Ever!"

Could have been a masterpiece

IRate | 03/14/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is their album I feel that is both a gift and a curse..A gift in being some of their most focused, sincere, well produced songwriting and a curse to not hear nearly enough of it..If this was an ep, it should get a freakn prize, but it simply leaves me wanting more as a full length..Is it right to put out a few lush, gut bustingly beautiful songs coupled with other tracks of ambient and instrumental minimalism? Only if you have enough tracks to somehow justify it to the listener...It would have been great if instead of several nice ep's, the band could have tried harder for such an important transitional release..I say that with the utmost respect for the band and for at least half of this album's tracks, but to come off of the brilliant effort Come on Die Young, and announce a huge stylistic change with electronics taking much of the foreground as well as guest vocalists helping to "clean up" mogwai's sound, should have garnerd more attention to a total product..Thankfully it did not; in retrospect one can see the band was merely trying on different outfits and knew deep down that what got them to that point was an unflinching attention to fluctuations in repetition"