Each day in December, I’ll be reflecting back on a song from the 2000’s. The decade saw the return of post-punk and the popularization of folk music, all while some of music’s biggest acts gained their indie footing. Thankfully, it’s a period that I can look back at fondly without cringing. #31DaysOf2000sSongs
One of the more intriguing artists of our time is Mogwai, a band that is completely in its element concocting atmospheric instrumental tracks where the guitars, keyboard, drums and bass seem to be delivering unspoken lyrics to the listener. Without vocals on the majority of its catalog, Mogwai is a prime example of addition by subtraction. While I’m not the biggest fan, few can disagree that the band has found an interesting niche and expanded the possibilities of indie rock. “The Sun Smells Too Loud”, in particular, is probably one of my favorite tracks of theirs.
Some Mogwai song titles seem to fit the instrumentation of the music so well. However, I can’t really make any sense of this one. That said, “The Sun Smells Too Loud” is like a celebration of the senses. The shoegazy veneer exudes through that signature distorted guitar hook, while the post-rock soul of the song cuts through with the complimentary timbres of the synthesizer. The rolling tom hits are the distinguishing percussion persona of the song. All this to say, “The Sun Smells Too Loud” feels like a mind-expanding exploration of the self every time I hear it.