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Band names that indicate clearly the style of music of the band

Mr_JDTraynor [Edit] [Delete] 98 replies 18:58, 4 January '09

I disapprove of this.

For the majority of bands it is so easy, merely by knowing their name, to have a clear idea of the style of music.

Such an approach by a band is an admittance of constraint, a targetted market and a limited musical creativity.

A band name should give nothing away about what the band sounds like, it should be outside of any musical epoch, and, crucially, should enable the band to progress and evolve without the name becoming incongruous.

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  • Explosions In The Sky.

    wecancreate | 4 Jan '09, 18:59 | X
  • pretty much all "post-rock" bands

    I once came up with an accurate formula for constructing a post rock band name but I can't remember it now.

    Something like "must include:

    1. The word "We"
    2. Something to do with cosmic bodies (e.g. Sun, Sky, Heavens, Jupiter etc)
    3. Something to do with death / fighting"

    It wasn't quite that,, but you get the idea.

    bob_saull | 4 Jan '09, 19:11 | X
    • all the words put together without spaces

      is mainly a post-rock thing.

      GalacticStar3ruption @bob_saull | 4 Jan '09, 19:25 | X
    • What like

      Mogwai? Your formula clearly doesn't work.

      XYZIA @bob_saull | 4 Jan '09, 23:11 | X
      • 'pretty much'.

        please try harder in future.

        Heliotrope @XYZIA | 5 Jan '09, 12:06 | X
        • 65daysofstatic

          maybeshewill
          Mono
          Godspeed You! Black Emperor
          Slint
          Tortoise

          Yeah, pretty much ALL. Haha, some of these bands are the most obvious ones aswell.

          GalacticStar3ruption @Heliotrope | 5 Jan '09, 12:26 | X
  • Butbutbut

    There is a band (artist) called Ladyhawke, and a band called Ladyhawk. They sound completely different. Does the 'e' make all the difference? Ahem.

    belated @too_alaskan | 5 Jan '09, 16:35 | X
    • i guess because ladyhawke named herself after an 80s film

      maybe it's to do with that.

      pip_ @belated | 5 Jan '09, 17:34 | X
  • I was the same.

    When my friend mentioned her I thought she meant Ladytron,

    IainIainIain @too_alaskan | 7 Jan '09, 14:06 | X
  • Extreme Noise Terror

    ......they kinda sound like that......

    Wooly31 | 4 Jan '09, 19:20 | X
    • Yes

      That name is an example of a wilful constraint and an absolute compliance to a style. The name gives no room for manouevre. Thus, either it fails, or, if it does succeed, it will succeed triumphantly. For this band, the success was glorious. The band were rammed into a very narrow crevice, musically. The contraints were wallowed in and the result was brilliant.

      Mr_JDTraynor @Wooly31 | 4 Jan '09, 19:26 | X
  • silver jews

    rob_heath | 4 Jan '09, 19:27 | X
    • Because David Berman is Jewish?

      heartbeeps @rob_heath | 4 Jan '09, 19:31 | X
      • pretty much

        aren't they named after a bllboard or something though actually

        rob_heath @heartbeeps | 4 Jan '09, 19:47 | X
  • But this ulimately irrelevant

    I don't (and nobody should really) base my opinion of something on what it's name is.

    fullerov | 4 Jan '09, 19:36 | X
    • that's not even close to what he said

      ChrisJabe @fullerov | 4 Jan '09, 20:01 | X
      • please explain what you think he meant.

        fullerov @ChrisJabe | 4 Jan '09, 20:08 | X
  • Are Converge a good example

    you can't really pinpoint exactly what they will sound like, but it's quite obviously going to be heavy. You could narrow it down to some kind of hardcore or metal band, don't you think?

    GalacticStar3ruption | 4 Jan '09, 19:38 | X
  • I wholeheartedly approve of band names that tell you what a band sound like.

    If a band name tell you nothing about the band it either isn't serving its purpose or the existence of a name is an irrelevance.

    I don't necessarily think a band name should be constraining and clearly a bandname that's too limiting and doesn't allow the music to progress then that's a problem.

    But a band name should (and does) give you some idea of the thinking behind a band. Otherwise it will be just be bland and pointless.

    theguywithnousername | 4 Jan '09, 19:47 | X
    • For example, the Divine Comedy are a perfectly named band

      Regardless of whether you do or don't like their music you instantly know that the Dante reference suggests they're literary and pretentious whereas the literal meaning of the words suggests they've got a sense of entertainment and showmanship. Without actually limiting the band the name tells you exactly what to expect.

      Clearly some people will hate the name but they'll probably hate the band too, thus entirely proving my point.

      theguywithnousername @theguywithnousername | 4 Jan '09, 19:50 | X
      • this man is talking almost unprecedented amounts of sense for this board

        sunbakedsnowcave @theguywithnousername | 4 Jan '09, 22:16 | X
        • He often does

          GalacticStar3ruption @sunbakedsnowcave | 4 Jan '09, 22:22 | X
  • Converge

    is a bit abstract

    Most grind metal bands ie Napalm Death, Carcass, Wecamewithbrokenteeth, Extreme Noise Terror, Bolt Thrower etcetcetc

    TheKennedyCurse | 4 Jan '09, 19:47 | X
    • You're agreeing with me them

      should've replied to my post

      :(

      GalacticStar3ruption @TheKennedyCurse | 4 Jan '09, 19:49 | X
  • What about band names that project a sound that is totally unlike what they are really like....

    Savage Garden - Sound like thay are metal.
    Bark Psychosis - Sound a bit punk.
    The Knife - I think sound like Indie guitar....though The Knives wound be better.....

    Wooly31 | 4 Jan '09, 19:57 | X
    • Destroyer

      alcxxk @Wooly31 | 4 Jan '09, 20:02 | X
    • Joy Division

      Couldn't think of a more spectacular example.

      Grzywa @Wooly31 | 4 Jan '09, 20:09 | X
      • But they were Nazi enslaved prostitutes......which sounds dark and grim....

        .......a bit like the band......

        Wooly31 @Grzywa | 4 Jan '09, 20:15 | X
        • and before that, Warsaw...

          Verbal @Wooly31 | 5 Jan '09, 12:31 | X
          • Good thing they

            gave up on the stiff kittens thing really lol.

            lovelessrapture @Verbal | 5 Jan '09, 13:40 | X
        • Yes, they were...

          but you wouldn't know it just looking at the name, would you ?

          Grzywa @Wooly31 | 6 Jan '09, 07:23 | X
    • Death Cab for Cutie?

      Another misleading semi-metal name.

      Thursday is a weird one...I remember reading somewhere years ago that they chose the band name because it was very anonymous and didn't betray anything about their sound. Now a whole wealth of second-rate emo bands utilise calendar/timescale nomenclature, and it's become easy to tell the sound of a band with names like that. Or maybe choosing a band name with those particular connotations (anonymity, deliberate lack of show) was just an emo attitude in the first place, so by not wanting to betray sound through name, Thursday in fact did...

      Caesurob @Wooly31 | 4 Jan '09, 21:27 | X
    • Most being

      bands with names like xskullfuckerx

      EarlBega | 4 Jan '09, 20:02 | X
    • Pretty much most death metal bands

      Napalm Death
      Sepultura
      Cannibal Corpse
      Gwar
      etc, etc, etc.

      JohnnyZaza | 4 Jan '09, 20:02 | X
    • You

      can figure most post rock bands imo. Most figure a part of nature, a month or have !'s

      EarlBega | 4 Jan '09, 20:06 | X
    • ska bands

      why do they feel the need to shoehorn "ska" into their names? or make some ska related pun? see also; dub

      lazerlife | 4 Jan '09, 20:31 | X
      • ??

        the beat, specials, madness, the selector (okay those are the only ska bands I can name but hey) You couldn't spell ska with all there names put together. you could with specials AKA I guess..

        lovelessrapture @lazerlife | 5 Jan '09, 13:43 | X
    • factory floor

      lots of post-punk bands actually
      lots of twee stuff e.g tullycraft

      fuck_this_band | 4 Jan '09, 20:43 | X
    • does lightning bolt work?

      or
      stars?

      Scatterheart1985 | 4 Jan '09, 21:03 | X
      • I thought of Lightning Bolt

        they do play lightning quick music but I expected them to be heavier when I first played Hypermagic Mountain.

        GalacticStar3ruption @Scatterheart1985 | 4 Jan '09, 21:13 | X
    • Minimal Man

      does what he says on the tin

      joshjoshjosh | 4 Jan '09, 21:16 | X
      • minutemen

        sound just like what you'd expect too I'd say. Funky short littel weird songs

        lovelessrapture @joshjoshjosh | 5 Jan '09, 13:45 | X
    • the fashion.

      kofiadrian | 4 Jan '09, 21:46 | X
    • erm

      for misleading names ...trail of dead is up there?

      i always thought Between The Buried And Me would be a rubbish Suicide Silence esque scene metal band

      TheKennedyCurse | 4 Jan '09, 22:13 | X
      • And weirdly

        they got their name from a Counting Crows lyric. Is there any band less hardcore?

        Caesurob @TheKennedyCurse | 4 Jan '09, 22:51 | X
    • Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Machine Head, etc

      ConcentrationFace | 4 Jan '09, 22:23 | X
      • slayer is the best band name of all time

        too_black_too_strong @ConcentrationFace | 4 Jan '09, 23:03 | X
        • ^ this, very much so

          poptimusgrime @too_black_too_strong | 4 Jan '09, 23:05 | X
          • Satan's Laughing As You Eternally Rot

            you know. It's not what slayer stands for but is amongst my favourite urban myths.
            http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m381/iluvrockcsfu22/God_Listens_to_Slayer.jpg

            soodoughnim @poptimusgrime | 4 Jan '09, 23:15 | X
            • that picture is amazing

              too_black_too_strong @soodoughnim | 4 Jan '09, 23:21 | X
              • If only the had followed through on blacking out the radio logo

                and used red paint for the slayer and so becoming
                Best Picture Ever.

                soodoughnim @too_black_too_strong | 4 Jan '09, 23:26 | X
      • Metallica has to be the obvious

        One of the only bands who get away with having their genre in their name

        Mr_Mills @ConcentrationFace | 5 Jan '09, 16:31 | X
        • Imagine if more bands did this!

          Postrockica
          Tweecorica
          Spazzyposthardcorica

          sunbakedsnowcave @Mr_Mills | 5 Jan '09, 17:00 | X
    • i listened to 'fuck' the other day

      very misleading

      disappear | 4 Jan '09, 23:01 | X
    • i listened to 'fuck' the other day

      very misleading

      disappear | 4 Jan '09, 23:01 | X
      • did it sound like barry white?

        too_black_too_strong @disappear | 4 Jan '09, 23:09 | X
        • It's like an American Belle & Sebastian with more of a country-esque feel, or something.

          But swearier, as in 'Fuck Motel'.

          poptimusgrime @too_black_too_strong | 4 Jan '09, 23:12 | X
    • anal cunt

      but then bands like 'women' who purposely give away nothing always seem kinda boring and it kills my inclination to listen to them

      CasiotoneForJoe | 4 Jan '09, 23:03 | X
    • On a similar note

      I'm sice of having explain to cretins that My Bloody valentine are not a shitty emo band.

      XYZIA | 4 Jan '09, 23:18 | X
      • I have this problem aswell

        :(

        lovelessrapture @XYZIA | 5 Jan '09, 13:46 | X
        • Yes, me too

          A lot of the norms seem to think they are the same thing as 'bullet for my valentine'. ARRRRGGGGHHH.

          sunbakedsnowcave @lovelessrapture | 5 Jan '09, 17:01 | X
    • there's nothing wrong

      with having a distinctive 'sound', and if you can think of a word or two to conjure up that feeling, then good for you.
      unless your name is vaginal jesus.

      burnmybird | 4 Jan '09, 23:20 | X
    • I like names that reflect the sound of a band, such as these...

      The Horrors
      The Go! Team
      Mona Lisa Overdrive
      A Place to Bury Strangers (it's a bit dark and stuff)

      And i agree with XYZIA about My Bloody Valentine. They're not emo, they're one of the greatest bands of our time!

      jimmy56 | 4 Jan '09, 23:36 | X
      • I wish they'd

        rename themselves in kind then, something like.... Fluffy Sky Monsters, so I can get on with liking them without the constant explanations.

        XYZIA @jimmy56 | 5 Jan '09, 00:33 | X
      • Good shout on The Go! Team

        Completely apt name, that. I like it

        dove_from_above @jimmy56 | 5 Jan '09, 17:35 | X
    • I disagree

      because otherwise there would not be band names such as Chicken Noodle Funk, the Shitty Beach Boys and Methadone Abortion Clinic.

      http://www.avclub.com/content/feature/2008_the_year_in_band_names/1

      s_p_g | 4 Jan '09, 23:56 | X
    • Low.

      LowowowowowowLow.

      tape-hiss-orchid | 4 Jan '09, 23:59 | X
    • bumsnogger?

      toomanykooks | 5 Jan '09, 00:10 | X
    • I comptly disagree

      I like a band name to betray something about the band. Part of the reason I was drawn to bands like Interpol, Kubichek! and The national is that they all had interesting band names. Interpol especially gives an air of mystery and darkness which compliments their sound.

      Phil9064 | 5 Jan '09, 01:03 | X
      • Completely*

        Phil9064 @Phil9064 | 5 Jan '09, 01:03 | X
    • What other kind of band could

      Neutral Milk Hotel have possibly been?
      That's a good example.

      XYZIA | 5 Jan '09, 01:51 | X
    • They Came From The Stars I Saw Them

      Annoying_person | 5 Jan '09, 13:01 | X
    • Low

      champion_versions | 5 Jan '09, 15:38 | X
    • Earth

      champion_versions | 5 Jan '09, 16:05 | X
    • Kill Whitney Dead

      clearly a silly movie sample laden metal band

      cyberdemon | 5 Jan '09, 16:49 | X
    • it took me AGES to bother listening to Mew

      i thought they'd be bland and twee

      cyberdemon | 5 Jan '09, 16:50 | X
    • I thought there were other reasons it was terrible.

      Surely naming your band after a hit musical is a ridiculous idea. Would you call your band the Phantom of the Opera or Starlight Express or the Sound of Music? No. 'Cos it's a silly idea.

      theguywithnousername @codswallop | 5 Jan '09, 17:10 | X
    • Blood Brothers could be percieved as misleading

      but I think it's pretty spot on in summing up their sound, violent, chaotic and jekyll and hyde dual vocals, like brothers bound by erm... blood?

      Mindless Self Indulgence is a good one (if you take the name literally and use it in reference to the music)

      cassette | 5 Jan '09, 17:15 | X
      • I repeat it's very misleading.

        It is the name of a well-known musical. They don't sound like the musical. They are thus fucktards clearly incapable of doing even the most basic research into their bandname.

        theguywithnousername @cassette | 5 Jan '09, 17:21 | X
        • this is total bollocks really

          At The Drive-In
          Fugazi
          Cap'n Jazz
          the late great Meet Me In St Louis

          none of these names would give any indication as to what the band actually sound like but they're all fucking amazing, who gives a shit if it's relevant to the music or not, did the greats of yesteryear actually sound like a Led Zeppelin or a Deep Purple, whatever the fuck that is, NO! they chose a name that would stick in peoples minds and they did their thing without snobby muso's critiquing the in's and out's of their cultural relevance

          snore

          cassette | 5 Jan '09, 17:29 | X
        • The Swans

          creakyknees | 5 Jan '09, 19:05 | X
        • cattle decapitation

          dea10sign | 6 Jan '09, 09:51 | X
        • cephalic carnage

          dea10sign | 6 Jan '09, 09:52 | X
        • waddabout Gwar?

          Gorkys_Forever | 6 Jan '09, 10:04 | X
        • I can tell you immediately.

          "Fuck Buttons" will sound when you hear that name, and what do you know, they do! Generally a swear word in the name besides maybe as or damn means the band has no intent to get famous, and their music reflects that.

          Ozymandias | 6 Jan '09, 11:06 | X
        • Oceansize

          65daysofstatic
          My Vitriol
          Spiritualized
          Morphine

          drummerboi | 6 Jan '09, 12:36 | X
        • Surely...

          West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band is the winner

          BobbyBambino | 6 Jan '09, 12:50 | X
        • Some band names do give a grim predictability as to how they will sound

          Any 'The' band back in '02/03 for example would have be a turgid, run of the mill garage rock band.

          titan_grip | 6 Jan '09, 13:23 | X
          • you mean like 'the' coral?

            I agree, entirely predictable.

            alari @titan_grip | 6 Jan '09, 16:08 | X
        • This will destroy you

          suggests anything else apart from what the band actually sound like. I expected some sort of cheesey hardcore band. Luckily i was proven wrong.

          Chav_core | 7 Jan '09, 14:04 | X
        • kraftwerk

          TheWza | 7 Jan '09, 17:09 | X
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