All I can say is that I am speechless. I am listening to East Hasting as I write this and I feel like I'm out of my skull. THIS ALBUM IS THE REASON TO BUY VINYL. The tracks are much longer that mp3 or CD cuts and the package as a while is astounding. The vinyl is a crisp 140 or 180 gram LP with almost ZERO warp or surface noise. On the vinyl itself is hand etched a message saying "Beautiful". The labels are a flat black and don't even tell you what song you are about to unleash. I say this because East Hastings takes up this entire side. The packaging is the original 1997 pressing and the red cover has the simple image on it of the sign and the black sky. While looking at the cross on the back three thing fell out. There was a print of a train, a falling bomb resembling a ticket, and a flattened Canadian penny, which from the damage on it I presume was done so by a train. No other LP has left my speechless by the presentation, quality and mystique of this package. For the price I paid (under $20) I state again, This album is the reason WHY WE BY VINYL RECORDS.

Flawless, yet the flaws are what make it great.

I read many raving reviews of this album and bought it, but now I am thinking if I have listened to the same album??? It seems pretenscious mediocrity, some people talking some "profound" bull and then the music coming, unfortunately most all of it un-interesting. This band has ambitions but no creative talents. They think they can make music like Pink Floyd but what comes out is garage sale.

While having a seriously ridiculous cold and having injested far too much caugh syrup I decided to listen to this album after months of loving it but never giving it my full attention as doing that is a feet in itself. But upon this listen it was that I finally gave it my ultimate un-divided attention, and Im thankful I did. I have never been able to listen to nor look at this the same way again.

It's a flawless piece of musical work and one that should and must be listened to, to fully appreciate. The vast epicness of the album is something that I can't even begin to think about describing. The album once divided is weak but added together as a whole is one of the most cohesive pieces of work I have ever heard musically.

After reading a ton of reviews about ho awfully dreadful and boring this album can be all I can suggest is injest some caugh syrup.

I'm sure you've read countless reviews praising Godspeed You Black Emperor!, saying they made the best sounds your ears can ever experience. I can probably say pretty safely that they are the band that is most consistently people's favorite in post-rock. They're generally considered to be the archetypical best in that genre.

The thing is, I'm just not sure I get it. I've listened to "Yanqui U.X.O." and now I have "F#A#oo," but I'm still not convinced that I'm getting the same experience as everyone else. Sometimes, I love Godspeed!, sometimes I hate them, and sometimes I'm indifferent.

One thing I can certainly say about "F#A#oo" is that it's interesting. If you haven't heard anything like it before, you'll probably really enjoy the novelty of it. And if you're one of those cool kids who likes to hate American government and society, you'll really enjoy the monologues. That said, I think it's really interesting that the band likes to hate America so much, given that they're from Montreal. I can't really figure out why they're so intense in their criticism of the United States.

My reaction to this album is one of confusion. There is not very much that is particularly enjoyable or memorable on it. There is never really a point where I say, "Wow, this is really great," like I do on other albums that I actually like. However, I seem to keep coming back and listening to it. After you listen to Godspeed!, you tend to start to think that a lot of other music is mindless and trivial. Which, of course, is exactly what they want you to think.

In short, if you're up for an interesting foray into what some people think is the cream of the musical crop, go for it. If you're looking for something that is pleasurable, maybe you should stay away.

Godspeed's debut was an interesting far cry away from the precise celestial attacks they would flesh out on subsequent outings. These rural, idea-intensive sketches flow by underwhelming when put in a three part context, but do indeed contain enough committed existential dread paired with minimalist melody to indicate why the committed collective would continue to sonically rattle many compositional cages.

If you've ever wondered what the end of the world was like, listen to this album.

If I was told this would become one of my favorite albums of all time a few years ago I'd laugh it off. Looking back I regret not getting into this band sooner. Godspeed! You Black Emperer are a Canadian Post-Rock group consisting of nine members. Who seem to have a knack at making music that transcends both structure and art as a whole.

Blending orchestrated segments together with rock instrumentation, and pretentious ambiance, Godspeed is a band you'll be finding yourself listening to again and again. Three tracks flow in courses or movements if you will, but bind together so cohesively it'd be pointless to choose a certain segment and call it a day. Spanning out enough to breach the hour mark, along with it the fastest hour you will ever encounter.

GY!BE isn't for everyone. If you're a fan of the Post-Rock scene you should be quite familiar with the long durations and hopefully of developed the skills (to be a patient listener). To people familiar with pop formated tunes this can be a lot to digest, never say never just start slow. Ease yourself into more progressive material! Try starting out with the band Explosions In The Sky, a more garage orientated post-rock band.

I really wish I could say more then other reviewers to make my review that much more important. Unfortunately I can't, I believe this is an album where the plot is your variable. The atmosphere though is quite dark in nature, gloomily triumphant though. Danny Boyle, director of "28 Days Later", claims this to be the ultimate soundtrack for his film. Depicting the post-apocalyptic virally infected ruins of England, survivors struggle to reach safety . If an album can inspire imagery of that magnitude, no telling what you could imagine. I find it great when coupled with a good book, or on a rainy afternoon. The music is so full, and never will you be greeted to enduring anything less then top notch. Never falling victim to the loudness wars, this album has range!

Do yourself a favor buy it, if you're not satisfied come back to it at a later time. It's an album that really grows on you, and if you're willing to let it expand I'm sure it will. This album currently resides in my top five favorite albums, and along with it the reward of being played on a frequented basis.

I purchased this album today and... WOW. Fans of GY!BE will flip. The final track loops indefinitely on my record player (this is not a defect), the artwork is beautiful (way better than the CD), and it came with a genuine Canadian penny that's been "flattened by passing trains". This version of F#A#(infinity) is a beautiful piece of art and an excellent addition to any GY!BE fan's collection.

F#A#' was recorded at the Hotel2Tango in spring 1997 on a rented 16-track tape deck and supplemented with various field recordings. In the preceding year, the band had taken shape as a quasi-orchestral outfit involving most of the current players and had mounted a number of live performances combining multiple film projections with sense-rattling sonics., This is the first recorded document of godspeed as a large band and is soaring, fragile, awkward, heartbreaking stuff. Constellation released a vinyl-only pressing of 500 copies in August 1997, with LP jackets hand made by the label, the band, and various local artisans. It has since gone through many re-presses, with virtually all of the original packaging elements preserved. The opening monologue on side one (Dead Flag Blues) is taken from Incomplete Movie About Jail, an unfinished film by guitarist Efrim.

i have the lp of this. some time was actually put into it.

it comes with a etching of a train and an actual penny that was run over by a train. the lp misses the song providence. on side b(east hastings) the very end repeats forvever unless you stop the record. giving more meaning to the title F# A# infinity.

the music is great but is mostly soundscapes. a great experience.
recommended.