Every time rock music gets full of itself and starts getting bloated on its throne, some new, innovative band comes out of no where to break the norms and to introduce a new sound that resonates throughout the rock world. Years ago someone coined the prefix ‘post’ to describe these advancements made in a particular genre and since then its been a catch all term used by everyone from the media to rock critics. Joy Division introduced the world of post punk filled with melancholy lyrics and doom laden music, taking the energy from punk rock and adding their own reflective attitudes. Fugazi, starting out as a hardcore band later added their experimental touch to deliver the ever popular post hardcore genre. Now that rock is in its 6th decade and being overshadowed by hip hop and pop more than ever, it is the apt time for a new tour de force to revolutionize rock music as a whole and bring the revolutionary spirit of rock back to the forefront of society--enter the appropriately named genre of post rock.‘Using rock instrumentation for non rock purposes’ post rock is basically instrumental rock done extremely well with rhythms and chord progressions distinct from those in conventional rock music. Texture and melodies occupy the place of out dated riffs, the objective being to create an atmospheric sound wherein moods reign supreme.Production is generally very tight and precise just like the music leaving no loose ends in place. With the typical song coming in over 7 minutes, it may feel a little tedious but repeated listens always holds the promise of uncovering something new, while lack of vocals allows the listeners imagination to guide itself through a song, telling a story without the medium of lyrics. Post rock is a loose genre drawing influences from kraut rock, prog rock, jazz and dub reggae to name a few and a collective reaction against the belief that rock n’ roll has lost its ability for rebellion. Cool and cerebral, it is the antithesis of rock’s visceral power.
Coined by legendary critic Simon Reynolds of the magazine ‘Wire’, post rock was a term used to describe bands that were indefinable under any other musical umbrella. A way to categorize this extremely diverse group of bands who shared no common musical thread or aesthetic apart from a disdain for tradition. Described by Simon Reynolds as an overall progression for rock and roll, a genre that leaves behind the macho posturing, the testosterone filled rhythms and the cliché pop/rock formula that has been played into the ground. Buried within the sonic blare are layers of musical history, from the birth of the blues, to the rawness of punk, to the relative coolness of techno.
However, the genre is not without its detractors as the bands themselves detested the term which they felt was a constriction of their individuality and musical expression. Critics argued that despite the freedom the artists possessed, the genre had become stagnant with similar sounding bands that made somber music with long, drawn out passages and calamitous crescendos and that the originality of the genre had been traded in for its use as a movie score. Like any other trend in music, the commercial success of a few has drawn attention to the entire genre and the signing of countless, probably less deserving bands by major labels is common practice.
Bark psychosis being first band to be labeled with the term post rock was essential in the development of the genre while Slint’s Spiderland often considered a landmark album, not only in the development of post rock but in indie circles as well is arguably the first post rock album. This underground acclaimed album although largely ignored by the mainstream opened the doors for bands like Tortoise, Sigur Ros, Mogwai and Godspeed you! Black emperor, the last of which played metal inclined atmospheric rock expanding the boundaries of the genre into post-metal bands Isis and Pelican.The definitive album in the genre ‘Spiderland’ shows the band possessing a variety of depressive and beautiful emotions at their disposal as they alternate between serene and intense, with bass-driven grooves, mumbled poetry, oblique structures, and extreme volume shifts. The albums songs flow into each other with ease as the vocalist mummers throughout narrating a carefully constructed story which draws the listener in.‘Washer’ with its subtle guitar lines, ‘Don Aman’ with its inventive chord changes and ‘Nosferatu man’ with its irregular stop-start techniques creates a masterful album while the piece de resistance ‘Good morning captain’ creates ambience with its minimalist double guitar approach and subtle narration until the final cathartic explosion which closes this breathtaking album.
Math rock, a progressive and more complex cousin to post rock is a genre that emerged in the late 80's and that was influenced by both the intricacies of progressive and avant-garde rock - King Crimson, Frank Zappa and 20th century minimalist composers such as Steve Reich and John Cage. Although a different genre it shares most of the aesthetics of post rock and also most of its influences. The music is characterized by complex structures, angular melodies and constant abrupt changes in tempo and time signature. The term math rock grew out of the Chicago scene and the artists working with master producer Steve Albini in an effort to describe their new style. Don Caballero, Shellac, June 44, Rodan, The For Carnation are some of the bands that grew out of the initial math rock scene using the formula laid down by Slint. Punk, Heavy Metal and Jazz also influenced modern day math rock bands Foals and Battles who are favorites of the indie scene.
Although it is certain that due to the genres subversion to the mainstream, its songs wont be played on Mtv any time soon, it still has one of the most devoted and passionate cult following of any genre to date. A reason for this is the exciting prospect of a new musical direction which expresses emotions often put aside in modern rock, bucking stereotypes and never resorting to the prefabricated ideas of earlier sonic icons. Slint and bands similar in approach have achieved rock icon status, wedding masterful playing, thoughtful composing and lyrical expression to a degree seldom reached by popular music. Post rock, the definitive experimental genre of the 90’s has seen its popularity decline in the new millennium due to it acquiring the reputation of sameness and being predictable; however the fact that the new wave of bands like Rachel’s, Do Make Say Think and A Silver Mt.Zion are gaining recognition for their distinctive sounds, proves that this genre isn’t exhausted after all.
Coined by legendary critic Simon Reynolds of the magazine ‘Wire’, post rock was a term used to describe bands that were indefinable under any other musical umbrella. A way to categorize this extremely diverse group of bands who shared no common musical thread or aesthetic apart from a disdain for tradition. Described by Simon Reynolds as an overall progression for rock and roll, a genre that leaves behind the macho posturing, the testosterone filled rhythms and the cliché pop/rock formula that has been played into the ground. Buried within the sonic blare are layers of musical history, from the birth of the blues, to the rawness of punk, to the relative coolness of techno.
However, the genre is not without its detractors as the bands themselves detested the term which they felt was a constriction of their individuality and musical expression. Critics argued that despite the freedom the artists possessed, the genre had become stagnant with similar sounding bands that made somber music with long, drawn out passages and calamitous crescendos and that the originality of the genre had been traded in for its use as a movie score. Like any other trend in music, the commercial success of a few has drawn attention to the entire genre and the signing of countless, probably less deserving bands by major labels is common practice.
Bark psychosis being first band to be labeled with the term post rock was essential in the development of the genre while Slint’s Spiderland often considered a landmark album, not only in the development of post rock but in indie circles as well is arguably the first post rock album. This underground acclaimed album although largely ignored by the mainstream opened the doors for bands like Tortoise, Sigur Ros, Mogwai and Godspeed you! Black emperor, the last of which played metal inclined atmospheric rock expanding the boundaries of the genre into post-metal bands Isis and Pelican.The definitive album in the genre ‘Spiderland’ shows the band possessing a variety of depressive and beautiful emotions at their disposal as they alternate between serene and intense, with bass-driven grooves, mumbled poetry, oblique structures, and extreme volume shifts. The albums songs flow into each other with ease as the vocalist mummers throughout narrating a carefully constructed story which draws the listener in.‘Washer’ with its subtle guitar lines, ‘Don Aman’ with its inventive chord changes and ‘Nosferatu man’ with its irregular stop-start techniques creates a masterful album while the piece de resistance ‘Good morning captain’ creates ambience with its minimalist double guitar approach and subtle narration until the final cathartic explosion which closes this breathtaking album.
Math rock, a progressive and more complex cousin to post rock is a genre that emerged in the late 80's and that was influenced by both the intricacies of progressive and avant-garde rock - King Crimson, Frank Zappa and 20th century minimalist composers such as Steve Reich and John Cage. Although a different genre it shares most of the aesthetics of post rock and also most of its influences. The music is characterized by complex structures, angular melodies and constant abrupt changes in tempo and time signature. The term math rock grew out of the Chicago scene and the artists working with master producer Steve Albini in an effort to describe their new style. Don Caballero, Shellac, June 44, Rodan, The For Carnation are some of the bands that grew out of the initial math rock scene using the formula laid down by Slint. Punk, Heavy Metal and Jazz also influenced modern day math rock bands Foals and Battles who are favorites of the indie scene.
Although it is certain that due to the genres subversion to the mainstream, its songs wont be played on Mtv any time soon, it still has one of the most devoted and passionate cult following of any genre to date. A reason for this is the exciting prospect of a new musical direction which expresses emotions often put aside in modern rock, bucking stereotypes and never resorting to the prefabricated ideas of earlier sonic icons. Slint and bands similar in approach have achieved rock icon status, wedding masterful playing, thoughtful composing and lyrical expression to a degree seldom reached by popular music. Post rock, the definitive experimental genre of the 90’s has seen its popularity decline in the new millennium due to it acquiring the reputation of sameness and being predictable; however the fact that the new wave of bands like Rachel’s, Do Make Say Think and A Silver Mt.Zion are gaining recognition for their distinctive sounds, proves that this genre isn’t exhausted after all.
