Re: [MMM] OT: Microtonality in 'mainstream' music

Igliashon Jones wrote:

>> I don't remember if I've heard that song; the only CD I have is
> Lateralus,
>
> "The Patient" is track 3 on Lateralus.

I can't believe I overlooked that (I only recently got the CD; I'm in the process of rebuilding my music library). I'm listening to the song now; I hear the guitar in five and the drums sound like their in six. And the saxophonist is picking his nose.

(So what could be the rhythmic equivalent of microtonalism anyway? What would you consider a "microrhythm"?)

> Have you ever listened to Meshuggah? I know they use standard-fretted
> instruments, but Fredrik Thordendal plays *the* most blatantly
> microtonal solos I've ever heard anyone play on any guitar (regardless
> of fretting/tuning). On more than a few songs he employs what sounds
> like a detuned "harmonizer" effect, doubling his solo notes with notes
> ranging a quartertone to a 3/4-tone off. If you haven't heard them,
> check out their album "Chaosphere"...that's one of my all-time faves.

I got some of their more recent music on my Yahoo! Music playlist. I don't know why I'm not more into Meshuggah, though I'm not as much a headbanger as I was in high school and college. The band I'm in now seems to be going in a prog-metal direction, so this is apparently changing. Now you want to talk about some SERIOUSLY complex rhythms and atonality.

And apparently I could be part of a very small clique - heavy metal oudists. Daron Malakian of System of a Down is the only one I can think of (listen to "Nuguns" from Steal This Album! - still no microtonalism there, unfortunately). The fretless instrument is turning out to be pretty handy for blues (very appropriate for Austin, Texas) and not just Oriental music.