Come on Die Young

Mogwai

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 6, 1999)
• Original Release Date: April 6, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Matador Records
• ASIN: B00000I6EE
• Also Available in: Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #60,451 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com's Best of 1999
Moody, bombastic, brooding, loping, thunderous, austere, chaotic: heap on the adjectives as the young boys in Mogwai worm their way through a mostly instrumental set of guitar-heavy songscapes tinted with obscure samples and an occasional mumbled voice. Mogwai can transcend the distance between a loopy and delicate melody and a deafening and crashing crescendo in the space of a breath. Come On Die Young is a stunning, utterly original achievement. --Tod Nelson

Product Description
1999 & second album from the Scottish instrumental gro up who use dynamics and melody to mesmerize the listener. 12 tracks, including 'Punk Rock/ Puff Daddy/ AntiChrist'.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my all-time favorite CD's, January 10, 2003

By	Shane Dignan (Livonia, MI, USA) - See all my reviews

Mogwai seem to be a band that elicit two types of reactions from people, the first being that of a person who feels entranced by simple melodies and attention to detail, and the second being shock, disdain, and even anger by people who for one reason or another don't enjoy minimalism.

Personally, I find myself in the first category; to me, Come on Die Young is a fantastic album full of awe-inspiring dynamic changes, succinct tension contruction, and beautiful melodies and harmonies.

The album is a book-ended one, beginning with an aural prologue (the Iggy Pop-inspired "Punk Rock") and ending with a melodically similar epilogue (the somewhat pointedly-titled "Punk Rock/Puff Daddy/Antichrist"). These two tracks which, obviously, open and close the album, both synopsize the predominantly somber album, and understate the aural gems between them.

"CODY" really starts the album off. The only track featuring vocals, CODY's whispered harmonies and reflective lyrics set the stage for the rest of the album: an even more introspective, quiet, and longwinded musical journey.

The next several tracks up until "May Nothing but Happiness Come Through Your Door" are essentially quiet guitar ballads that occasionally toy with small bits of tension and atmosphereic flourishes courtesy of chorused and delayed guitars. These songs are somewhat anticlimactic, but as the album goes on, it is obvious that this is at least somewhat intentional, as Mogwai continue to add more and more tension per song chronologically on the album. "May Nothing but Happiness Come Through Your Door" finds the band finally progressing into a louder (albeit predictable) climax than on any of the earlier songs on the album; the climax recedes, and the somber calm is restored once again as the album advances into "Non Y2K-Compliant Cardia."

The amp-destroying impact of the appropriately placed "Ex-Cowboy" conveys an unbelieveable torrent of frustration as the bassline winds into delayed, reverberous, overdriven guitar squeals. It is obvious that Mogwai are masters of their craft of using "the build," especially in this song, and their almost subconcious use of rising and falling tension underlying the album leads through the calm recession of "Chocky" and into my favorite track, "Christmas Steps."

"Christmas steps" begins with the final (though cliche) calm before the storm. One of the quietest introductions on the album builds slowly, recedes into a single guitar part for about a minute, and finally, the bass punctures the near-silence strumming a 5th on the upper two strings. Guitars and bass both gain volume and tempo, and finally drums enter. Distortion is activated, and finally the guitars come to the most emotional climax on the album. The song and album recede into silence.

While some people may find this approach to be tiresome or boring, the juxtaposition of these tracks versus the latter tracks slowly builds the tension until the listener is begging for release by the final "Christmas Steps," and the epilogue reminds the listener of what he/she has just experienced.

"Come on Die Young" isn't for everyone, but if you have the patience, I HIGHLY suggest giving it a listen. You may thank yourself.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Moving, Completely Moving, July 7, 2000

By	Terrance Bradford (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

Mogwai are one of the most amazing bands I have ever uncovered in my life. Their Sonic Youth-esque textures combine with Yo La Tengo's mysterious, soft guitar lines to create a truly unique sound. Wrap that up with the mystery rock of Godspeed...You Black Emperor! and you have a masterpiece on you hands. Come On Die Young can always find space in my CD changer, especially on rainy nights. I really find it hard to think on a day where I haven't listened to Punk Rock:, because it is one of the greatest tracks I have ever heard. It samples an old Iggy Pop interview, while in the background a simple, lonely guitar line accompanies it. Come On Die Young is a wonderful piece of music in general, weaving its way through a dark corridor in the mind of the listener. I truly love everything here, but my personal favorites are Punk Rock:, Cody, Waltz For Aidan, and Ex-Cowboy. Very depressing, but wonderful indeed. I really want to see them live, I heard they sound great in concert. For fans of the Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth, and the new Yo La Tengo.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Compelling Stuff!!, April 22, 2001

By	Ian Creamer (Dublin,Ireland) - See all my reviews

As post rock albums go-this one by Mogwai happens to be one of my favourites.Not as loud at all as their first album in fact the songs on this c.d. have a slower,more mellow meanadering feel to them.

The album starts off with the song Punk Rock.This track is basically a gently strummed electric guitar which serves to be a backdrop to a speech,a very powerful and impassioned one at that given by Iggy Pop.It may sound a bit dull but despite repeated listens I still found this song still has a powerful longevity to it.Cody-the next song actually has vocals with it.These vocals are almost whispered-but the harmonies are really good and it's 6:33 of real laid back mellow heaven.The next song follows the same slow tempo as nearly all the songs on this c.d.No vocals or speeches on this song.What you do have is guitar,punchy drums,various woodwind and brass sounding instruments which almost but not quite drown out the sound of a sports commentator describing some match.The mood they capture here is so apt-you know a really lazy day where you can sometimes be listening to music and watching the t.v. simultaneously.

The next few songs are again fairly slow,ambient,mellow guitar instrumentals.They are not as interesting as the first 3.Song 6-"Waltz For Aidan" has an almost happy feel to it which is quite unusual for this album,because I would certainly describe the overall mood as being reflective and almost sombre.The 7th track,with the very long title is a brilliant 8 minute moody epic.Once again the loud and slow heavy thud of the drums;but this time the guitar sounds so feint as does the interaction it has with an even feinter sounding organ.I can't see this track being played too often on mainstream radio not that does not deny it's brilliance.The next song has a real Asian feel to it.From the opening sounds of what sounds like a woman chanting,to it's chiming bell songs-and throughout this short song it sound like an old record being played when there is way to much dust on the needle.Track 9 which runs for a very apt 9 mins 9 secs builds up very gradually.The drumming is far busier on this song and the guitars build up from simple strumming to very,very loud.The volume changes regularly but the changes happen very slowly indeed.Once again the mood is very stark and it's one of the most eerily atmostpheric songs I've yet heard.The next song is even longer and added to the guitars you've got piano as the main instrument.The 11th track is longer again and here they add the violin to the array of instruments used up to now.They use a trombone on the final short track and yes once again it's slow moving and very atmostpheric,with all sorts of sounds going on in the background including a feint reenactment of Iggy Pop's speech on the first track.

It took me quite a long time to really get into this c.d.At 67 minutes it is quite a marathon.The rewards of persverance though certainly are worth it.It probably won't be to everyones liking and some people may find it a bit boring.But if you like music that is strong on mood and is a bit of a challenge I think you'd enjoy this c.d.