# Gimme Weird Bands (The Return) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 7, 2008, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-weird-bands-the-return/459223 "2008-08-07T21:54:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2008, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-weird-bands-the-return/459223/1 "2008-08-07T21:54:13Z")
Well about two years ago, [I requested a list of weird bands](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=311091). I now want more. MORE I tell ya! Here’s the bands I like, including the ones that were mentioned in that thread, that fill the spot: [The Eccentric Opera](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tzt3HBQmBx0) [The Tiger Lillies](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U319VzSqEU) [Sentimental Bus](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGOpKk2k3x4) [Geinou Yamashirogumi](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lOPDD_p5u0) [downy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgkTCrNrZ58) Cirque du Soleil – [Alegria](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vzN_ARBIso) and Mystere Crash Worship – [Espontaneo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7KTQC11Cak) [J.A. Seazer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ikNWkxZn94) [Deerhoof](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJkbcrHPABA) [Rasputina](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBLQ0M3r2hM) [Arcturus](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1opjmuiHWw) Merzbow – Weird, but didn’t like Polysics – Weird but didn’t like Tried and didn’t find particularly/sufficiently weird: Gentle Giant – Mildly odd Malice Mizer – Normal The Unicorns – Normal Mogwai – Good band, good music, but more mellow than weird and not a lot of variety Kronos Quartet – World music Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Good music. Not weird Captain Beefheart – More playing while high than weird Frank Zappa – Generally more parody than weird. Though I do like [Willie the Pimp](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq-HWKhnI-s) quite a lot I tried to find a few of the other bands listed in the previous thread, and will probably check through them again now that YouTube exists, but I encourage you all to post any new (or old) exotic groups out there. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2008, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-weird-bands-the-return/459223/2 "2008-08-07T21:58:41Z")
Super Furry Animals (first album only: _Mwng_)? Cocorosie? Ethyl Meatplow? Aisha Kandisha’s Jarring Effects? ---
**Author:** ![MerryMagdalen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@MerryMagdalen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MerryMagdalen)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2008, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-weird-bands-the-return/459223/3 "2008-08-07T22:05:32Z")
-Current 93 -I haven’t listened to very much of them, but what I’ve heard of Premature Ejaculation is pretty strange. -Legendary Pink Dots And I noticed in the last thread someone suggested The Residents, which is what first springs to mind when I think “weird band.” ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2008, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-weird-bands-the-return/459223/4 "2008-08-07T22:38:43Z")
Gogol Bordello. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2008, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-weird-bands-the-return/459223/5 "2008-08-07T22:50:55Z")
Mclusky. see if you can find the songs “Without MSG I Am Nothing” and “To Hell with Good Intentions.” [Aaron Macdonald](http://aaronmacdonald.com/) while you’re at his site, download “She’s a Witch”, “Defeated at Last” and “The Saddest Song.” Ass Ponys. find “God Tells Me To” and “Swallow You Down” Bob Tilton. songs such as “Be my Valentine” and “Run Horsey Run” Devendra Banhart. Especially “Insect Eyes” …but have you ever heard Incubus’ S.C.I.E.N.C.E. album? That’s really _weird_. So much so that I’m still surprised they gained mainstream popularity on the scale they did. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2008, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-weird-bands-the-return/459223/6 "2008-08-07T22:53:13Z")
Todd Rundgren’s album _A Wizard, A True Star_ Animal Collective ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2008, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-weird-bands-the-return/459223/7 "2008-08-07T23:58:13Z")
Frog Eyes Syd Barrett era Pink Floyd (and Syd Barrett’s solo work) The Pixies Tom Waits, depending on the album Devo David Bowie The Stranglers The Soft Boys [Robyn Hitchcock](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APVLd5Fu1nw) Oingo Boingo Lene Lovich Neutral Milk Hotel ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-weird-bands-the-return/459223/8 "2008-08-08T00:31:53Z")
The Birthday Party ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-weird-bands-the-return/459223/9 "2008-08-08T03:17:02Z")
Woven Hand Of Montreal Acid Mothers Temple The B-52s 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SuntanTigerTamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@SuntanTigerTamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanTigerTamer)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-weird-bands-the-return/459223/10 "2008-08-08T03:29:29Z")
Les George Leningrad Frog Eyes Jay Reatard The Besnard Lakes Animal Collective Lightning Bolt Liars Boris The Death Set The Fiery Furnaces Joe Meek and the Blue Men Muscles Oneida Sunset Rubdown Thomas Tantrum Times New Viking Xiu Xiu Wolf Eyes YACHT All albums = WIN ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-weird-bands-the-return/459223/11 "2008-08-08T03:31:20Z")
Thin White Rope ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-weird-bands-the-return/459223/12 "2008-08-08T04:58:32Z")
Ulver, the main project of Garm, who did vocals on the Arcturus albums I mentioned in the last thread. No single album really stands out as weird, but what really makes them is that, even though I have and have listened intently to everything they’ve ever recorded, I literally have no idea what their next album will sound like. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-weird-bands-the-return/459223/13 "2008-08-08T05:46:08Z")
[QUOTE=SuntanTigerTamer] Oneida [/QUOTE] Does anyone else have a strange almost viseral reaction to their song “Happy New Years”? I wouldn’t be surprised if it induces seizures in some people. Yet it’s not a bad song… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-weird-bands-the-return/459223/14 "2008-08-08T05:59:04Z")
[QUOTE=PaulParkhead] Thin White Rope [/QUOTE] Nice one. [This thread may have some good suggestions.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=469613&highlight=locust) I posted some off-the-wall stuff in there with links. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-weird-bands-the-return/459223/15 "2008-08-08T06:08:41Z")
Wow, people talking about Oneida? On the Straight Dope? I never thought that would happen. They’re signed to a record label that’s located less than a mile away from my house. I like _The Wedding_ a lot. I used to play it at work all the time at my old job, which annoyed the hell out of everyone. People would walk in and you could just tell they were thinking, “what the fuck is this…noise?” ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-weird-bands-the-return/459223/16 "2008-08-08T06:25:34Z")
Here’s an A to Z list of some great stuff: AIT! Beyond Sensory Experience Cyclotimia Death in June Elijah’s Mantle First Law Galas, Diamanda Hafler Trio Inade Job Karma Kirchin, Basil Lucisferrato Moon Lay Hidden Beneath A Cloud Nurse With Wound Organization Toth People Like Us Quatro Bravo Eballieros Renaldo & The Loaf (Creator of perhaps the weirdest album of all time, _Songs for Swinging Larvae_) Stahlwerk 9 Today I’m Dead Ultra Milkmaids Volcano the Bear Whitehouse Xanopticon Yello Zoviet France [plug] I do a radio show each week at [WTJU.net](http://WTJU.net). Hear it Thursday mornings from 1am to 3am EST. “The Hep Imp Show”-- Two hours that focus almost exclusively on weird music. Give it a listen! [/plug] ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-weird-bands-the-return/459223/17 "2008-08-08T06:37:54Z")
Actually, let me just bring my post from the other thread and add to it here [QUOTE=pulykamell] If we’re going for kind of out-there music, there’s The Locust. Try [The Half-Eaten Sausage Would Like to See You In His Office](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCTrTPRClNM) or [Psst…Is That a Halfie in Your Pants.](http://youtube.com/watch?v=eQNf0fNeH9I) I don’t really know much about the band, but I do kind of find them fascinating. Not something I could listen to everyday, but I think the way they cram about twenty different musical ideas into a one-minute space is quite nothing like I’ve ever heard before. Xiu Xiu. Try [Apistat Commander](http://youtube.com/watch?v=mhg9ZJnh91g). I’m only really familiar with their album “The Promise,” but never has a band made me feel so, I dunno, uneasy with their music. It’s like listening to the musical equivalent of a mental breakdown. Very effective, in my opinion. Messer Chups. Crazy experimental electronic horror surf circus cartoon music from St. Petersburg. [Here’s “Go Satan Go.”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiyxQJNPjvE&feature=related) Wacky stuff. NOM. Perhaps the original Russian indie band. [I could ease you in with this familiar tune.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeU1JfgfBWg) [Or try this one.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFgItqMgVzQ) Unfortunately, I don’t think they’re available on iTunes. Eastern European absurdism at its finest. I’m also sure something by Slovenian rockers Laibach would fit the spirit of this thread. The Moog Cookbook. This duo does instrumental covers of pop songs, with stylistic twists, on vintage analog synthesizers. [Blackhole Sun.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQYNcZmbOEc) [Are You Gonna Go My Way.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km5sW7d70IY) As goofy as the music may sound, listen carefully. It’s obviously tongue-in-cheek and fun, but there’s a deep musicality underneath it with the wonderful subtleties to the synthesized textures and orchestration. [/QUOTE] I suspect you may also enjoy **Stereo Total** , here’s ["I Love You, Ono.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTFfEkJf4NM) Fiery Furnaces have been mentioned, [here’s a link to “Tropical Iceland.”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEvLtTxakrQ) Perhaps **Cibo Matto** , here’s [Know Your Chicken.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOQkwVAoSLI) **Dresden Dolls** , ["Girl Anachronism.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO5APfKnR50) Some more serious stuff that might be considered “weird,” depending on what perspective you’re coming from: [**M83**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmLnFuLXloA) (“America”) [**Wire**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cgPUMuxzYY&feature=related) (“Practice Makes Perfect”) [**My Bloody Valentine**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB8nCE2EoIw) (“Only Shallow”) [**Cocteau Twins**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtBr5JKSuks) (“Heaven or Las Vegas”) ---
**Author:** ![Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walker_in_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-weird-bands-the-return/459223/18 "2008-08-08T09:20:35Z")
I’m surprised that nobody has mentioned Hawkwind or Gong so far. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-weird-bands-the-return/459223/19 "2008-08-08T09:49:33Z")
The GO! Team (I don’t like most of their stuff, but the band has two drummers, SOMETHING has to be off there). ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-weird-bands-the-return/459223/20 "2008-08-08T10:13:30Z")
Oooh,the Tiger Lillies. They rule. But you don’t care for the Kronos Quartet? Have you ever heard their version of Purple Haze? It also rules. I note Renoldo and the Loaf, but no love for the Residents? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimme-weird-bands-the-return/459223.md?page=2)