Russian Circles

"Post-rock" may not be the most ridiculous descriptor in contemporary music; I'd cast my vote for either "sadcore" or "neo-prog." Still, the term means next to nothing when it's applied to a band like Russian Circles, which co-stars on this roster with Daughters and Young Widows. On 2006's Enter and...

By Michael Roberts

June 5, 2008

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"Post-rock" may not be the most ridiculous descriptor in contemporary music; I'd cast my vote for either "sadcore" or "neo-prog." Still, the term means next to nothing when it's applied to a band like Russian Circles, which co-stars on this roster with Daughters and Young Widows. On 2006's Enter and the just-issued Station, the three, currently comprising guitarist Mike Sullivan, drummer Dave Turncrantz and new bassist Brian Cook (of These Arms Are Snakes notoriety), use rock rudiments in the service of vast instrumental opuses encompassing both metallic workouts and serene, bucolic passages that are almost orchestral in nature. The combination sounds pretentious, and it is, to some degree. Yet the juxtapositions tend to keep at least some of the indulgence at bay: Just when a segment starts seeming overly sweet, monstrous riffs expunge any and all hints of treacle. And that's good, whether Russian Circles' music is post-rock, pre-rock or anything in between.
Fri., June 6, 7:30 p.m., 2008

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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