2. Mogwai - Hunted by a Freak
Mogwai had developed a reputation [bad word] mammoth-sized rock songs with cosmic blowouts. Happy Songs For Happy People marked somewhat of an end to that style, and it begins with a highly refined example of the band's other specialty: poignant melodic interplay. "Hunted By Freak" features a series of starkly morose guitar lines that make it one of the Scottish quintet's most recognizable songs. Several variations on the main theme and the richly dense [bad word] are further enhanced by the inclusion of violin and vocals sent through a bubbly flanger. These less-often used elements are given the chance to soar above and scintillate while the four-guitar weaving acts as support. With Mogwai's guitars not screaming in the red, everything sounds clear and gorgeous, and as the tale ends, it feels perfect in length and scope, embodying a maxim of the fusion of post-rock and pop. (Nayt Keane)