format: allgear
voting categories: texture | buildup | wall of sound | riff city | faded skinny jeans
post-rock as a genre is loosely defined by experimentation with different textures and song forms than traditional rock music; often it is instrumental, but its instrumentation is usually more-or-less a rock band, sometimes with auxiliary horns or strings, and sometimes with electronics.
the genre casts a pretty wide net, but usually targets a contemplative and/or emotional aesthetic. (darkness optional) guitars are often laden with delay/reverb, and tremolo-picking is a frequent technique for a big, spacey sound.
one common feature of post-rock music is longer song structures that often build up to huge "payoff" loud sections. (here is a cool example on BotB!) the extremes of quietness and loudness are often both utilized. don't be afraid to get noisy.
not all post-rock bands approach harmony the same, but most of the time the progressions differ from standard rock chords. some are riffier than others, indeed pushing into what has also been termed "post-metal", but oftentimes warmer harmonies are utilized, more akin to modern ambient or "neo-classical". some bands even sound like instrumental midwest emo.
ultimately the unifying aspect is a use of predominantly rock instrumentation to make experimental non-rock-like music, so if you are not familiar with the genre that should be your angle of attack!
a few notable examples:
Explosions in the Sky - Your Hand in Mine (harmony, form, texture)
Do Make Say Think - Fredericia (more experimental harmony, form)
Caspian - Moksha (form, guitar tones, drums)
65daysofstatic - Mountainhead (incorporation of electronic elements)
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - The Dead Flag Blues (extremely long prog-like form, gloomier aesthetic, incorporation of strings and found-sound/musique concrete)
Mono - Pure as Snow (Trails of the Winter Storm) (orchestral incorporation and form, guitar tone, Japanese aesthetic)
