Random Bands No One Knows (Vol. 1)

[Semjaza]

I've been wanting to post something like this for a while, but I keep stopping myself. I'll admit it's mostly because I find that bands I actually care about don't seem to get much response here (Tool and Queens of the Stone Age are the main exceptions that come to mind, although AFI too even if only Piro and I posted in it heh).

So why am I bothering? I don't know. I know that far more people probably read through things I say than actually respond to them. I'm hoping that some people might actually actively try to find something out about these bands, and maybe become a fan. I don't even care if that's just one person, it's worth a shot. Then I can at least say I tried. If you know them already, then great... Say something about them and your experience with them. You'd get about +million respect points from me if you do.

Anyway, this'll be posted in volumes. A few bands of varying popularity and genres in each volume. I'm sure some people know some of these, but yeah.

[U][B]Volume One[/B][/U]

[color=red][u][b]Curve[/u][/b]
[b]Genre:[/b] Generally described as shoegazer rock, with some electronica.
[b]Members:[/b] Toni Halliday (vocals) & Dean Garcia (bass and programming), plus guest members.
[b]LPs:[/b] Pubic Fruit (1992), Doppleganger (1992), Cuckoo (1993), Come Clean (1998), Gift (2001)
[b]Notable Songs:[/b] Perish, Horrorhead, Fait Accompli, Bleeding Heart, Lillies Dying, Something Familiar, Cuckoo, Doppleganger, Hung Up
[b]Opinion:[/b] Curve basically started the style that they have. A style that many bands have basically ripped off, radio-fied and popped up and manage to make popular - Garbage is a good example. In fact, Toni used to visit Butch Vig before there even was a Shirley Manson in the band. Despite Garbage's success, Toni just has more depth and a far better voice.

Curve somehow has everything against them. Other bands popularized their ideas, their videos are never aired, their label can't afford tours for them... Yet they still manage to carry on and put out some amazing albums.
Curve has definately evolved as a more completel "band" over the years. Their sound is certainly more polished than it used to be, and relies less on guitar noises and more on Garcia's programming. Toni Halliday simply has a beautiful voice, which is brough out even more because they band knows how to use it to their advantage. The early releases mostly fixated on all the different sounds that were possible, but there was still a good balance with Toni's voice. She is the main focal point in the newer stuff.

Gift is the latest release, and despite a few songs that don't work too well (in my opinion), it's a very good example of their work. Toni's voice is almost never pushed into the background, and because of Garcia's music, it always meshes well. He can have the most basic, stripped beats going and then switch to something incredibly intense... but it almost always works. I'm sure many people will recognize "Hell Above the Water" from Spiderman, but it's one of the least impressive songs on the CD.

However, I think that anyone just starting out would be wise to check out either Gift or Doppleganger.[/color]


[color=purple][u][b]tweaker[/u][/b]
[b]Genre:[/b] Electronica, rock
[b]Members:[/b] Chris Vrenna, plus guests.
[b]LPs:[/b] The Attraction to All Things Uncertain
[b]Notable Songs:[/b] Happy Child (w/Will Oldham), Linoleum (w/David Sylvian), Swamp, Years From Now, After All (w/Craig Wedren)
[b]Opinion:[/b] Anyone familiar with NIN's various members would know who Chris Vrenna is. Ignoring all the controversy between him and Trent (if there even really was any), he was basically a drummer and programmer. Vrenna left the band and became one of the major names in studio - doing tracks for U2, The Smashing Pumpkins, David Bowie, Marilyn Manson, Green Day and others. He also produced Cold's debut as well as the final Jack Off Jill album, "Clear Hearts, Grey Flowers."

Vrenna had been alluding to tweaker for who knows how long, but little ever seemed to come of it. Eventually, a promo LP was released. It is apparently in very low supply, as I've yet to see one thing off it even appear online. It featured quite a few songs, most of which are vocal collaborations with the vocalist of Fear Factory as well as Xhibit (and then some) coupled withChris's music (he doesn't sing).

The final version finally rolled around, with a substantially different track list. Most of the songs off the promo were completely removed and new songs were added. What resulted was a 13 track CD, mostly made up with instrumentals, but contained a few vocal pieces (provided by David Sylvian, Will Oldham and Craig Wedren).

Overall, the CD is incredibly mellow. I'm not even sure how to describe the sound. The vocal tracks have a rock side, but still feature a nice amount of programming. The instrumentals are almost totally drums and programming, but for the most part are well done. Anyone expecting anything like NIN will be surprised, as this is [i]nothing[/i] like it. Vrenna succeeded in coming out from under Trent Reznor's shadow with this CD I'd say. Although some of the instrumentals are better than others, I found every track to be very good at the least. Some of the vocal tracks stand out in particular with some surprisingly good lyrics.

I'd check out Happy Child, as it's definately my favorite song on the CD. [url]www.tweaker.net[/url] provides a nice amount of MP3 downloads, as well as lots of his remixes.[/color]

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That's about all I feel like writing today. Took more time than I expected. Even if you wind up hating either of these bands, I'd like some sort of response or your thoughts :). Thanks.

[BabyGirl]

[color=deeppink]I've heard of Curve :)

They're one of the tracks that you can play on this wacky PS2 game that my friend has. I don't know much of their music beyond that one track (I'll look up the name when the TV is free), but I'm not a huge fan of what I heard. I think that I'd have to hear an entire album. Who knows? Maybe I'm going to start liking all sorts of electronica due to this silly, addicting game :p[/color]

[Semjaza]

Worst Mistake is the name of the song, Frequency is the game (my absolute favorite PS2 game :D). It's actually a remix. I don't even think it appears on any main LP of theirs, but there are versions of it on their site.

Personally, while I like the song, it has nothing on some of their other tracks. Curve is one of those groups where you have to listen to the entire CD through to get a good opinion on them :).

[Jesus Chicken]

I asked this before... But since then, Has anyone heard of Jimmy's Chicken Shack. Really inventive, different rock\metal\crazycrap stlyes. Anyone here familiar?

[Subversive]

AFI ownz all! Awsome and no one knows about them (well maybe here). My school is full of people who listen to whatever someone claims is the next great song, and some make fun of me for still listening to ACDC, Motley Crue, and Nirvana.

[Red]

[b][color=003399]Nice idea for a topic. :)

I was wondering if anyone had heard of Reveille. The latest LP released by them is "Bleed the Sky", although the only person to reply to my thread about them was Semjaza. >.<[/b][/color]

[wrist cutter]

Actually, I think this post was mainly for Semjaza to post about bands he liked that were unknown... but maybe I'm wrong.

[Semjaza]

It basically, was... but it's a bit late for that now. Only one response even directed towards either band I mentioned as it is lol.

No big deal I suppose.

[spike speigel]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by SpyderDragon [/i]
[B]AFI ownz all! Awsome and no one knows about them (well maybe here). [/B][/QUOTE]




Of course I've heard of AFI! They're quite possibly the best band ever!


And I've heard of Jimmie's Chicken Shack, also. They kick***! I never thought I'd find anyone who actually listens to them.



Well, mine as well post this one: Bouncing Souls. Has anyone heard of them? They're a really good Pop-Punk band. Not very big, though.

[PiroMunkie]

[color=indigo][size=1]Honestly people, this topic is [b][u]not[/u][/b] about whatever bands you think people have not heard of. Semjaza is telling you about bands that he is pretty sure that not many people know. If you want to talk about whatever band you speak of, make your own topic. You do not see him going into your topics and changing the subject.

Anyway, I cannot say I have heard of either. I searched for Curve on WinMX and was unable to come up with anything, but I went to Tweaker's site and downloaded [i]Microsize Boy[/i]. From that song, I would probably say that they are one of those bands where I have to be in the mood to listen to them. Not saying they are bad, but it just seemed like the kind of sound I would listen to if I was... like... contently depressed, lol. I would be depressed, but at ease with it, if that makes any sense at all.

Not bad.[/color][/size]

[Semjaza]

Heh, thanks.

Microsize Boy is probably the worst track on the CD in my opinion, but I still like it. Like I said, Happy Child is excellent if you can get it. Same with Linoleum.

As for you AFI people... where were you for the Sing the Sorrow thread? No one even bothered other than Piro and myself.

[PiroMunkie]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Semjaza Azazel[/i]
[B]Microsize Boy is probably the worst track on the CD in my opinion, but I still like it. Like I said, Happy Child is excellent if you can get it. Same with Linoleum.[/b][/quote][color=indigo][size=1]Heh, yeah, I saw the Linoleum one on their site, but then I noticed the file size was larger than my liking. Keep in mind I only have a 56k modem over here. ;) I am going over to my dad's for a bit tomorrow, so maybe I shall give it a go over there.[/size][/color][quote][b]As for you AFI people... where were you for the Sing the Sorrow thread? No one even bothered other than Piro and myself.[/B][/QUOTE][color=indigo][size=1]Yeah, seriously... that was pretty disappointing. I [i]know[/i] there are more people on this board besides Semmy and I who know who AFI is, and I expected to hear from them in that topic. Sheesh... no respect, lol.[/color][/size]

[Subversive]

uuuuhhh, I just came back to the board a couple days ago. My Bad...but I've heard of Curve. I'll go to the tweaker site to night, thanks for the link ^^

[PiroMunkie]

[color=indigo][size=1]Well, I downloaded Linoleum, and, eh, I cannot say it was too much to my liking. Perhaps a bit too calm for my tastes. I actually liked Microsize Boy better. They are not bad, but not really good in my opinion, either. Just kind of in the middle.[/color][/size]

[Semjaza]

Well in terms of tweaker... Each vocal song is heavily influenced by the style of the singer. Linoleum is based off David Sylvian's strengths as a vocalist. I'm sure no one here knows him, but he is a rather famous person in his scene.

As such, each of the vocal tracks are rather different (although the Wedren ones are similiar). But yeah... They are all rather mellow, although I'd say Linoleum is the most laid back of them.