Band of the Week: The Skies We Built

[December 10-16]
The Skies We Built
Sounds Like: Indie/Instrumental/Experimental
Drinking Buddies: American Football, This Will Destroy You, Explosions In The Sky
Synopsis: Is "90s College-Rock Revival" a genre? Now it is.
Makes You Want To...: Daydream; Read a book; Walk through the park.
[Myspace]






One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is The Skies We Built.


Now, there was once, a long time ago, this era. It was called the 90s. Get this, that was a century ago! How old! A century means old, right?!

In all seriousness though, I was a wee little mongrel during the 90s. Frankly, I missed out on a lot of good music. In particular, there was a huge undercurrent of indie music beneath the glamour of boybands and pop-idols that were springing up out of the teenage landscape like pimples. The college radio scene was dominated by the likes of "real emo" bands (Fugazi), the uber-charming-yet-self-depreciative-singer-songwriters (Bright Eyes), and of course, the super indie elites (Pavement). There was also another style, which never really recieved it's due and proper a decade ago, but is still prevalent in modern indie rock. That would be the quirky blend of the undefinable mixing of 90s emo and early buddings of post-rock seen in bands like Sunny Day Real Estate, and probably the most invisible band of the 90s, American Football.


Taking after this subtle blend of emo, post-rock, jazz-inspired composition, and introspective lyrical composure in the modern age, is The Skies We Built. This was a fun band for me to catch wind of, because it was one of those accidents. After hearing them, followed via link from J Versus K's Myspace not too long ago, I was hooked. So much as a swift click of the mouse brings music I can't get out of my head. Fun times.

The Skies We Built is the modern day American Football. Ironically, these four boys hail from the same state of Illinois. Bold proposition, yes, but taking a style very reminiscent of This Will Destroy You (with a bit less repetition), the progressive sound you could hear from Do Make Say Think, and the willingness to blow your ears out with sheer musical volume, The Skies We Built takes a modern twist on a wonderful style that is all too frequently overlooked.

The Skies We Built have one EP under their belt, and have recently finished a tour throughout the States. They're oh so friendly, and would love it if you wandered over to their Myspace. In the meantime, start mailing those wish-lists to Santa (not Santana, which I almost typed), finish decorating that tree, and keep the good music flowing.