fantano - This Music Is Weird
The discussion focuses on outsider music, a genre characterized by its lack of adherence to traditional music industry norms and its often raw, unpolished sound. The hosts recommend eight releases that exemplify this genre, starting with Daniel Johnston's "Songs of Pain," known for its raw emotional honesty and lo-fi recording quality. They highlight how outsider music often features artists who are unconcerned with commercial success, resulting in unique and personal expressions.
Other recommendations include Wesley Willis's "Greatest Hits," known for its repetitive keyboard demos and humorous, unfiltered storytelling. The Shaggs' "Philosophy of the World" is discussed as a product of forced creativity, resulting in a chaotic yet fascinating record. Tonetta 777 is noted for its provocative and bizarre content, while Weird Paul is recognized for his thrift store aesthetic and humorous songs. Moondog's self-titled album is praised for its exotic, percussion-heavy compositions that evoke different places and experiences. Jandek's "Lost Cause" is highlighted for its mix of accessible and experimental sounds. Lastly, Lil B's "Blue Flame" mixtape is acknowledged for its influence on modern hip-hop and its outsider approach to rap.
Key Points:
- Outsider music defies traditional music norms, focusing on personal expression over commercial appeal.
- Daniel Johnston's "Songs of Pain" is a key example, celebrated for its emotional honesty and lo-fi sound.
- Wesley Willis and The Shaggs offer unique storytelling and chaotic creativity, respectively.
- Tonetta 777 and Weird Paul showcase provocative and humorous outsider art from the internet era.
- Lil B's "Blue Flame" mixtape influenced modern hip-hop with its unconventional style and prolific output.
Details:
1. 🎵 Welcome to Outsider Music Starter Pack
- The video serves as a guide to exploring 'outsider music,' a genre known for its unconventional approach, often created by self-taught or non-traditional musicians.
- Outsider music is significant for its raw and authentic expression, often challenging conventional music norms and offering fresh, unique perspectives.
- Presented by Alan Side Tano, known as 'the internet's busiest music nerd,' the video ensures expert guidance in music exploration.
- The episode promises specific recommendations to help viewers begin their journey into outsider music, highlighting its appeal and unique qualities.
2. 🧐 Defining Outsider Music
- Outsider music defies strict musical or aesthetic boundaries, making it challenging to define within traditional frameworks.
- The genre is described as more contextual than stylistic, focusing on the unique circumstances of its creation rather than specific sounds.
- Eight diverse releases are recommended, offering a starting point for those interested in exploring this eclectic genre.
- The characteristics of outsider music often include unconventional approaches and a disregard for mainstream appeal, emphasizing originality and authenticity.
- Listeners are encouraged to approach these recommendations with an open mind, as the genre often features an unconventional sound palette.
3. 🎸 Daniel Johnston: A Pioneer of Outsider Music
- Outsider music encompasses a wide range of styles and sounds without a fixed set of rules, often characterized by non-radio-friendly elements, poor recording quality, and unconventional themes.
- Daniel Johnston's 'Songs of Pain' exemplifies outsider music, gaining recognition and influencing artists like Kurt Cobain.
- Outsider music is often self-produced due to lack of access to record labels, with distribution through independent cassette tapes historically.
- Despite their non-commercial nature, some outsider musicians, including Johnston, achieve significant cult followings, often selling more albums than some mainstream artists.
- Johnston's influence is noted for his unique vocal style, raw and emotive songwriting, and themes that deviate from mainstream topics, contributing to his lasting legacy in the genre.
4. 🎼 The Influence and Essence of Outsider Artists
4.1. 🎼 The Influence and Essence of Outsider Artists
4.2. 🎨 Broader Impact of Outsider Artists
5. 🎤 Wesley Willis: Chicago's Unfiltered Legend
- Wesley Willis's 1995 compilation 'Greatest Hits,' released via Alternative Tentacles Records, is a key representation of his unique sound and storytelling.
- Tracks like 'Rock and Roll McDonald's' highlight his rise to fame as a Chicago legend and his crossover into internet meme culture.
- Willis's music is characterized by the use of classic keyboard demo instrumentals that underlie his vivid musical rants, covering diverse topics from fast food to superheroes.
- The compilation is notable for its humor and directness, with songs about figures like Batman and Spider-Man, showcasing his creative and unfiltered style.
- Willis's influence spans both underground and mainstream culture, with his work serving as a significant piece in understanding his artistic appeal.
- His background and life experiences played a crucial role in shaping his music, adding depth to his storytelling and cultural impact.
- The album offers a comprehensive look at his ability to mix humor with storytelling, making it an essential part of his legacy.
6. 🎶 The Shaggs: Accidental Music Icons
- The album explores themes of mental health and schizophrenia through a diverse range of vocal styles including singing, yelling, rapping, and howling, creating an engaging storytelling experience despite static instrumentals.
- Its appeal is not rooted in traditional musicality but in its creativity, boldness, and humor, making it a standout piece of 'outsider music.'
- The artist's enthusiasm and energy maintain excitement, even when music and themes are recycled.
- Unfiltered storytelling covers a wide range of experiences, contributing to the album's candid and quirky nature.
- The album exemplifies 'outsider music' with its unique life stories and themes, adding to its intrigue and appeal.
7. 🎭 Tonetta 777: Provocative and Mysterious
- Tonetta 777 was formed by sisters pushed into music by their father, who believed in a prophecy, despite the sisters' disinterest and lack of musical skills.
- Their album, Philosophy of the World, features a raw, unpolished sound with instruments out of tune, reflecting their lack of training and interest.
- Initially unsuccessful, the album gained cult status and was reissued in 1980 by Rounder Records, being recognized for its outsider music appeal.
- The band's story is a forced attempt at musical success, lacking guidance, contrasting with successful family bands like the Jackson 5.
- The album's songs are naïve and childlike, covering themes such as imaginary friends and reflections on God, showcasing unfiltered child creativity.
- Despite negative circumstances, the album holds innocence and raw beauty, offering insight into an unfiltered creative process, eventually influencing the outsider music genre.
- The cultural impact of the album has grown over time, becoming a reference point for unorthodox musical expression and gaining a dedicated cult following.
8. 🛠️ Weird Paul: The Thrift Store Aesthetic
8.1. Legendary Album Rarity
8.2. Tonetta 777: Viral Success and Controversy
8.3. Weird Paul: Embracing Thrift Store Aesthetic
9. 🎷 Moondog: The Blind Viking Composer
9.1. Outsider Music and Modern Artists
9.2. Changing Definition of Outsider Music
9.3. Social Media and Music Exposure
9.4. Artistic Evolution of Weird Paul
9.5. Moondog's Unique Sound and Influence
9.6. Moondog's Legacy and Impact
10. 🎸 Jandek: The Enigma of Outsider Music
- Jandek has released almost 80 albums since 1978, primarily recorded at home until the early 2000s, with a shift to live recordings in the past 20 years.
- His music ranges from de-tuned acoustic folk to instrumental piano work, showcasing a wide variety of styles within his catalog.
- The album 'Lost Cause' from the early '90s is noted for its more accessible sound, featuring a tuned guitar and confident vocals, contrasting with his typically eerie style.
- The final track on 'Lost Cause', 'The Electric End', is a 23-minute noise rock piece that transitions from screaming to a prolonged instrumental segment.
- Jandek's work is characterized by its outsider status, with unconventional and often unsettling themes.
- He operates under his own label, Corwood Industries, and is known as the representative of this project rather than under the name Jandek.
- His live performances are described as mindblowing, adding another layer to his enigmatic presence in the music scene.
11. 🎤 Lil B: The Based God and Modern Influence
- Lil B is considered an outsider in music due to his independent management of his career, without a label, making a name by prolific output.
- His influence on modern hip hop is seen as significant, setting a standard for off-the-cuff, raw, and chaotic style of music.
- Lil B's style included rapping off-the-dome and using noisy, low-budget instrumentals, which later inspired other artists and producers.
- He helped popularize the cloud rap aesthetic with producers like Clams Casino, influencing artists like ASAP Rocky.
- Lil B's early work faced criticism for its unconventional approach, but his methods became more accepted and influential over time.
- Despite not being a lyrical powerhouse like Lil Wayne, Lil B's charismatic and rule-breaking style left a lasting impact on music.
- Lil B's catalog is vast, with some releases containing hundreds of songs, showcasing his prolific nature.