Rockism 101 discussion

How do you define Post-Rock? Its an interesting term imo...

I think post-rock is probably best defined as a generation of bands took traditional rock instruments but eschewed the traditional trappings of rock n' roll both musically and stylistically but still kept some of it's most basic facets.

I think post-rock is probably best defined as a generation of bands took traditional rock instruments but eschewed the traditional trappings of rock n' roll both musically and stylistically but still kept some of it's most basic facets.

I agree. And I think the reason that generation of bands took Rock in that direction is for some of the same reasons Punk took Rock in a different direction in the 70s: Rock had gotten formulaic. Nirvana for instance. Very formulaic. Grunge: although it was the new thing at its time, it was very much in the tradition of mainstream rock, kinda stale.

Sonic Youth?

The most interesting thing Sonic Youth did involved their experimentation with tuning their guitars. That led to some interesting sounds.

There is a record label here in Ireland that touts itself with bravado as being "The Post Rock Label" but none of the bands on it are very post-rock. They just like the image.

Sonic Youth have always bored me. With the exception of the track "Dirty Boots".

So would Post-Rock be the same thing as No Wave? I like some of the things some of those bands have done (Suicide, Sonic Youth, Swans) but a lot of it comes across as being weird for the sake of being weird. I like natural weirdness (i.e. you can't help yourself, it's who you are) but manufactured weirdness is irritating.

I got off topic, didn't I?

No Wave is really weird. I think it has some similar qualities as Post-Rock in that they are both experimental. But I think Post-Rock had more structure. I might be wrong though.

Dave-o, I know what you are saying about Sonic Youth being boring, but are they any more boring than U2 or Radiohead? I think all three of those bands have spent too much of their careers trying too hard to sound unique.

@Mitzi I don't really like much of U2's music at all so I can't comment.

Personally I think, like a lot of kids who hit their teens in the early 90's, that Radiohead blew the doors off for the first 3 albums. But then they decided to retreat all the way up their own asses and become the type of band that everyone who didn't get what they were doing thought they were anyway - an arty post-rock noise band.

So, what are some examples of Post-Rock bands?

I'm not sure Justin, I'll have to google it then get back to you.

Dave-o wrote: "@Mitzi I don't really like much of U2's music at all so I can't comment.

Personally I think, like a lot of kids who hit their teens in the early 90's, that Radiohead blew the doors off for the fi..."

So how do you rank these three bands:

U2
Radiohead
Sonic Youth

I think I would rank Radiohead last from those three.

I am sure, Mitzi, I Googled "troll" and found your Goodreads profile.

:(
Meanie

J wrote: "So, what are some examples of Post-Rock bands?"

I can't think of too many post-rock bands who are well known in the mainstream. Here is the wikilist:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_...

There are a few Irish post-rock bands that are well known here but only because we live on a tiny island.

Redneck Manifesto
God Is An Astronaut

Stepping outside of my own country there are a lot of post-rock bands on Canadian labels:

Broken Social Scene
Fly Pan Am
Do Make Say Think

Interestingly Broken Social Scene broke into the mainstream here in Ireland. For a little while there in the early 00's post-rock was huge draw. So much so that Arcade Fire played to an absolutely huge crowd in Ireland before they had broken anywhere else and have mentioned in interviews that it was a major boost for them because David Bowie was playing at the same series of shows and wondered where everybody went to just before he came.

There was even a t0shirt that Dublin hipsters used to wear, without irony, that said "I Heard Of Arcade Fire Before You."

That wikilist is crazy. I'm familiar with Slint, Rodan, Swans, Sigur Ros, maybe a few others. I know some of the guys from Toiling Midgets.

But how does Talk Talk qualify? If they're Post-Rock, what about other 80's pop bands with massive radio hits? What am I missing?

J wrote: "That wikilist is crazy. I'm familiar with Slint, Rodan, Swans, Sigur Ros, maybe a few others. I know some of the guys from Toiling Midgets.

But how does Talk Talk qualify? If they're Post-Rock,..."

Simple Minds around the time of "Real To Real Cacaphony" and "Empires And Dance" are pretty post rock. Then the "Breakfast Club" came along...