What do you consider to be original/artistic music?
 

Usually, I don't regard any pop band as original or artistic. But, there are some bands that are, and have made it to mainstream radio. For instance, Sixpence None The Richer is IMO a very original band with plenty of artistic talent. But, I get this vibe that people think any band that makes it onto the radio has no talent or has diluted their content for the appeal of the masses (Liz Phair). Is that the case? Does a band necessarily have to be little-heard-of in order to be original and artistic?

mindless self indulgence, i've never heard any one even remotley like them. They are both different and good :)

mod flanders conspiracy

Queens of the Stone Age have a lot of talent and a very different sound to them. They are one of the best bands out right now and sound awesome live.

stuff with lyrics that are witty/make me think/are original etc ... they're pretty much what I focus on in songs, so even with a sub par melody or groove, I can get into a song with good lyrics

DAVID BOWIE

BOARDS OF CANADA

TYPE O NEGATIVE

NINE INCH NAILS

APHEX TWIN

All highly original.

I think Drum N Bass/Jungle has an original sound to it...Although the way it is made is just electronicly produced, It's just the sound that hooked me into it...I never heard anything like it before...And it just kept growing on me.

Now I can't get enough of it.

Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin had their own style in there music which was highly orgianl and creative.

Aimee Mann

definitely aphex twin

I like what Mr. Deflok said.

PIG is original-sounding, simply because no one manages to get that much malice, sex, and depravity into their music. His voice can go from smooth, sexual croonings to gutyouall growling in an instant. It IS sex, drugs, and violence, musically embodied.

That may not sound original to you, but it is. He's the only one who manages to get it right.

Bob Dylan of course. He can be as original as the best of them (because he is one of the best). His lyrics and tunes over the years have been like nothing else in the 20th century (and all those before it).

The Postal Service

Two guys... drum n' bass with emo vocals. The singer is the the guy from Death Cab for Cutie.

i can't stop listening to the new mars volta album... it's the most innovative album i've heard from a new band in a long time

Okay if ya haven't heard of em.....check out Sigur Ros. I haven't found another band in existence who sounds "quite" like them. The music is just awesome. You might compare them to Radiohead but the music is far better and more intricate I guess. They're just awesome.

Asta!!

P.S.
If ya didn't already know, no one sounded like Wu-Tang when they came out. Thats why they are still the best hip-hop group in the world.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor, (or wherever the hell they have the excalimation mark these days! ;) )

Jedi Mind Tricks, Binary Star, Atmosphere...

red hot chili peppers
jane's addiction
radiohead
incubus
aphex twin
buckethead
primus
postal service
dredg
forelle
oysterhead
phish
dave matthews
jack johnson


of course...
led zeppelin
the doors
pink floyde
the who

It's "Godspeed You Black Emperor!!" I believe. And their fuckin awesome. Good fuckin call man. My bro n law got me into them last year I believe. 2 songs a disc.....each song 30 min. long....all instrumental. Good shit. When I first listened to em I didn't even pay attention to how long the songs were I was just listening to the same song forever and I was like "Wow this is a pretty long fuckin song it must be fixin to end any minute now" couldn't a been further from the truth. I heard about another all instrumental band called Explosions In The Sky I believe is what they're called....but I haven't been able to check out any of their music.

Asta!!

definitely, Mindless Self Indulgence

Explosions in the Sky are great too. You might check out Microphones also.

Nick Drake! I'm surprised no one's mentioned him yet.

Amen brother!!! Just saw TON (Type O Negative...) the other day. Fucking Amazing. Also, At The Drive-In, glassjaw (not a big fan, but have to give them credit), and Tool, however cliche that may be. In their own way, the Deftones are also pioneers. But lests discuss why bands are considered sellouts, shall we?
SugarRay were a thrash punk band from SoCal. Their albumn "Floored" was 12 songs of thrash. Then there was "Fly". The one song on the albumn that wasn't thrash. "Fly" became popular, and then lo and behold, the next albumn was 15 fuckin carbon copies of "Fly", just repackaged. They even changed Fly because their was a heavy(ish) interlude that the radio version did not feature. They took that part out of the video as well.
That is what it mean to be "a sellout" or "un-original bastards". It can all be summed up by the old addage, "Actions speak louder than words". In other words, its how you get popular that matters. If you tour for years and keep a level of artistic integrity intact, super. You rock. But if you change everything you are (i.e. sell your soul to the devil) and make a 180 from your artistic integrity, YOU HAVE SOLD OUT!!!!

Like Phish :D. Ain't heard too much a their stuff but they are some of the highest paid performers in the world right now and if ya asked the average joe something about them they would have no idea what you're talking about and then suggest something like "Well if you like them you should check out the new Good Charlette CD they're a great band" EEEEEEEEEH WRONG! Tell him what he hasn't won!! Well Cris he hasn't won the overwhelming sense of self gratitude that comes from having a mind of your own as opposed to being a mindless sheep! Oh thats too bad for him! :( Oh well look on the bright side soon you'll be dead! :D Oh don't worry about it though I just know these things!

Asta!!

I'm elitist in the way that I prefer artists/bands that write their own music/songs. Lyrics are very important for me.

That's a BIG part for me. Sure, a song they didn't write themselves can be catchy, but where's the feeling? Some people are able to convey emotions trough music tehy dind't write themselves. Take for example Johnny Cash - Hurt. That's feeling.

But selling out (focusing more on looks than on the music) is a big no-no. Do that and I won't buy your records.

I'll give another vote for MSI.