III: How Do I Get Started?

You can stream Godspeed’s music on their Bandcamp page, buy their records digitally or in a physical format of your choosing on Constellation Records’ website or in person at a show, or, if you are unable to support them financially, use a pirating service such as Soulseek to download their albums. Godspeed’s music is unavailable on all major streaming platforms except Bandcamp. To access Godspeed’s bootlegs, search for their page in archive.org’s live music archive or ask a bootleg.fm moderator for the Godspeed page for a link to the fan-created mega.nz collection.

What album(s) should I start with?

Godspeed’s albums all sound very different. For specific album recommendations, I would say:

If you listen to country/western/folk music, start with F#A#∞

If you enjoy classical music or want something short and accessible, start with Slow Riot for New Zero Kanada.

If you are hearing of Godspeed from other post-rock bands and/or like field recordings, or you want the band’s most critically acclaimed album, start with Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven.

If you listen to noise rock, start with Yanqui U.X.O.

If you like heavier music, drones, and the sonic aesthetic of Balkan folk music, start with Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! or Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress.

If you like jazz, start with Luciferian Towers.

If you tend to like sharp emotional contrasts, start with G-d’s Pee at State’s End.

If you want an album that combines nearly all of these characteristics, or a general sample of Godspeed’s various sounds, start with No Title As of 13 February 28,340 Dead.

If you can’t make a decision from this list, or just want to hear the development of Godspeed over time, it’s a good idea to listen to their albums chronologically, starting with the vinyl version of F#A#∞ and circling back to All Lights Fucked At the Hairy Amp Drooling at the end since it is generally considered more of a solo demo tape than a true Godspeed album.