Eclecticism In Rock (Elitist Circle-Jerk Ahoy!)

[Meatplow]

So who are some innovative and eclectic bands?

Primus is one of my favourite bands of all time, they've really grown on me like an itch. I'm a big fan of Mike Patton's work (FNM, Mr Bungle, etc) and i'm starting to appreciate King Crimson. Ween is a favourite at the moment, The Mollusk is an excellent album and i've heard a handful of their other stuff. Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band is another band i am into recently, Trout Mask Replica is the most inaccessible album i know but on the hundredth listen somehow it fits.

I've listened to Frank Zappa but not much of it as well. Who are some eclectic groups you are into?

[Eliminator]

Ween rule.

[AlienEater]

Those you mentioned are good.

[Riva]

Everyone knows one of my answers already, so I just won't say it. :p

Other than them, I'd say Oysterhead, which I feel take the best elements of Primus, Phish and The Police and combine it into something awesome.

If we're going to allow metal bands, than I think Therion and Spastic Ink deserve a mention. The former has combined opera/classical with metal flawlessly, the later are the definition of eclectic metal.

[Shattered_Future]

If you don't mind harsh vocals, UneXpect are quite eclectic. Imagine the music of Cirque Du Solei on steroids.

[Cocaine]

Everyone knows one of my answers already, so I just won't say it. :p

Overall Top Artists
1 Pink Floyd 8598

[Det_Nosnip]

Arcturus are great.

[Eliminator]

Everyone knows one of my answers already, so I just won't say it. :p

Other than them, I'd say Oysterhead, which I feel take the best elements of Primus, Phish and The Police and combine it into something awesome.

If we're going to allow metal bands, than I think Therion and Spastic Ink deserve a mention. The former has combined opera/classical with metal flawlessly, the later are the definition of eclectic metal.

There are no good elements to Primus, Phish, or the Police.

[Det_Nosnip]

Right. Oh, wait...except not.

[Eliminator]

Arcturus are great.

[Meatplow]

There are no good elements to Primus, Phish, or the Police.

How objective of you.

[Eliminator]

Yeah I forgot I was writing a review there.

Excuse me I'll go back and re-write it.

[Moon Flavor]

King Crimson, Primus, Phish, The Police, Arcturus, and Unexpect (to some extent) are not very eclectic at all. Unique is not the same as eclectic.

[Riva]

I said Oysterhead, Therion, Spastic Ink and Pink Floyd.

All of them borrowed differerent elements from various sources.

They are eclectic.

[Moon Flavor]

I dunno about Pink Floyd.

Or Spastic Ink, although I haven't heard them much.

Every band borrows elements from various sources.

[Riva]

Then every band is eclectic and your original argument is out the window anyway.

[Shattered_Future]

King Crimson, Primus, Phish, The Police, Arcturus, and Unexpect (to some extent) are not very eclectic at all. Unique is not the same as eclectic.

Unexpect aren't eclectic my ***.

Think about it here...

Black metal
Death growls
Classical piano parts
Demented circus elements
Soundscapey type stuff
Operatic vocals

One hell of a mix right there.

[Huber]

Devin Townsend

[Moon Flavor]

Unexpect aren't eclectic my ***.

Think about it here...

Black metal
Death growls
Classical piano parts
Demented circus elements
Soundscapey type stuff
Operatic vocals

One hell of a mix right there.

Eh...I suppose. That's why I was hesitant about mentioning this one. They certainly mix a lot of stuff together, but not to an extent where you can't say "this isn't a metal band through and through". I don't make the rules as to what's eclectic or not, but my guess is an eclectic band would be a little less classifiable.

Just playin devil's advocate here.

[White Riot!]

The Clash

[Det_Nosnip]

Right, because "The Sham Mirrors" is a wonderful example of straight forward heavy metal. :rolleyes: Arcturus are eclectic as hell.

Oh, I forgot the Diablo Swing Orchestra.

http://www.myspace.com/diabloswingorchestra

[Kage]

King Crimson, Primus, Phish, The Police, Arcturus, and Unexpect (to some extent) are not very eclectic at all. Unique is not the same as eclectic.

King Crimson is.

[Moon Flavor]

Right, because "The Sham Mirrors" is a wonderful example of straight forward heavy metal. :rolleyes: Arcturus are eclectic as hell.

Oh, I forgot the Diablo Swing Orchestra.

http://www.myspace.com/diabloswingorchestra

I just started writing a big explanation of my thoughts about arcturus, and then realized it doesn't really matter enough to worry about. So i wont argue. You're right about DSO though. So congrats, you win.

[RIP Ian Curtis]

Mahavishnu Orchestra

[ghettoeddo]

The Clash

rock the casbah...rock the casbaaaahh

i still have yet to hear mahavishnu orchestra O_o

[RIP Ian Curtis]

rock the casbah...rock the casbaaaahh

i still have yet to hear mahavishnu orchestra O_o

Totally awesome. I normally hate jazz-rock, fusion, art-wank and hippies, but the Orchestra are so damned good you can ignore all that and just enjoy it. Screamin' Jay Hawkins is a good eclectic singer.

[AlienEater]

Mahavishnu Orchestra are awesome.

Get The Melvins - Stag, Meatplow

[Amit]

michael brook :>

[penelope weird hands]

Hella.
And Opeth somewhat.

heh, and everyone else.

[RIP Ian Curtis]

Hawkwind (Lemmy's old band) are a kinda cool space-rock-punk-metal-hippy-freakout band. Isis and The Meads of Asphodel are two of the most eclectic metal bands I know. For some really, really odd sh'it check out Jewdriver (yidcore - Jewish hardcore) or The Fearless Iranians of Death.

[ATM]

Hella.
And Opeth somewhat.

heh, and everyone else.

The new Hella leaked :)

[Kage]

And Opeth somewhat.

No, not at all.

[Chop Suey!]

Spiral architect. They will make your head spin.

[FistfulOfSteel]

For some really, really odd sh'it check out Jewdriver (yidcore - Jewish hardcore) or The Fearless Iranians of Death.

LMAO yidcore

[omgwtfboogie]

Fantomas. John Zorn's Moonchild and Chromosphere albums. Melt-Banana.

I love these threads because you get a lot of people who think adding a piano to metal is eclectic somehow.

[lunchforthesky]

between the buried and me have a lot of stuff going on.

[omgwtfboogie]

And how are they eclectic, exactly?

[Moon Flavor]

And how are they eclectic, exactly?

How is Melt Banana?


Arguing over whether a band is eclectic or not isn't going to improve society at all at any length, so give up.

[Kage]

They're not.

John Zorn in general is eclectic.

[omgwtfboogie]

How is Melt Banana?


Arguing over whether a band is eclectic or not isn't going to improve society at all at any length, so give up.

Then this thread is pointless. By your logic, someone could claim that Korn is the most eclectic band in the world, and that simply wouldn't be true. As someone pointed out, there's a fine difference between being different and being truly eclectic.

[Clunge]

Porcupine Tree like to hop around between genres/eras of music.

[AlienEater]

Hawkwind (Lemmy's old band) are a kinda cool space-rock-punk-metal-hippy-freakout band. Isis and The Meads of Asphodel are two of the most eclectic metal bands I know. For some really, really odd sh'it check out Jewdriver (yidcore - Jewish hardcore) or The Fearless Iranians of Death.

Hawkwind weren't Lemmy's old band. He was only a member briefly.

[static]

Coheed&Cambria.

[ghettoeddo]

Porcupine Tree like to hop around between genres/eras of music.

123456
you never know what they'll do next

[DanD]

is this like a joke thread or something

[Det_Nosnip]

Then this thread is pointless. By your logic, someone could claim that Korn is the most eclectic band in the world, and that simply wouldn't be true. As someone pointed out, there's a fine difference between being different and being truly eclectic.

Well, they DO have bagpipes.

[Riva]

So, does this thread deserve a close? Or do I just need to add (Elitist circle-jerk ahoy!) to the title?

[AlienEater]

I'm sure no one will care if you close it

[RIP Ian Curtis]

Hawkwind weren't Lemmy's old band. He was only a member briefly.

True, I just think of them as Lemmy's old band because I got into them via motorhead and my favourite song of theirs is "motorhead". My apologies.

[omgwtfboogie]

So, does this thread deserve a close? Or do I just need to add (Elitist circle-jerk ahoy!) to the title?

The latter would suffice.

[2muchket!]

Muse - alt-rock, prog, classical, some metal-esque riffs too.

I'm also inclined to say Enter Shikari. It varies from having jungle and Drum and Bass to Hardcore. Quite varied.

[Meatplow]

Mahavishnu Orchestra are awesome.

Get The Melvins - Stag, Meatplow

I've been meaning to check them out for some time may well do. They've done stuff with Mike Patton am i right?

[AlienEater]

Yeah. Melvins Fantomas Big Band is them with Fantomas: Mike Patton, Dave Lombardo and someone else. (Melvins' guitarist/ singer is also a member)

[Meatplow]

wtf is with the change to the title?

i been missing for a couple of days

[Scuba_Steve]

I'm here!



I hope I didnt miss out on the circle jerk :(

[niobium]

This thread makes me laugh

Pretty much anything is going to be eclectic in a certain way

The Residents - Not Available

Mindblowing.

[RIP Ian Curtis]

Jonathan Richman is certainly eclectic. Also largely shi'te, but occasional brilliant.

[Sleepy]

Heh. This is an elitist thread. To the max.

Nobody mentioned Giant Squid yet. :( Metridium Field (the song) is eclecticism (is that a word?) defined.

[Cocaine]

I've had that album for like, two weeks now. I should probably like, listen to it.

[Kage]

It's good.

[Sleepy]

It's VERY good.

Mmmhmm.

[Kage]

Great, even?

[Sleepy]

Great, even?

I would have to agree with you on that one. Especially for a debut (sorta).

NP Beatles - The most eclectic band of all time. loll0rz.

EDIT: Also, Clann Zu. Great stuff.

[Dr. Jake Destructo]

So after reading this, eclectic is just non-mainstream progressive.

Only people in A&I care about being eclectic or something. Everyone here is more concerned about being tr00.

[Kage]

So after reading this, eclectic is just non-mainstream progressive.

Only people in A&I care about being eclectic or something. Everyone here is more concerned about being tr00.

Rolling on the floor laughing.

[Cocaine]

Zappa.

[Kage]

Zappa is eclectic indeed.

[AlienEater]

Zappa is very good indeed.

[Dragon_Prince]

Genesis :D

[Kage]

Nope.

[Dragon_Prince]

Why not?

[Kage]

Because they're not.

[Dragon_Prince]

Right, so what do you know 'bout music, or is it a trend to make statements without backing them up?

Listen to Supper's Ready, you might change your mind :)

[Meatplow]

Hmm okay then can someone define eclectic in context here.

I'm under the impression it's to do with a band mixing genres, usually in a humorous way.

[AlienEater]

Genesis aren't ecclectic

[Det_Nosnip]

They're great, though...or at least were in the Peter Gabriel years.

Selling England by the Pound. :cool:

[Kage]

Hmm okay then can someone define eclectic in context here.

I'm under the impression it's to do with a band mixing genres, usually in a humorous way.

I don't think humor has anything to do with it. Also, it doesn't have to be a mixture of genres.

[Riva]

I'm really considering closing this mess down.

Eclectism thanks to Dictionary.com
-----------
–noun
1. the use or advocacy of an eclectic method.
2. a tendency in architecture and the decorative arts to mix various historical styles with modern elements with the aim of combining the virtues of many styles or increasing allusive content.

Eclectic
----------
-adjective
–adjective
1. selecting or choosing from various sources.
2. made up of what is selected from different sources.
3. not following any one system, as of philosophy, medicine, etc., but selecting and using what are considered the best elements of all systems.
4. noting or pertaining to works of architecture, decoration, landscaping, etc., produced by a certain person or during a certain period, that derive from a wide range of historic styles, the style in each instance often being chosen for its fancied appropriateness to local tradition, local geography, the purpose to be served, or the cultural background of the client.

[Meatplow]

I don't think humor has anything to do with it. Also, it doesn't have to be a mixture of genres.

The key terms in the definitions Riva has pulled up seems be from different sources or different styles. That's what i have always thought.

But then i think of bands that fuse genres and i wouldn't consider eclectic at all. :confused:

How would you define it?

[RIP Ian Curtis]

I define it as being set apart from the rest of the world because of a mix of personality and taste. Korn : mix rap and metal, but not particularly ecclectic. Frank Zappa : Mixes everything with everything, is v. eclectic. Frank Black/The Pixies : Not particularly genre-bending, but certainly eclectic in output.