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What genre is this music?

D

Deleted member 188127

Mar 9, 2011
57
30
#1
Hello!

Let me know what genre you would label this song for promo/booking purposes.

I've just started a new project and I'm not quite sure how to advertise it when booking/promoting. For now I'm just calling it "art-rock" based on one persons opinion, so I'd love a broader pool of opinions! It's a little bit unusual so if you feel like skimming to get a rough idea just be aware there's some unexpected changes (I've been told).

 
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#2
I wouldn't call it "art rock." That's a phrase they used to use for prog before the label got taken over by highbrow art-school punk bands like Talking Heads. This ain't either of those.

The nearest term I can think of that seems to match is "dreampop," although when I google up a list of dreampop artists the ones I recognize are not ones you particularly sound like. Still, I think that's the likeliest term to give people an idea of what kind of vibe you have.
 
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#4
hrodbert696 said:
I wouldn't call it "art rock." That's a phrase they used to use for prog before the label got taken over by highbrow art-school punk bands like Talking Heads. This ain't either of those.

The nearest term I can think of that seems to match is "dreampop," although when I google up a list of dreampop artists the ones I recognize are not ones you particularly sound like. Still, I think that's the likeliest term to give people an idea of what kind of vibe you have.
Click to expand...

I actually WOULD call this art rock. Or somewhere in the indie rock realm at the same time. There are some more current bands taking on the "art rock" genre that don't always fit neatly into a progressive rock or indie rock label. The sound of this group reminds me a bit of Mew, who would refer to themselves as "art rock". I am having trouble coming up with anything more fitting.

Looking at Mew's wiki they have listed "

Alternative rock, Invalid Link Removed, experimental rock, art rock, progressive rock, dream pop, noise pop"

Some ideas there.
 
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#5
dreampop, art rock, slowcore...thanks so much for these suggestions it's given me a lot to listen to and compare. I think they're all fairly accurate, I'll have to do more listening and see what I can come up with.

PS please don't be shy to comment what you think, anyone reading this! Any additional suggestions or comments will be highly appreciated.
 
#7
I agree with @Skybone: indie- or alt-rock for sure. To be fair, I don't like putting labels on music because sometimes it can be limiting. But I also understand that some sort of 'container' is necessary for marketing purposes.
 
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#8
MonetBass said:
I agree with @Skybone: indie- or alt-rock for sure. To be fair, I don't like putting labels on music because sometimes it can be limiting. But I also understand that some sort of 'container' is necessary for marketing purposes.
Click to expand...

I dislike labels as well, however, we live in the "social media" society, where everything is categorised, and to step out of the categories in a sin.

Music is music.
 
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#13
I don't know what I would call it. Sometimes the whole "genre, what do I call it" thing gets old, but I guess you have to have words to describe what you do. It doesn't really have anything to do with what I call rock, so any reference to rock is just stretching it a bit.
 
#14
I really like it. Reminds me of the kind of stuff my band does to create light & shade up here in Country Vic. The song more than once reminded me of the feel that Sufjan Stevens gets, especially with all that brass. The bass guitar is nice and big and jazzy. The vocals, particularly the melodies & harmonies, felt very prog-rock.

I don't like the word indie, cos it's a given for most of us to be independent now. How did you record this song?

I do think it just edges into rock (it makes me wonder how representative this song is to your other stuff?). Alt-rock, for sure. Art rock? I don't like this label because it's on one hand a little pretentious and on the other somewhat redundant. Art rock, unless you're talking about cave paintings. :) I suppose it's not such a bad label.

Dreampop? Dunno.

More honesty in a label would come from hearing more of your stuff.

Maybe when labels don't come easily it means you're doing something right. Original!
 
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#19
I agree with the ones suggesting alternative/dream pop as a fitting label.

It's definitely a form of pop, but approached in an alternative more imaginative way than most of your typical mainstream pop and relying heavily on ambient sound qualities outlining a dreamy slightly psychedelic mood.

Too smooth and mellow really to be categorized as any form of rock.
 
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