# The Essential Music Library: Avant-Garde/Experimental/Eclectic **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 9, 2006, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-avant-garde-experimental-eclectic/339100 "2006-01-09T04:52:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2006, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-avant-garde-experimental-eclectic/339100/21 "2006-10-23T18:10:43Z")
Might qualify, might not, but the **Butthole Surfers** have their avant moments. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2006, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-avant-garde-experimental-eclectic/339100/22 "2006-10-23T19:01:56Z")
I think many of the classic “art rock” bands would fit here: Emerson Lake and Palmer King Crimson Jethro Tull Yes Traffic ---
**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:** [October 23, 2006, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-avant-garde-experimental-eclectic/339100/23 "2006-10-23T19:10:06Z")
[QUOTE=GargoyleWB] I think many of the classic “art rock” bands would fit here: Emerson Lake and Palmer King Crimson Jethro Tull Yes Traffic [/QUOTE] Oh, man, much as I love some of those I have to disagree. Once you’ve got a genre that you stick pretty comfortably within–prog rock–then you’ve left the “avant” label behind. I think of the artists who are legitimately avant garde as each being in a genre of one. The artists named above are avant \*compared to \*the previous generation of rock musicians, but none of them is sufficiently unique to be considered avant garde outside of that specific context. (Using “unique” in its literal, absolute sense.) ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2006, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-avant-garde-experimental-eclectic/339100/24 "2006-10-23T19:15:56Z")
Not sure what fits in the OP’s category, but I love the following: Pierre Boulez, “Dialogue de l’Ombre Double” (for clarinet and computer-controlled circle of speakers) Frank Zappa and Steve Vai, “Dangerous Kitchen” and “Jazz Discharge Party Hats”, from _Man from Utopia_ (for guitar, with notes transcribed from spoken voice “poems”) several works by Cecil Taylor (piano) P.D.Q. Bach, “Einstein on the Fritz” (Peter Shickele’s parody of Philip Glass) The Beatles, “Tomorrow Never Knows” several works by Laurie Anderson or Diamanda Galas (both already mentioned by others) Plastilina Mosh (Mexican “experimental” band) ---
**Author:** ![Sassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2006, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-avant-garde-experimental-eclectic/339100/25 "2006-10-24T18:34:20Z")
I think John Cale fits in here. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2006, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-avant-garde-experimental-eclectic/339100/26 "2006-10-24T19:12:43Z")
Brian Eno’s _Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy_ and _Ambient 1: Music for Airports_ There was a recent reissue of Eno and David Byrne’s _My Life in the Bush of Ghosts_ that’s really freakin’ incredible. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2006, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-avant-garde-experimental-eclectic/339100/27 "2006-10-24T20:03:47Z")
**Renaldo & The Loaf** “Is Guava a Donut?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-avant-garde-experimental-eclectic/339100.md?page=1)