Known for bringing an emotional heft and sense of hope to a usually placid genre, Explosions in the Sky have experienced the kind of meteoric rise in popularity that flies in the face of music industry convention. Their songs are too long for radio play or commercial music videos; they avoid performing in LiveNation/Clear Channel venues; they didn't jump to a major label; and they don't sing. After scoring the film "Friday Night Lights", they took two years to work on this record, which is a massive leap forward, showcasing a broader instrumental range and their most focused, efficient songwriting. RIYL: Radiohead, Sigur Ros, Mogwai, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Mono.