Explosions in the Sky

The band name Explosions in the Sky might seem a little grandiose, but really, it's too specific — the all-instrumental Texas quartet explodes pretty much everywhere it goes, from sold-out concert halls to the band's four critically drooled-upon full-lengths. (The latest and greatest, All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone, arrived in mid-February.) Oddly enough, all that bombastic noise rock emanates from four shy young men whose hype rests more on the shoulders of critics than any self-promotion. That duality of modesty versus extravagance permeates the band's music, which juxtaposes soft, carefully crafted melodies against screaming guitars and walls of sound. Call the band whatever you like — it's the music that's indescribable.