How Strange, Innocence
Explosions in the Sky · 2000
48 min · 7 tracks · post-rock
Ethereal guitar layers weave through expansive soundscapes, creating a contemplative atmosphere that invites introspection and emotional exploration.
Top tracks — play these first
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Snow and Lights — This track showcases the band's ability to build tension and release through layered instrumentation, setting a precedent for their future works.
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Magic Hours — With its slow build and climactic finish, this song encapsulates the essence of post-rock dynamics, blending melody with powerful crescendos.
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Remember Me as a Time of Day — This track exemplifies the band's reflective style, combining delicate guitar work with evocative soundscapes that linger long after listening.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album's expansive soundscapes and emotional crescendos establish it as a notable entry in post-rock.
What we noticed
- The album features long, gradual build-ups in each track, often culminating in climactic crescendos that evoke a sense of emotional release.
- Each song typically follows a structure of alternating quiet, introspective sections with louder, more intense passages, creating dynamic contrasts.
- The use of layered guitar melodies creates a rich texture, with each instrument contributing to the overall atmospheric soundscape.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- long, immersive listening sessions
- gradual builds and payoffs
- atmospheric background focus
- dynamic emotional journeys
Where this album fits
- Career context
- How Strange, Innocence marks the debut album of Explosions in the Sky, released on January 17, 2000. At this stage, the band was emerging from the Texas music scene, having honed their skills through local shows and an EP release. This album laid the groundwork for their signature post-rock sound characterized by intricate melodies and dynamic crescendos.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Godspeed You! Black Emperor· Sigur Rós· Mono
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 A Song for Our Fathers 5:44
- 2 Snow and Lights 8:18
- 3 Magic Hours 8:33
- 4 Look Into the Air 5:25
- 5 Glittering Blackness 5:28
- 6 Time Stops 9:55
- 7 Remember Me as a Time of Day 5:18
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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