Government Commissions: BBC Sessions 1996-2003
by Mogwai
  • Record Label: Matador
  • Release Date: Feb 22, 2005
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 12 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 12
  3. Negative: 1 out of 12

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  1. TylerT
    Nov 14, 2005
    10
    Mogwai makes my brain smile.
  2. DamienP
    Aug 20, 2005
    9
    mogwai are life.
  3. Daniel
    Apr 21, 2005
    10
    Great Album.
  4. DavidC
    Apr 14, 2005
    10
    An album of tracks recorded live for various Peel Sessions on BBC Radio, Government Commissions (the album name presumably relates to the BBC being a statutorily regulated body) captures the intense beauty of Magwai as a live act, but not their ferocity, you'd have to see the live for that. Having said that, this is a damn good album, especially the epic version of Like Herod which An album of tracks recorded live for various Peel Sessions on BBC Radio, Government Commissions (the album name presumably relates to the BBC being a statutorily regulated body) captures the intense beauty of Magwai as a live act, but not their ferocity, you'd have to see the live for that. Having said that, this is a damn good album, especially the epic version of Like Herod which is musical abstract expressionism taken to the extreme - dark and long, paint it black.… Expand
  5. KonstantinL
    Apr 1, 2005
    9
    The version of 'Like Herod' that is included on this CD is amoungst the greatest things ever recorded. Simply awesome. It also has the voice of the late great John Peel on it. What more could you possible want?
  6. Anandgyan
    Mar 17, 2005
    8
    Like a snapshot of a live show where the tracks segue nicely into each other, no tiring crescendo keeping coming back, but a smooth valley and a couple of peaks but what comfort and what a rush!
  7. JoeN
    Feb 24, 2005
    10
    Not a greatest hits collection as it misses out most of their greatest hits. However the version of "like herod" is the only song that's ever scared me and the overall quality here is fantastic. Helicon 1 is a truly great tune.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. AllMusic
    80
    Though die-hard Mogwai fans are probably the most likely to pick this up, Government Commissions works so well that it could also double as a Mogwai greatest-hits collection.
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  2. ShakingThrough.net
    66
    Hardly an essential addition to the Mogwai catalogue (diehards excluded, of course).
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  3. Stylus Magazine
    67
    The quality of the music here, whether you agree that some of the session versions match or improve upon their originals or not, make this a collection worth picking up for sheer song quality alone.
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