'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!

Last updated

'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!.jpg
Studio album by
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
ReleasedOctober 1, 2012 (2012-10-01) [1]
Recorded2011 [2]
Studio Hotel2Tango, Montreal
Genre
Length53:09 [4]
Label Constellation
Producer
Godspeed You! Black Emperor chronology
Yanqui U.X.O.
(2002)		'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!
(2012)		 Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress
(2015)

'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! (sometimes stylized in all caps) is the fourth studio album by Canadian post-rock band Godspeed You! Black Emperor, released by Constellation Records. It was their first album since 2002's Yanqui U.X.O. . After reforming in 2010, the group went on tour and silently released the album at a concert in Boston [5] on October 1, 2012, with official release dates on October 15 in Europe and the following day in other countries. [1] The album received positive reviews and has been heralded as a comeback for the collective, winning the 2013 Polaris Music Prize. [6]

Contents

The album marked the beginning of a major stylistic change for Godspeed You! Black Emperor, being less technically complex and emphasizing further on drones while abandoning the concept of movements altogether – a compositional format they would continue to employ until 2021's G_d's Pee at State's End! .

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic? 8.0/10 [7]
Metacritic 81/100 [8]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [3]
The A.V. Club B+ [9]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [10]
The Independent Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [12]
The Observer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [13]
Pitchfork 9.3/10 [14]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [15]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [16]
Spin 9/10 [17]

'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! received positive reviews from critics. Eli Kleman of Sputnikmusic stated that the album has "immeasurable breadth and depth" and is a "truly unforgettable experience". [18] Drowned in Sound 's Andrzej Lukowski said that the release is "a modestly magnificent record that entirely validates" the band reforming. [19] Mark Richardson of Pitchfork also draws a connection between the group's entire output, finishing his review by calling this "an album of music that is both new and old from a band that we thought we might never hear from again, one we should appreciate while we can". [14] Tyler Kane of Paste gave the album an 8.9 out of 10, writing that, "the time-tested tracks not only showcase the band doing what they do best in notoriously long, dramatic, panic-inducing instrumentals but are also startling reminders on why the band was so vital and lead such a movement to begin with". [20] The Guardian 's Dom Lawson gave the album 5 out of 5 stars, because "the Godspeed ethos of wordlessly eliciting universal truths remains as devastatingly effective as ever". [10]

The album was listed 13th on Stereogum's list of top 50 albums of 2012. [21]

The album won the 2013 Polaris Music Prize on September 23, 2013. [22]

Track listing

The vinyl edition of the album packages the lengthier tracks "Mladic" and "We Drift Like Worried Fire" on a 12" LP accompanied by a 7" featuring the shorter, "drone" tracks "Their Helicopters Sing" and "Strung Like Lights at Thee Printemps Erable". [4] On the 12"'s inner sleeve there are instructions regarding which order the sides are to be played as this differs from most vinyl albums. The vinyl track listing is, in fact: A1 ("Mladic"), B1 ("Their Helicopters Sing"), A2 ("We Drift Like Worried Fire") and B2 ("Strung Like Lights at Thee Printemps Erable"). The CD edition of the album compiles all four tracks on a single disc. [4] "Mladic" and "We Drift Like Worried Fire" are re-workings of previously unreleased live tracks formerly known as "Albanian" and "Gamelan", which have been performed live as far back as 2003. [4]

Compact Disc

  1. "Mladic" – 19:59
  2. "Their Helicopters' Sing" – 6:30
  3. "We Drift Like Worried Fire" – 20:07
  4. "Strung Like Lights at Thee Printemps Erable" – 6:31

12" (A)

  1. "Mladic" – 19:53
  2. "We Drift Like Worried Fire" – 19:57

7" (B)

  1. "Their Helicopters' Sing" – 6:24
  2. "Strung Like Lights at Thee Printemps Erable" – 6:25

Personnel

Godspeed You! Black Emperor [23]

Technical personnel [23]

Charts

Chart performance for 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!
Chart (2012)Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [24] 49
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [25] 118
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [26] 95
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [27] 47
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [28] 94
UK Albums (OCC) [29] 41
US Billboard 200 [30] 45
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [31] 9
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard) [32] 13
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [33] 18

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Godspeed You! Black Emperor</span> Canadian experimental music group

Godspeed You! Black Emperor is a Canadian post-rock band which originated in Montreal, Quebec in 1994. The group releases recordings through Constellation, an independent record label also located in Montreal. After the release of their debut album, F♯ A♯ ∞, in 1997, the group toured regularly from 1998 to 2003. Their second album, 2000's Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven, received critical acclaim and has been named as one of the best albums of the decade. This was followed by 2002's Yanqui U.X.O. In 2003, the band went on hiatus in order for members to pursue other musical interests. In the intervening period, the group was occasionally rumored to have broken up, but finally reconvened in 2010. Since reforming, they have released four more albums: 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! (2012), which won the 2013 Polaris Music Prize; Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress (2015); Luciferian Towers (2017); and G_d's Pee at State's End! (2021).

Constellation Records is a Canadian independent record label based in Montreal, Quebec. It has released albums by many post-rock bands, including Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band and Do Make Say Think.

<i>All Lights Fucked on the Hairy Amp Drooling</i> Album by Godspeed You! Black Emperor

All Lights Fucked on the Hairy Amp Drooling is a cassette released in 1994 by Canadian musician Efrim Menuck, using the name God Speed You Black Emperor!. Given a limited release of 33 cassette copies in December 1994, the album quickly fell into obscurity and was thought lost by the band's fans, often described as the "Holy Grail of Post-Rock". Segments of the tape were leaked online in 2013 and the full recording surfaced in 2022, after which Menuck officially re-released the album on Bandcamp.

<i>Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven</i> 2000 studio album by Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven, or Levez Vos Skinny Fists Comme Antennas to Heaven on the rear of physical releases, is the second studio album by Canadian post-rock band Godspeed You! Black Emperor, released as a double album on October 9, 2000, on vinyl by Constellation and November 8, 2000, on CD by Kranky. It has been listed on multiple decade-end lists as one of the greatest albums of the 2000s.

<i>F♯ A♯ ∞</i> 1997 studio album by Godspeed You! Black Emperor

F♯ A♯ ∞ is the debut studio album by Canadian post-rock band Godspeed You! Black Emperor. It was first released on August 14, 1997, through Constellation Records on a single LP and on June 8, 1998, through Kranky on CD. The CD version and the LP version have substantial differences between them. Recorded at the Hotel2Tango in the Mile End of Montreal, the album, as became common for the band, is devoid of traditional lyrics and is mostly instrumental, featuring lengthy songs segmented into movements. It was initially released in limited quantities, and distributed through live performances and developed a cult following via word of mouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Efrim Menuck</span> Canadian musician

Efrim Manuel Menuck is a Canadian musician involved with a number of Montreal-based bands, most notably Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra. Menuck is also a frequent record producer and engineer, working with musicians from Montreal and abroad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie Trudeau (musician)</span> Canadian singer and violinist

Sophie Trudeau is a Canadian musician. She is best known as a member of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and co-founder of Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band. She also plays in a number of other bands, including Valley of the Giants and The Mile End Ladies String Auxiliary.

Thierry Amar is a Canadian musician, engineer and producer. He is a member of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, Earthquake Architecture, The Craig Pedersen Quartet and Black Ox Orkestar.

Aidan Girt is a Canadian drummer for the Montreal-based post-rock collectives Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and Exhaust. He is also a solo electronic artist under the names OSB, 1-Speed Bike, and Bottleskup Flenkenkenmike and continues to record in Some Became Hollow Tubes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra</span> Canadian band

Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra is a Canadian post-rock band that formed in 1999, originating from Montreal, Quebec. Variations of the name used on the band's releases include A Silver Mt. Zion, The Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, The Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-La-La Band with Choir and Thee Silver Mountain Reveries; the group uses the shorthand SMZ and its name is most often simplified to Silver Mt. Zion. The group was founded by Godspeed You! Black Emperor leader Efrim Menuck, who was joined by fellow Godspeed members Sophie Trudeau and Thierry Amar. Aside from these core members, Silver Mt. Zion has undergone almost yearly personnel changes, evolving by stages from a mostly instrumental trio at the time of its first recordings into an eight-piece group, and then in 2008 into a strongly vocal quintet.

ADBA may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessica Moss</span> Musician

Jessica Moss is a Canadian musician best known for playing violin and singing backing vocals in the post-rock band Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band since 2001. She is a founding member of Black Ox Orkestar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Moya</span> Canadian rock musician

Mike Moya is a Canadian rock musician, who is one of the founding members of post-rock band Godspeed You! Black Emperor. He left the band in 1998 to concentrate on his other bands Molasses, Set Fire to Flames and HṚṢṬA., but rejoined the band during their reunion in 2010. He was part of the live band of labelmate Elizabeth Anka Vajagic. He lives between Berlin and Montreal with his partner Maria Hinze and their family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Michaels (writer)</span> Canadian novelist, music critic, and blogger

Sean Michaels is a Scottish-born novelist, music critic, and blogger. Based in Montreal, Quebec, he has written about music for publications such as The Guardian, McSweeney's, The Believer, Pitchfork, Maisonneuve, The Observer, The Wire and The National Post. His weekly music column, Heartbeats, debuted in The Globe & Mail in 2015.

<i>Yanqui U.X.O.</i> 2002 studio album by Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Yanqui U.X.O. is the third studio album by Canadian post-rock band Godspeed You! Black Emperor, released on November 4, 2002 by Constellation. It was recorded by Steve Albini at Electrical Audio in Chicago in late 2001, and was the band's first album released after their slight name change. Lacking both their characteristic interwoven field recordings and specifically named movements, the album was instead described by the band as "just raw, angry, dissonant, epic instrumental rock". Shortly after its release, the group announced an indefinite hiatus so band members could pursue differing musical interests; it was their last album for a decade until the release of 2012's 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!.

The 2013 edition of the Canadian Polaris Music Prize was presented on September 23, 2013 at The Carlu event theatre in Toronto, Ontario.

<i>Luciferian Towers</i> 2017 album by Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Luciferian Towers is the sixth studio album by Canadian post-rock band Godspeed You! Black Emperor, released on 22 September 2017 by Constellation Records

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Bryant (musician)</span> Musical artist

David Bryant is a Canadian musician, recording engineer, and film-maker best known for being a member of Montreal-based bands Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Set Fire to Flames, and Hiss Tracts. In 2015, he co-directed the film Quiet Zone and has written music for other films.

<i>G_ds Pee at States End!</i> 2021 studio album by Godspeed You! Black Emperor

G_d's Pee at State's End! is the seventh studio album by Canadian post-rock band Godspeed You! Black Emperor, released on 2 April 2021 by Constellation Records.

References

  1. 1 2 Thiessen, Brock (October 1, 2012). "Godspeed You! Black Emperor Return with First New Album in a Decade". Exclaim! . Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  2. ↑ Bevan, David (May 27, 2011). "Reunited Post-Rock Titans Godspeed You! Black Emperor Currently Working on New Music". Pitchfork . Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 Jurek, Thom. "'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! – Godspeed You! Black Emperor". AllMusic . Archived from the original on June 12, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Constellation Records: Godspeed You! Black Emperor – "'ALLELUJAH! DON'T BEND! ASCEND!"". Constellation Records. October 1, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  5. ↑ Young, Alex (October 2, 2012). "Godspeed You! Black Emperor release first album in a decade!". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  6. ↑ Minsker, Evan (September 23, 2013). "Godspeed You! Black Emperor Win Polaris Music Prize". Pitchfork . Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  7. ↑ "'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! by Godspeed You! Black Emperor reviews". AnyDecentMusic? . Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Reviews for 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! by Godspeed You! Black Emperor". Metacritic . Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  9. ↑ Heller, Jason (October 16, 2012). "Godspeed You! Black Emperor: 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!". The A.V. Club . Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  10. 1 2 Lawson, Dom (October 18, 2012). "Godspeed You! Black Emperor Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! – review". The Guardian . London. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  11. ↑ Price, Simon (October 14, 2012). "Album: Godspeed You! Black Emperor, 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! (Constellation)" . The Independent . London. Archived from the original on May 1, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Godspeed You! Black Emperor: 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!". Mojo (230): 91. January 2013.
  13. ↑ Empire, Kitty (October 21, 2012). "Godspeed You! Black Emperor: Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! – review". The Observer . London. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  14. 1 2 Richardson, Mark (October 15, 2012). "Godspeed You! Black Emperor: Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!". Pitchfork . Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Godspeed You! Black Emperor: 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!". Q (318): 105. January 2013.
  16. ↑ Hermes, Will (November 19, 2012). "Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!". Rolling Stone . Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  17. ↑ Weingarten, Christopher R. (October 15, 2012). "Godspeed You! Black Emperor, 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!' (Constellation)". Spin . Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  18. ↑ Klemen, Eli (October 5, 2012). "Godspeed You! Black Emperor – 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
  19. ↑ Lukowski, Andrzej (October 8, 2012). "Album Review: Godspeed You! Black Emperor – 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!". Drowned in Sound . Archived from the original on April 3, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
  20. ↑ Kane, Tyler (October 16, 2012). "Godspeed You! Black Emperor: 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!". Paste . Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  21. ↑ "Stereogum's Top 50 Albums Of 2012". December 5, 2012.
  22. ↑ "Polaris Music Prize". Archived from the original on October 15, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  23. 1 2 "Constellation Records: Godspeed You! Black Emperor – "'ALLELUJAH! DON'T BEND! ASCEND!" – Product Shots". Constellation Records. October 1, 2012. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  24. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Godspeed You Black Emperor! – Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Godspeed You Black Emperor! – Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  26. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Godspeed You Black Emperor! – Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Godspeed You Black Emperor!: Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  28. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Godspeed You Black Emperor! – Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  29. ↑ "Godspeed You Black Emperor | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  30. ↑ "Godspeed You Black Emperor Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Godspeed You Black Emperor Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  32. ↑ "Godspeed You Black Emperor Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  33. ↑ "Godspeed You Black Emperor Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.