I don't really like post-rock. I'm sure I've said this before. To me, it all sounds the same. It's a big race to see who can pump out the most pensive, slowly-building piece of atmospheric pointlessness. Post-rock is elevator muzak for people who want to feel conflicted.

Mogwai has always been on the edge of post-rock, so close to teetering over into something else, because of their chugging, heavy guitars. Still, I've never gotten into them: most of the music I listen to really needs words or a discernible melody for me to latch onto and enjoy. My music needs hooks: post-rock seems to be about the distinct lack of hooks.

Imagine my surprise however when I listened to the new Mogwai album (and this is how you know I am awesome: I don't really like a band but I'll listen to their new releases---I even, unfortunately, listened to the latest Britney Spears single; I am suffering agony for you people) and it was really, really good. It's so good I wouldn't even call it post-rock, I'd call it, like, uhm, post-post-rock, like where the posts cancel each other out and all we're left with is great somewhat dance-able atmospheric rock music.

In some ways this album makes me feel like Mogwai is taking a step toward Holy Fuck, while Holy Fuck's last album saw them taking a step toward Mogwai. "San Pedro" and this song, "Mexican Grand Prix", sound like spiritual cousins to Holy Fuck's "Stay Lit" (which is a magnificent song and I feel very bad that I have not posted it here).

So think of the new Mogwai album like that: take a little post-rock, a little Holy Fuck, and some heavily distorted guitars, and mix 'em all together into something that sounds totally awesome. I give this album a very solid stamp of approval. Check it out when it comes out in February.