This album, when listened to in a good pair of headphones, gives a taste of TWDY's live presence in a perfect setlist comprised of the best of the band's discography. I'm seething with jealousy over the lucky audience that witnessed this performance in Iceland, but grateful the band thought to record and share it with the rest of us.
Review: This Will Destroy You – Live In Reykjavik, Iceland
National Music Reviews
This Will Destroy You
Live In Reykjavik, Iceland
Magic Bullet
Street: 10.29
This Will Destroy You = Utah Symphony + Explosions In The Sky
When I first read Rumi in college, I was most intrigued by the Whirling Dervishes. By listening to music, letting go of egos and inhibitions, and spinning in circles, the Dervishes find this inner ecstasy that expands their spiritual awareness and sometimes even grants them physical euphoria. I didn’t think this was really possible without the help of drugs, but This Will Destroy You proved me wrong the first time I saw them live at Kilby Court. The small garage swelled with the dynamic surges of music and noise, enveloping everything around me so I felt completely alone in the crowded room, diving into my own head as the music crescendoed into a calming wall of sound. This album, when listened to in a good pair of headphones, gives a taste of TWDY’s live presence in a perfect setlist comprised of the best of the band’s discography—a good balance of dark from Tunnel Blanket and bright respites from their earlier work on Young Mountain. Though there’s no stage banter or audience applause (which would be incredibly distracting anyway) that are the usual markers for a live album, the tracks are different enough from the original recordings, with added samples and improvisation, that this is a must-have compilation for true TWDY fans. I’m seething with jealousy over the lucky audience that witnessed this performance in Iceland, but grateful the band thought to record and share it with the rest of us. Pick up the album, but don’t miss an opportunity to see them live. –Esther Meroño
Live In Reykjavik, Iceland
Magic Bullet
Street: 10.29
This Will Destroy You = Utah Symphony + Explosions In The Sky
When I first read Rumi in college, I was most intrigued by the Whirling Dervishes. By listening to music, letting go of egos and inhibitions, and spinning in circles, the Dervishes find this inner ecstasy that expands their spiritual awareness and sometimes even grants them physical euphoria. I didn’t think this was really possible without the help of drugs, but This Will Destroy You proved me wrong the first time I saw them live at Kilby Court. The small garage swelled with the dynamic surges of music and noise, enveloping everything around me so I felt completely alone in the crowded room, diving into my own head as the music crescendoed into a calming wall of sound. This album, when listened to in a good pair of headphones, gives a taste of TWDY’s live presence in a perfect setlist comprised of the best of the band’s discography—a good balance of dark from Tunnel Blanket and bright respites from their earlier work on Young Mountain. Though there’s no stage banter or audience applause (which would be incredibly distracting anyway) that are the usual markers for a live album, the tracks are different enough from the original recordings, with added samples and improvisation, that this is a must-have compilation for true TWDY fans. I’m seething with jealousy over the lucky audience that witnessed this performance in Iceland, but grateful the band thought to record and share it with the rest of us. Pick up the album, but don’t miss an opportunity to see them live. –Esther Meroño
Photos:
