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The most avant-garde work from a non-avant-garde musician you've heard

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0dd1 Just awesome like that from Nowhere Land Since: Sep, 2009
Just awesome like that
#1: Oct 5th 2011 at 10:29:57 PM

Basically, talk about a song/composition that seems quite experimental compared to the rest of the output of the person/group who made it.

I'll start off by saying that when I first listened to the Vitamin String Quartet's version of Madonna's "Ray of Light", I was NOT expecting this. Considering how simplified the arrangements of their covers can be at times, this is really a huge shock. Needless to say, I think they decided to be overly creative on it, and I love it. Anyone who claims that's just how any string quartet performing that song would sound, I call BS on that.

Insert witty and clever quip here. My page, as the database hates my handle.
Bananaquit Since: Jan, 2001
#2: Oct 5th 2011 at 11:24:51 PM

Gino Vannelli’s “Pauper in Paradise Suite” comes to mind:

Quite a surprise, considering his usual “hunky MOR balladeer” shtick.

0dd1 Just awesome like that from Nowhere Land Since: Sep, 2009
Just awesome like that
#3: Oct 5th 2011 at 11:52:40 PM

Not gonna lie, that was pretty epic.

Insert witty and clever quip here. My page, as the database hates my handle.
MikeK Since: Jan, 2001
#4: Oct 6th 2011 at 12:31:59 AM

I ended up listening to a couple of Vitamin String Quartet albums for the sake of blogging about them - I've heard them using some creative studio effects (particularly on The Mars Volta cover album I've heard), but not to the degree of that "Ray Of Light" cover. So that's pretty cool.

I'll try and think of something that fits this thread later.

KitsuneInferno Jackass Detector from East Tennessee Since: Apr, 2009
Jackass Detector
#5: Oct 6th 2011 at 6:15:53 AM

This isn't my choice, but I'm surprised this wasn't the first response.

"It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt." - Some guy with a snazzy hat.
BlixtySlycat |like a boss| from Driving the Rad Hazard Since: Aug, 2011
|like a boss|
#6: Oct 6th 2011 at 9:01:32 AM

Everything MC 900ft. Jesus has ever done.

Because he's a classically trained pianist and violinist.

More conventionally Revnine.

go ahead and do every stupid thing you can imagine
dxman Since: Oct, 2009
#7: Oct 6th 2011 at 10:25:22 AM

This is the first one that comes to mind:

...
MetaFour AXTE INCAL AXTUCE MUN from A Place (Old Master)
AXTE INCAL AXTUCE MUN
#8: Oct 6th 2011 at 10:41:28 AM

"I Like Your Photographs" by Starflyer 59. Jason was well into the indie-pop phase of his career by that point, yet for some reason he went baroque-prog-crazy on this song.

MikeK Since: Jan, 2001
#9: Oct 6th 2011 at 11:26:08 AM

Maybe not the most avant-garde, but "I Before E Except After C" by Yazoo (or Yaz, depending on where you are). Imagine that you're listening to an album full of synth pop with soulful vocals. Then a few tracks in, this happens:

edited 6th Oct '11 11:43:59 AM by MikeK

BlixtySlycat |like a boss| from Driving the Rad Hazard Since: Aug, 2011
|like a boss|
#10: Oct 6th 2011 at 12:12:16 PM

Is that the same band that made "The Situation"?

go ahead and do every stupid thing you can imagine
0dd1 Just awesome like that from Nowhere Land Since: Sep, 2009
Just awesome like that
#11: Oct 6th 2011 at 12:19:49 PM

@Kitsune: I was gonna mention that, but I figured it was too obvious of an example.

@dxman: You're forgetting that Yoko Ono's the co-artist there waii

Insert witty and clever quip here. My page, as the database hates my handle.
MikeK Since: Jan, 2001
#12: Oct 6th 2011 at 12:20:25 PM

Is that the same band that made "The Situation"?

Yes, although it's just "Situation". I actually originally linked to that song, but then I decided to switch to "Only You" since it's a ballad that gets played on easy listening stations on occasion, and thus there's even more of a contrast between that and a Mind Screw sound collage.

edited 6th Oct '11 12:21:44 PM by MikeK

KitsuneInferno Jackass Detector from East Tennessee Since: Apr, 2009
Jackass Detector
#13: Oct 6th 2011 at 12:27:19 PM

'Kay, I can't find the full version of it on Youtube, but I really like "Water" by the Roots. After a third of the length in, it morphs from a normal hip-hop song to a fairly long and vaguely jazzy sound collage that's meant to invoke a drug addiction.

"It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt." - Some guy with a snazzy hat.
Litis from Israel Since: Jul, 2009
#14: Oct 6th 2011 at 1:07:44 PM

Aside from the video remix of "Remind Me" (also known as Someone Else's radio mix), this is my most favorite Röyksopp track ever.

Bananaquit Since: Jan, 2001
#15: Oct 6th 2011 at 11:13:32 PM

The Yaz(oo) example above reminded me of OMD’s Dazzle Ships album.

And this from the same people who brought us “If You Leave”!

SoCalToa King of Pants from The Town With No Name Since: Aug, 2011
King of Pants
#16: Oct 7th 2011 at 11:58:05 AM

"See You on the Other Side" and "Untitled" by Korn. Rather than just the traditional Nu-Metal sound, they seemed to go more for a Pink Floyd/Led Zepplin-esque mishmash, ESPECIALLY with "Untitled".

edited 7th Oct '11 11:58:15 AM by SoCalToa

Show some love.
KitsuneInferno Jackass Detector from East Tennessee Since: Apr, 2009
Jackass Detector
#17: Oct 7th 2011 at 12:19:56 PM

Pardon me if this comes off as rude, but I can't tell if you're serious or not.

"It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt." - Some guy with a snazzy hat.
SoCalToa King of Pants from The Town With No Name Since: Aug, 2011
King of Pants
#18: Oct 7th 2011 at 12:21:37 PM

Alright, maybe Floyd and Zeppelin were not the right comparison. I just sounded different, y'know?

Show some love.
dxman Since: Oct, 2009
#19: Oct 8th 2011 at 1:00:25 PM

@0dd1: Well, how about this?

...
0dd1 Just awesome like that from Nowhere Land Since: Sep, 2009
Just awesome like that
#20: Oct 8th 2011 at 9:56:55 PM

Y'know, I have heard OF that, haven't actually given it a listen yet.

...but you still win this round, dx.

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JHM Apparition in the Woods from Niemandswasser Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: Hounds of love are hunting
Apparition in the Woods
#21: Oct 10th 2011 at 7:09:01 AM

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark were always kind of weird, what with doing live splits with A Certain Ratio and writing synth-pop songs about Joan of Arc. But that's beside the point.

Perhaps I shouldn't mention Gary Numan or The Associates here—both had serious experimental streaks from the outset—but I'm seriously tempted to make special note of "I Nearly Married A Human" and "Q Quarters" respectively for just being utterly baffling.

I'll hide your name inside a word and paint your eyes with false perception.
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