One band that I think fits into what you are talking about is Nine Inch Nails. In the late 80's, people didn't know what genre to put NIN into, so basically they were thrown into several. When Alternative music took over in the early 90's, NIN came out with The Downward Spiral. So, the industry classified NIN as Alternative. Now, I have always felt that NIN was one of the driving forces behind Alternative music becoming what it was. Yeah, Nirvana made Seattle popular and it was thought that Cobain and company introduced angst to the world. But in all honesty, NIN had a hold of the angst angle long before Nirvana. Nirvana just happened to be the band that got the world's attention. Anyways, Trent Reznor has always said that NIN really doesn't have a "style" or "type" of catagory he wanted the band to belong in. He just took elements of styles he liked and combined them into what NIN's music.

I am sure you will look at NIN as mainstream. And, to a point, they are. But they never have had a top 10 hit, or have been so popular that kids want to go out and buy their music. Honestly, if Trent had wanted to make NIN a commercial band, he could have done it. But he didn't. In 1999, NIN released The Fragile, which was nothing like Downward Spiral. Most of NIN's fans wanted another type of TDS album, but Trent did his own thing. Which is one reason why I love the dude. He stays true to what he wants. And he has never allowed others to make him do it their way. He does it how he wants.

One band that I think fits into what you are talking about is Nine Inch Nails. In the late 80's, people didn't know what genre to put NIN into, so basically they were thrown into several. When Alternative music took over in the early 90's, NIN came out with The Downward Spiral. So, the industry classified NIN as Alternative. Now, I have always felt that NIN was one of the driving forces behind Alternative music becoming what it was. Yeah, Nirvana made Seattle popular and it was thought that Cobain and company introduced angst to the world. But in all honesty, NIN had a hold of the angst angle long before Nirvana. Nirvana just happened to be the band that got the world's attention. Anyways, Trent Reznor has always said that NIN really doesn't have a "style" or "type" of catagory he wanted the band to belong in. He just took elements of styles he liked and combined them into what NIN's music.

I am sure you will look at NIN as mainstream. And, to a point, they are. But they never have had a top 10 hit, or have been so popular that kids want to go out and buy their music. Honestly, if Trent had wanted to make NIN a commercial band, he could have done it. But he didn't. In 1999, NIN released The Fragile, which was nothing like Downward Spiral. Most of NIN's fans wanted another type of TDS album, but Trent did his own thing. Which is one reason why I love the dude. He stays true to what he wants. And he has never allowed others to make him do it their way. He does it how he wants.

And actually sound good doing it.

Oh yes there are all kinds of generas of music. One in particular is Avant-guard.

That is the classification for anything that cannot be classified otherwise.

A personal favorite of mine is the Residents. They are somewhat obscure. They have a very long history and a serious cult following.

They can display some rather incredible talent with how they strangle music the way they do. They are to music as Dali is to art.

Then there is Primus. Oh God yes there is a Primus. Their music can be rather unusual in its structure to "formal" music (including rock).

There is a big difference in this that these bands do not suck. They are just so damn exotic from what we would consider main stream anything.

You could call this musical surrealism. A lot of Psychedelia loosely fits in this category but again compare Pink Floyd to the residents.... YOU CAN'T DO IT!

What are other favorite musical surrealists out there? I am always out to uncover more obscurities!

Oysterhead

The guitarist attached ****ing deer antlers to his six-string and it sounds awesome.

I have mentioned this band on here in other contexts, but I'd have to say Southern Culture on The Skids is awful, but in a great way - love them. Classic psychobilly. They even throw fried chicken at the crowd - so you won't go hungry. The song Banana Puddin' from the album Plastic Seat Sweat is a recognized classic

OH BABY! YOU MAKE ME WANT TO WALK LIKE A CAMEL!


Say, would you eat that there snack cracker in your special outfit?

Trent Reznor is a God among men.

And actually sound good doing it.

Oh yes there are all kinds of generas of music. One in particular is Avant-guard.

That is the classification for anything that cannot be classified otherwise.

A personal favorite of mine is the Residents. They are somewhat obscure. They have a very long history and a serious cult following.

They can display some rather incredible talent with how they strangle music the way they do. They are to music as Dali is to art.

Then there is Primus. Oh God yes there is a Primus. Their music can be rather unusual in its structure to "formal" music (including rock).

There is a big difference in this that these bands do not suck. They are just so damn exotic from what we would consider main stream anything.

You could call this musical surrealism. A lot of Psychedelia loosely fits in this category but again compare Pink Floyd to the residents.... YOU CAN'T DO IT!

What are other favorite musical surrealists out there? I am always out to uncover more obscurities!

my friends always thought of NIN as "Industrial." and after soem consideration I'd have to agree