Genre Originality... who get's your vote?

[wakeride74]

On a lighter note I thought it would be fun to list some bands/artists that are considered original and really stood out from others in the same genre. Let's do a list of some bands and artists that really made and impact on a genre or even took it in a different direction.

Who do you think was really refreshing and why??

I'll start with a few...

Frederick Chopin - Classical - his nocturnes appeal to me most and he had a speed, temperament, detail, and texture that IMO was very unique. (I know there are soooo many greats in this area but he is one of my favs)

Sublime - Rock/Reggae - Brad had a unique voice and mixed rock, ska, reggae, and punk like no one else IMO.

Beastie Boys - Rap/Hip-hop - These guys really put this genre on the map with a great tag team style and they have stood the test of time by consistently releasing quality albums.

Led Zeppelin - Classic Rock - Although I'm not a big fan I think they had a unique sound that no other band in the time/genre could come close to. Still recognized as one of the "greats"!

NIN - Electronic/Metal - Trent really blended a sweet fusion of metal/electronic and has also consistently released great stuff. The fact that he writes and plays every instrument is all the more impressive and unique.

 

[Alu]

Tool - Prog Metal - ooh ya....

Yoko Kanno - Soundtracks (jazz, classical, electronical, etc) - ooh ya... (part 2)

 

[Thaddy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alu Tool - Prog Metal - ooh ya....

If you can even label them as progressive metel...yeah. Either way, Tool gets a vote from me too!

 

[Svperstar]

Aphex Twin & Autechre - These are two different groups that don't really work together but they came about around the same time, make the same kind of music. These guys really made a statement that there is a lot more to "techno" than THUMP THUMP THUMP.

Really popularized IDM for a time and influenced many electronic artists. Radiohead owes a lot to Autechre and say so in interviews. Aphex Twin has a bad rep in some circles about being all about ego and not substance but I disagree, Selected Ambient Works Volume II and Come to Daddy are miles apart but both great accomplishments.

Brian Eno - You listen to some of his work and think "Hmm sounds like something I could do with soundforge/protools/whatever and some DSP effects" but this guy did it in 1972 with tape recorders of all things. Hugely influential. He defined the ambient genre which I love and while he may be matched I don't think he has been surpassed. Thursday Afternoon is a good benchmark to judge other ambient works. IMO the most important man musically since The Beatles.

Boards of Canada - IDM felt completely played out and the genre was empty then Autechre heard these guys and got them signed, now I don't even think you could them IDM and they are better musicians than Autechre. They make artifical music that sounds more "organic" than any hippy band could ever pray to be. Nostalgia in musical form, there is something about their music that grabs you instantly and makes you think of distant memories. A true talent.

NIN - I agree with the above. The Downward Spiral is now 11 years old, however it sounds newer than any modern day "experimental rock" groups like Linkin Park(pretentious whiney derivative crap for 14 year olds IMO) or anyone else for that matter. A lot of people hate NIN for being too pop but remix CDs like Further Down the Spiral or Fixed have better "industrial" than most industrial artists put out. Often called a ripoff of early mid 80s groups likw Skinny Puppy but one could say SP and the like are ripoffs of 70s groups. The main problem with NIN is the lyrics which sound forced as the years go by. While his output has been uneven NIN is what got me into electronic music in the first place.

Biosphere - Just another electronic artist that didn't make much a name. Then Substrata hit, and is considered by many to be the best Ambient cd of the 90s. Far from a one hit wonder the followups have been excellent as well. Sounds very ethereal and cold, perfect soundtrack for the winter in the far north.

Pink Floyd - I have tried to get into classic rock for years, however I never find myself getting into any other classic rock band except Pink Floyd. Led Zeppelin and many others from the 60s/70s have my respect for what they did in their time but their music bores me to tears. PF is IMO the best rock band ever.

Matthew Florianz - A fan of film scores that decides to make minimalist electronic music. Using only an Audigy and a standard PC he made excellent music. Now he is on a more proffessional setup and things have only got better. I recently purchased Three and it came with the bonus disk Self. I am giving it a few days to sink in but these disk may just be the best electronic releases I have ever listened too. Not bad for a guy on a small label releasing mainly cd-rs. www.matthewflorianz.com for excellent mp3s.

ok thats it for now

 

[grawk]

The Flaming Lips

 

[asmox]

Estradasphere.

 

[blessingx]

To represent a few genres, I'll nominate:

James Brown
Bill Evans
Johann Sebastian Bach
Captain Beefheart
Robert Johnson
Maria Callas
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Johnny Cash
Sun Ra
Astor Piazzolla
Little Richard
Frédéric Chopin
Frank Sinatra
George & Ira Gershwin
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Toumani Diabate
Cole Porter
John Cage
Public Enemy
Philip Glass
John Coltrane
The Stooges
Djivan Gasparyan
Ludwig van Beethoven
These guys

 

[3DCadman]

The Residents - For the just plain weird music catagory

 

[wakeride74]

Wow, lots of good ones already!

Great call on Sinatra Blessingx, I have almost all his stuff (don't know how I could have forgoten him initially!)

Before someone else does I'd also like to add - Sade

Sade is a benchmark in the R&B/Soul genre and many men owe much success to her music and the ambience it creates! If the definition to candlelight had sound it would be hers!

 

[fyrfytrhoges]

havent kraftwerk been around longer than both aphex twin and autechre? they would get my vote for a groundbreaker!

 

[fante7]

I nominate King Crimson for the Lark's Tongues in Aspic - Starless and Bible Black - Red cycle of albums.

 

[kramer5150]

I can narrow it down to 2 per:

metal - metallica / Iron Maiden
rock - Queen / van halen
progressive rock - marillion / Yes (honorable mention pink floyd, frank zappa and genesis)
texas blues - SRV
traditional blues - Ray charles (honorable mention BB King and albert collins)
country - Wylon Jennings / Junior Brown (honorable mention dolly, Junior Brown)
50s - Elvis presley / Chuck Berry
60s - Jimi hendrix

 

[Factor]

I can narrow it down to ONE artist for all modern rock/pop/hip-hop music:

[size=xx-large]Kraftwerk[/size]

They created a new genre, changed the entire landscape of rock and pop music forever, and laid the foundation for hip-hop, synth, electro and house.

 

[crazyfrenchman27]

Dude, I love Sublime.

Sublime reminds me of Pacific Beach, San Diego whenever I listen to it. It's like I'm back home. Those dudes performed drunk all the time, too...

Great Stuff...no offense to the other dudes on the list.

-Matt, Cali Dude

 

[Teerawit]

R...A...D...I...O...HEAD!