What is "math rock"?

[stratovani]

I just saw an ad in my local Craigslist looking for a bass player for a band that plays "math rock", preferably someone in their late teens to early 20s. I'm a geezer so obviously I'm not in the hunt for this, but maybe some of you young'uns could help me. What is "math rock" anyways? And since Rush is the most complex music I know, as a frame of reference do they play something like it?

[Steve]

Math rock - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[sykes of christ]

Math rock - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[NoiseNinja]

Here is an example: Dividual | Obstacles

[prd004]

Math rock is a genra of music where you need a slide ruler to figure out the time signature changes!

[stratovani]

Originally Posted by NoiseNinja

Here is an example: Dividual | Obstacles

Man, these guys must have listened to a ton of Rush in their time! I like it!

[Demon_Hunter]

So, basically somebody took progressive rock and renamed it so it sounds modern?

[hrodbert696]

Originally Posted by Demon_Hunter

So, basically somebody took progressive rock and renamed it so it sounds modern?

It's an offshoot of prog. It was featured in a recent issue of guitar world, if I remember right. I think it's taking cues from a lot of modern classical composition which also works from the mathematics of music theory.

[baalroo]

Originally Posted by Demon_Hunter

So, basically somebody took progressive rock and renamed it so it sounds modern?

More specifically, "progressive rock" has morphed into a genre name that tends to represent a specific sound (things that span the gamut of sound anywhere from Dream Theatre on one end, Rush somewhere in the middle, and Yes at the other end). "Math Rock" has the same sort of pathos as those old prog rock groups, but in a more modern context. They don't quite sound like any of the old prog bands, but they are doing the equivalent of what those bands were doing back then: jumping around between genres and pushing the intellectual and "theory" based aspects of the music to it's limits. If they just called themselves "prog rock" people would likely think they sounded like Rush or Yes, and thus it wouldn't be a very useful label to use for themselves or the genre as a whole anymore.

here are a few of the bigger names in math rock with different takes on the genre:

Battles focus mostly on subtle shifting of polyrhythms and subdivisions, and tend to be a more "hypnotic" experience.

Tera Melos have tons of sections in their compositions and a lot of crazy time signatures, they sort of intentionally challenge the listen to try and follow along

Fall of Troy is more of a wierd take on the post-hardcore scene, taking a traditionally fairly simplistic genre and attempting to turn it on it's head.

[Stinsok]

I was thinking it was part of the "School House Rock" series.

[uethanian]

Originally Posted by baalroo

Battles focus mostly on subtle shifting of polyrhythms and subdivisions, and tend to be a more "hypnotic" experience.

Tera Melos have tons of sections in their compositions and a lot of crazy time signatures, they sort of intentionally challenge the listen to try and follow along

Fall of Troy is more of a wierd take on the post-hardcore scene, taking a traditionally fairly simplistic genre and attempting to turn it on it's head.

and don't forget
dirty projectors

this town needs guns the 'math' is in the guitar textures, not time changes

maps and atlases not a straight math rock group but the influence is there

deerhoof

and of course hella

[knumbskull]

it's basically Rush for people with delusions of coolness.

[The Owl]

Originally Posted by knumbskull

it's basically Rush for people with delusions of coolness.

LMAO!!!!!

[baalroo]

Originally Posted by uethanian

and don't forget
dirty projectors

this town needs guns the 'math' is in the guitar textures, not time changes

maps and atlases not a straight math rock group but the influence is there

deerhoof

and of course hella

Yeah, also all good representatives of the genre.

Originally Posted by knumbskull

it's basically Rush for people with delusions of coolness.

yeah, because Rush is the only band to have ever been in any way "progressive." I get that this is a bass player forum, and that Geddy is a well known bass playing frontman, but the Rush fanboyism here does get a bit obnoxious.

Honestly, when it comes down to it, most of these bands are more of the spiritual predecessors to 70s "fusion" groups like Mahavishnu Orchestra than they are to the Prog Rock camp, but I didn't see the point of over explaining... especially here on TB.

[Jared21]

Dont forget colour, tangled hair and some early foals stuff.

[miltslackford]

listen to don caballero

[knumbskull]

Originally Posted by baalroo

Yeah, also all good representatives of the genre.



yeah, because Rush is the only band to have ever been in any way "progressive." I get that this is a bass player forum, and that Geddy is a well known bass playing frontman, but the Rush fanboyism here does get a bit obnoxious.

Honestly, when it comes down to it, most of these bands are more of the spiritual predecessors to 70s "fusion" groups like Mahavishnu Orchestra than they are to the Prog Rock camp, but I didn't see the point of over explaining... especially here on TB.

ah, i was just being silly... i like a few Rush songs FWIW, and also a good deal of stuff that falls into the 'math rock' category... and Mahavishnu Orchestra

i'm amused by the whole genre-categorizing thing, TBH. and yes those 70s bands definitely paved the way for a lot of modern rock.

oh and here we call it 'maths'... hasn't caught on as a rock genre though

[s_mcsleazy]

faraquet
shellac

[baalroo]

Originally Posted by knumbskull

ah, i was just being silly... i like a few Rush songs FWIW, and also a good deal of stuff that falls into the 'math rock' category... and Mahavishnu Orchestra

i'm amused by the whole genre-categorizing thing, TBH. and yes those 70s bands definitely paved the way for a lot of modern rock.

oh and here we call it 'maths'... hasn't caught on as a rock genre though

ah, right then. always hard to tell here, especially with a deadpan delivery that is so in line with the usual sort of posts one might see here. must be that famous dry british wit.

[the byronic man]

if you find yourself picking out polyrhythm, polymeter, metric modulation, or any other random theory stuff filtered through some sort of post-rock/post-punk/modern rock/indie rock/other music with a ridiculous genre attached to it, you are probably listening to "math rock".

edit: i almost forgot to include ironic haircuts.