Great Music While High: Mogwai

Mogwai makes the kind of music that almost seems designed to be listened to while high. A post-rock band from Glasgow, Scotland, Mogwai have been bringing blissful (mostly) instrumental rock tunes into the world for almost two decades, and have developed a following of listeners who enjoy being pushed out of their sonic comfort zone.

I first encountered Mogwai in high school, when a friend tuned me onto bands like Explosions in the Sky, Sigur Rios, and Godspeed You Black Emperor! Something about bands who songs contain little to no lyrics and stretched on well past the 10 and 15 minute mark seemed to appeal to whatever kind of feelings of teenage rebellion were brewing in me and I spent at least 6 months listening to nothing but drone-y bands that played their guitars with a cello bow and had more members than could reasonably be accounted for at any one time.

Of all of those groups, I think I still enjoy Mogwai the most because despite staying in the post-rock genre for album to album, their sound has always grown and expanded and left plenty of room for sonic growth. From their 1997 debut album “Young Team” to their most recent release, this year’s “Rave Tapes”, there’s always been something to keep you coming back to Mogwai’s world.

Best album title ever?

My personal favorites are “Mr. Beast” from 2006 and 2011’s “Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will”, the latter of which may just be the best album title of all time. The lush guitars and other sonic world-building sounds combine with the always loud rhythm section to create this effect that, while easily comparable to other post-rock bands, is completely unique to Mogwai.

So if you’re a weedist that is looking to expand their musical palette after a good sessh, check out Mogwai and prepare to have your mind blown.

Check out other posts from Weedist’s Great Music While High series!