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Don’t Mess With Texas is a four-piece instrumental act from Zagreb, Croatia. Even though they have only been together for a little over a year they have developed a well-honed sound that mixes haunting atmospherics and angular art rock.

Their self-titled release opens with “Sound Of One Lung Filling With Water,” an eerie track that is based around a simple piano line and repetitive drum beat, while in the background a guitar fires off echo and delay-tinged bursts. This goes on for almost 5 minutes before the song shifts to a faster tempo and the music suddenly sounds like a scene from a suspense thriller or the soundtrack to a late night drive home through the rain. Eventually the distortion kicks in on the guitar and the song rocks out its last couple minutes.

From there the band shifts to its more rock-oriented side with “This Plane Is Definitely Crashing.” The guitar, bass, and drums almost sound like a Cursive song while the piano adds a layer of melody to the post-punk crunch.

The rest of the album follows the formulas established by the first two songs. “We Excused Ourselves To The Bathroom And Had A Little Cry,” starts with a brooding tremolo rich guitar and slowcore beat before breaking into a driving closing movement. “Marijana, Daj Stani,” recalls the Album Leaf with its clean guitar notes and jazzy piano flourishes, but stays true to Don’t Mess With Texas’s formula by building into a post-punk crescendo. “God Might Want To Change His Mind” and “You’re Not Punk And I’m Tellin’ Everyone” (which, by the way, doesn’t sound like Jawbreaker at all) close out the album with songs that shift back and forth between smooth introspective moments and loud pounding rock fits.

While some of the songs here are quite lengthy, Don’t Mess With Texas is able to hold your attention thanks to their God Speed You Black Emperor!-like structures. The songs keep you wanting to hear what comes next as they slowly build. Don’t Mess With Texas are also an interesting instrumental act because there are no gratuitous solos, extended jams, or math rock dynamics here. Instead, the band keeps things stripped down and moving so that no part seems too long, out of place, or difficult to listen to.

Even if you aren’t a fan of instrumental music you might want to check this out, because Don’t Mess With Texas sound more like instrumental moments from a post-punk band than an instrumental band with post-punk moments.



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    Posted by VitusTinnitus on 2005-04-06 20:49:12

    it appears that you are right dear sir. seems like i'm a bit out of date on my GY!BE knowledge

    Posted by greenparticle on 2005-04-06 20:32:31

    a) official site says it's Godspeed You! Black Emperor.

    http://www.brainwashed.com/godspeed/main.html

    b) this sounds good.

    c) messing with texas is all the rage with the kids nowadays, methinks.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 at 8:27 PM (EDT)

    Godspeed You! Black Emperor rocks. I'll have to check this out.

    Posted by VitusTinnitus on 2005-04-05 18:43:03

    or Godspeed You! Black Emperor...whatever.

    Posted by VitusTinnitus on 2005-04-05 18:42:10

    don't mess with texas indeed. actually, as far as i'm concerned, you can mess with dallas, houston, and el paso. just don't mess with austin, san antonio, and the surrounding hill country. i'll defend that with all the powers at my disposal. especially austin.

    and i believe that godspeed used to be Godspeed! You Black Emperor, but changed their name so the exclamation point goes at the end.

    Posted by Anchors on 2005-04-05 13:38:52
    My Score:

    I loved the SNL sketch with Ferrell as president, outlining his new 14 points, and like 7 of them were 'Don't Mess With Texas.'

    Score's for his Dubya impression.

    Posted by SethCohen on 2005-04-05 12:30:12

    Has anybody ever come to a consensus whether it's Godspeed You! Black Emperor or Godspeed You Black Emperor! Personally, I always thought it was GY!BE

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 at 11:45 AM (EDT)

    thanks for stating they're an instrumental act within the first sentence and saving me from reading the rest of the review.

    Posted by sickboi on 2005-04-05 09:00:30

    Maybe its the only English they know.

    Well, that and "McDonalds".

    Posted by mykindofmurder on 2005-04-05 03:11:12

    Dont Mess With Texas...

    I cant believe no one ever thought of it before.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 at 3:08 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i'll mess with texas all i the fuck i want. whatchoo gonna do about it niggah?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 at 1:45 AM (EDT)

    That is a cool name. Cheers.

    -an american

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 at 1:23 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Scores for the name... cuz being named Don't Mess With Texas and being from Croatia leaves me scratching my head.