ya’ll, as much as i love being gently lulled to sleep by soothing sine waves, i also love music that crushes and discards me like a used tissue.  Mogwai is exceptionally good at doing this, which is why i love them so much. post-rockers hailing from scotland, Mogwais’ entire sound is based on luring listeners in with a false calm and peaceful build ups before releasing torrents of sound specifically made to make men realize how feeble our pathetic mortal minds really are.  this song, Ratts of the Capital, is a perfect example.  starting slow with a gentle guitar riff, simple drums, and easygoing bassline, Ratts devolves into a distorted, frantic riff that while brief, still manages to capture all the sound and fury your favorite action movie never could.  while this is easily one of the heavier riffs from their 2003 effort Happy Songs for Happy People, the entire album is an incredible ride, and probably one of my favorite albums of all time.  their entire discography (with the exception of Come On, Die Young and their remix album), is just as good, and if you like emotional, raw music that can also be gentle and nurturing and all those other matronly words, then Mogwai is the band for you.

this is the kind of music i want playing as i journey across the galaxy to save my father from military execution, only to arrive too late with too little.

Mogwai—Ratts of the Capital—Happy Songs for Happy People