Mogwai

Add Date: February 1 

Artist: Mogwai 

Album: Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will 

Label: Sub Pop 

Genre: Rock, post-rock 

Comments: Another record of stunning beauty and scope from the Scottish post-rock masters Mogwai. There are some other noteworthy bands that make truly interesting instrumental rock, but in my mind none have the capacity to engage like these Glaswegians. After a string of successful releases on Matador--most recently 2008's The Hawk Is Howling--the band has now jumped to Sub Pop for Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will.

Yes, the album title is comical, and there are tracks named "George Square Thatcher Death Party" (one of the record's best), "You're Lionel Richie" and "How to Be a Werewolf," but those aren't really even a distraction once you delve into the majestic, sweeping, orchestral rock of the group's seventh studio LP. Drawing on influences that range from Slint to Black Sabbath, Mogwai continue to impress. From NPR: "Though early essentials like [1997 track] 'Mogwai Fear Satan' will never fade to gray, there's reason to believe that the band's best work is still on the horizon."

Check out tracks 7, 8, 5 and 1.