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Album Details

• Artist: Mogwai
• Album: Mr. Beast
• Label: Matador
• Year of Release: 2006
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2006-02-28

Mr. Beast marks a bit of a change for the Scottish group, Mogwai. There is a lot more piano then they have used previously. I've always said that I wouldn't get another album after Young Team, thinking I didn't want to dilute the brilliance of this album, but then was turned onto Rock Action a number of years ago and have bought everything since for fear of missing some of their amazing innovation. While the prospect of of having piano on almost all of the songs makes Mogwai sound like Ben Folds but in practice, these guys can still get heavy as hell on tracks like "Glasgo Mega-Snake", a mega-heavy guitar song. Then we are treated to some programmed drums on "Acid Fool" with some mystery vocals. There is also vocals on "Travel Is Dangerous". Seems to work. "Friend of the Night" is the first UK single from the album and it is another one of the piano tracks. It is very atmospheric and ebbs and flows like we have come to respect Mogwai for.
I read an interview with the band that stated the title of the album came from one of those signs people hold up at airports, "Mr. Beast". It turns out to be a very appropriate title for this album. While I think Young Team still holds a place in my heart as the best Mogwai album to date, Mr. Beast is still a fine album, showing the band is willing to experiment a little more.

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