The Math Rock Thread Genre

Oh, boy, I wonder if I should even do this since most bands that have acquired the descriptor of math rock hate that fact. I've just had a day full of this style in the background and wanted to talk to people about it. Ran through a ton of Don Caballero, and my god, Damon Che is a fucking monster.

I've come to terms with the fact that if someone tells me a band is really good at 'stopping and starting on a dime,' that I will probably love them.

Also, I don't really know what to put in a first post here. Like, a big 'ol list of bands or something?

Also also, I'm really excited for Disappointment Island.

Also also finally also, this song rocks:

 

@Cody Nelson Great thread. Let's get started!

 

Maybe a round-up of essential bands/albums I can throw in the first post?

 

You smartass hahah.

 

Anybody else a drums-first listener when it comes to this genre? I feel like the drummer is seriously the linchpin in these sorts of bands more often than not.

 

Subbing

 

Don't really know anything about this genre. Give me an essential album to listen to.

 

here are some favs:

insanity

before ZH decided to destroy hip hop with Death Grips, ZH was destroying r&r with HELLA

(I think this is the only HELLA album with vocals - if they turn you off (many were turned off) just try Hold Your Horse Is - me, I love them vocals)

and Tera Melos are just real cool

does Battles count?

 

added to my checkout list

 

tricot

 

has no one posted TTNG yet? new record should be great.

absolutely listen to vasudeva and gulfer, i love both those bands and those people.

this band blows me away every time i listen to them. it's like jazzy mathy post-rock

i have a bunch more i can get later. my friend had a radio show called "lets learn calculus" so he and i spent a lot of time talking about this sort of stuff, haha

 

Subbing

 

so CHON have to be my favourite "math rock" band. Just an unbelievably talented group of people.

Im interested in going through this thread, cause I feel I listen to a lot of bands that pull influences from the math-rock scene.

 

how exactly do you describe or define "math rock"
that might be a good thing to put in the header/first post!

 

I'll put together a post right now, but here's a googled definition:

Math rock is a rhythmically complex, guitar-based style of experimental rock. It is characterized by complex, atypical rhythmic structures (including irregular stopping and starting), angular melodies, and dissonant chords.

Yeah, basically, it's a lot of technical prowess, quick melodic changes, dissonance, stream of consciousness feel (though it's usually very meticulously written), polyrhythms, time signature changes, very interesting genre to listen to, my personal favorite. Bands like TTNG, Hella, Giraffes? Giraffes!, Tera Melos, Don Caballero, those are some of the more well-known ones probably. It's all worth checking out.

 

Agent Fresco is probably my favorite band that falls into this category (I think they do, anyways). Not super well versed in math rock so I'm looking forward to subbing and finding more!

 

band that probably introduced me to the term math rock is Tiny Moving Parts (though the new LP doesn't feel quite as "mathy" as the first two)

 

I love Chicago's take on Math Rock over the years.

instrumental, noodly as hell, bright tones, high energy, crazy song structures, huge riffs and big catchy choruses

Party Mathematics EP, by noumenon
usually instrumental, noumenon were just bonkers.

Matt's project pre-T/T/T. Crazy guitar.

EP, by Slow Mass
As far as I'm concerned, this is a super group: Both Josh's (Former Thieves / IIOI), and Dave Collis (My Dad)

Sleep Talk, by Victor Villarreal (also listen to Noyes)
Actually, start here. You need this first before you can go anywhere else.

Don Caballero, Braid, Their / They're / There, The One Up Downstairs, Colossal, CSTVT, Owls, Lifted Bells, even American Football.

 

That fucking first T/T/T EP is goddamned masterful. "Concession Speech Writer" is a perfect song.

 

This thread has me very interested in this genre. Gotta check out these bands.

 

why did this thread die? give us more math!

 

This and grindcore have to be my favorite genres right now. Came in specifically just to post these guys. Happy to see that someone else beat me to the punch.