In an unusual turn of events, Denton's Midlake were heralded as the next big thing in the UK before anyone had really ever heard of them here in Texas. Signed to The Cocteau Twins' label Bella Union (which is also home to Explosions In The Sky), Midlake toured Europe behind lo-fi debut album Bamnan and Slivercork before returning home to create a defining work. They finally received some domestic notice with the release of......

15. Mogwai - Mr. Beast (Matador) As ever, Mogwai manage to blend unadulterated post-rock weight to their shoegazer tendencies with tracks like "Glasgow Mega Snake" and "Folk Death 95," showcasing their ability to create anthems with no words. This is where Mr. Beast really shines, in between blistering chord progressions and gradual swings into corybantic climaxes. In some ways a throwback to earlier (and heavier) Mogwai material, Mr. Beast isn't merely a rock album.......