(non-cheesy) BOMBAST!
June 15, 2012 11:30 AM Subscribe
Looking for music that's BOMBASTIC but not CHEESY. Finish the sequence : Monument (Dirty on Purpose), Bolero (Ravel), Young Liars (TV On The Radio), Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen)
So, these songs all have something wonderful in common. I used the word "bombast", but I'm sure there's a better term for it.
The key here is NON-CHEESY, so no Meatloaf, no Total Eclipse of the Heart, no Journey. In fact, I hesitated to put Bohemian Rhapsody in the list for just that reason, but it's such a good exemplar of what I'm looking for, I couldn't possibly leave it out.
Looking forward to what y'all come up with!
So, these songs all have something wonderful in common. I used the word "bombast", but I'm sure there's a better term for it.
The key here is NON-CHEESY, so no Meatloaf, no Total Eclipse of the Heart, no Journey. In fact, I hesitated to put Bohemian Rhapsody in the list for just that reason, but it's such a good exemplar of what I'm looking for, I couldn't possibly leave it out.
Looking forward to what y'all come up with!
Purple rain?
I also think some of meatloaf fits your bill - the song "bat out of hell" is epic and no more cheesy than queen, imo
posted by nakedmolerats at 11:45 AM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
I also think some of meatloaf fits your bill - the song "bat out of hell" is epic and no more cheesy than queen, imo
posted by nakedmolerats at 11:45 AM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I like Secret Machines for this: try 1000 Seconds
or modern prog like Shearwater: Leviathan Bound
posted by Kafkaesque at 11:47 AM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
or modern prog like Shearwater: Leviathan Bound
posted by Kafkaesque at 11:47 AM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Seconding Muse, although sometimes the cheese factor can be a bit high. Also if you like Queen for this kind of thing, I suggest you check out Foxy Shazam.
posted by immlass at 11:47 AM on June 15, 2012
posted by immlass at 11:47 AM on June 15, 2012
Check out this song from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet.
posted by lotus-eater at 11:58 AM on June 15, 2012
posted by lotus-eater at 11:58 AM on June 15, 2012
Best answer: You might check out "The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night" by The Besnard Lakes. Part ELO, part Beach Boys, part Cheap Trick, part Ride, all awesome. Track down "Light Up The Night", I think you'll like it.
posted by black8 at 12:00 PM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by black8 at 12:00 PM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
An awful lot of Sigur Ros, but especially "Festival." About 4-5 minutes of buildup, then all hell breaks loose (beautifully).
posted by jbickers at 12:07 PM on June 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by jbickers at 12:07 PM on June 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
You want some motherfuckin' Jacques Brel. Also check out his spirit child, Scott Walker (that song is actually a Brel cover, but it's a great intro to Scott Walker nonetheless). Also, I probably don't need to mention David Bowie?
posted by invitapriore at 12:07 PM on June 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by invitapriore at 12:07 PM on June 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
Yes, Muse is basically Queen reincarnated. Highly recommended.
Cheese is very subjective. One man's cheese is another man's prime rib. Or something.
According to wiktionary, synonyms of bombastic: blustering, grandiloquent, pompous, verbose, florid, I'm not sure if all those things are appropriate to your original intent.
So: perhaps some Wagner, or Elgar, or Holst?
On the non-art music side of things: how about some Bjork, or maybe some ELO. Pretty much anything by ELO is near the vicinity of bombastic.
posted by Doleful Creature at 12:15 PM on June 15, 2012
Cheese is very subjective. One man's cheese is another man's prime rib. Or something.
According to wiktionary, synonyms of bombastic: blustering, grandiloquent, pompous, verbose, florid, I'm not sure if all those things are appropriate to your original intent.
So: perhaps some Wagner, or Elgar, or Holst?
On the non-art music side of things: how about some Bjork, or maybe some ELO. Pretty much anything by ELO is near the vicinity of bombastic.
posted by Doleful Creature at 12:15 PM on June 15, 2012
Yeah, if you're allowing classical music then most late-Romantic and early Modern composers have it in spades, particularly in their orchestral works. Off the top of my head, I'd suggest you listen to the orchestral works of Mahler (particularly his 2nd symphony), Shostakovich (particularly his 5th & 10th symphonies; Nos. 7 & 12 cross the line into cheese, IMHO), Prokofiev (as linked above, and also his "Ala & Lolly" Suite) and Rimsky-Korsakov (particularly "Scheherezade".)
posted by Johnny Assay at 12:44 PM on June 15, 2012
posted by Johnny Assay at 12:44 PM on June 15, 2012
I love non-cheesy bombast. Off the top of my head:
Pretty much all of Gulag Orkestar by Beirut.
Bleeding Heart Show by New Pornographers
Bloodbuzz, Ohio by the National
Also, this is pretty much the Arcade Fire's entire reason for being, so anything from their oeuvre will fit. Funeral especially so.
Oh, and you seem to be leaning towards rock, but for hip hop: Kanye West and Eminem have built their careers on bombast.
I'm sure I'll think of more later.
posted by lunasol at 12:48 PM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Pretty much all of Gulag Orkestar by Beirut.
Bleeding Heart Show by New Pornographers
Bloodbuzz, Ohio by the National
Also, this is pretty much the Arcade Fire's entire reason for being, so anything from their oeuvre will fit. Funeral especially so.
Oh, and you seem to be leaning towards rock, but for hip hop: Kanye West and Eminem have built their careers on bombast.
I'm sure I'll think of more later.
posted by lunasol at 12:48 PM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Apologies in advance if I've misconstrued Bombastic in relation to your question.
But if I have, is there a common theme or one word description besides "suck" that might tie the songs below together?
Sinead O'Connor - Troy
Catherine Wheel- Black Metallic
Jane's Addiction - Three Days
Arcade Fire - Wake Up
Band Of Horses - Funeral
Hum - Stars
U2 - Acrobat
posted by stavx at 1:02 PM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
But if I have, is there a common theme or one word description besides "suck" that might tie the songs below together?
Sinead O'Connor - Troy
Catherine Wheel- Black Metallic
Jane's Addiction - Three Days
Arcade Fire - Wake Up
Band Of Horses - Funeral
Hum - Stars
U2 - Acrobat
posted by stavx at 1:02 PM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
I always thought the way Conqueror (Jesu) comes on was pretty grandiose.
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 1:18 PM on June 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 1:18 PM on June 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Ooh, just thought of another one : I Don't Like Mondays (The Boomtown Rats)
posted by Afroblanco at 1:27 PM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Afroblanco at 1:27 PM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
....Would Billy Joel's "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" suit at all? It may tapdance on the edge of cheese, but no more so than Bohemian Rhapsody. And if you've played piano before you also have the added awe of "how in the hell is he playing 32nd notes in the octave with the left hand?"
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:46 PM on June 15, 2012
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:46 PM on June 15, 2012
Mmmm maybe Black Kids?
I'm Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You
Look At Me (When I Rock Wichoo)
posted by yellowbinder at 1:47 PM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
I'm Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You
Look At Me (When I Rock Wichoo)
posted by yellowbinder at 1:47 PM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Maybe what you're looking for is The Go! team.
(It's kind of a crappy way to hear their music, YouTube, but it gets the idea across, especially of you let the vid play in a hidden window...)
posted by From Bklyn at 2:10 PM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
(It's kind of a crappy way to hear their music, YouTube, but it gets the idea across, especially of you let the vid play in a hidden window...)
posted by From Bklyn at 2:10 PM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
> Would Billy Joel's "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" suit at all?
Well, now. If we're going to smash open the emergency Billy Joel box, may I suggest Pressure?
posted by hot soup girl at 2:14 PM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Well, now. If we're going to smash open the emergency Billy Joel box, may I suggest Pressure?
posted by hot soup girl at 2:14 PM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Exitmusic - The Sea
mr Gnome - House of Circles (this is just a snippet).
Yuck - Rubber
The Swell Season - Leave - There's a build up before the bombast. Wait for it.
Ryan Adams - What Sin Replaces Love - Again, slow build on this one. I wish Ryan Adams would do a whole album like this.
Gogol Bordello - Wonderlust King - Not sure if it qualifies as bombastic, but it's crazy, fun.
posted by cnc at 2:31 PM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
mr Gnome - House of Circles (this is just a snippet).
Yuck - Rubber
The Swell Season - Leave - There's a build up before the bombast. Wait for it.
Ryan Adams - What Sin Replaces Love - Again, slow build on this one. I wish Ryan Adams would do a whole album like this.
Gogol Bordello - Wonderlust King - Not sure if it qualifies as bombastic, but it's crazy, fun.
posted by cnc at 2:31 PM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Masters of Reality - "100 Years" may be the definition of that.
Aerosmith’s "Round and Round" may be too hard rock, "You See me Crying" is a little melodramatic, I don’t think it’s cheesy, and there’s some great strings toward the end.
FC Kahuna - "Hayling"
What about "Fake Plastic Trees"?
posted by bongo_x at 3:13 PM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Aerosmith’s "Round and Round" may be too hard rock, "You See me Crying" is a little melodramatic, I don’t think it’s cheesy, and there’s some great strings toward the end.
FC Kahuna - "Hayling"
What about "Fake Plastic Trees"?
posted by bongo_x at 3:13 PM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Tool, Sober (NSFdreams) and Killing Joke, Millenium comes to mind.
posted by smirkette at 3:34 PM on June 15, 2012
posted by smirkette at 3:34 PM on June 15, 2012
Bombast? You, good sir or madam, need some RUFUS WAINWRIGHT in your life. Note that you will either love his voice or hate it as I did the first, oh, thirtyish times I heard him. Be seduced by his campawesome nonetheless!
Between My Legs: The Apocalypse is upon us? Time to flee beneath the streets, Phantom of the Opera-style!
Do I Disappoint You: Holy wine! Destruction! Of all mankind!
Release the Stars: HOLLYWOOD IS VERY GAY AND THAT IS AWESOME
Go or Go Ahead: Greek tragedy and electric guitar.
and because you mentioned "Bolero," Oh What a World
Other artists, with examples:
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Sealings
Janelle Monáe: Sincerely, Jane
posted by nicebookrack at 3:45 PM on June 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
Between My Legs: The Apocalypse is upon us? Time to flee beneath the streets, Phantom of the Opera-style!
Do I Disappoint You: Holy wine! Destruction! Of all mankind!
Release the Stars: HOLLYWOOD IS VERY GAY AND THAT IS AWESOME
Go or Go Ahead: Greek tragedy and electric guitar.
and because you mentioned "Bolero," Oh What a World
Other artists, with examples:
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Sealings
Janelle Monáe: Sincerely, Jane
posted by nicebookrack at 3:45 PM on June 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
outkast "bombs over baghdad" is quite bombastic, right out of the gate and only gets more awesome from there.
seconding knights of cydonia. i used to break the speed limit every time that song came on, even if i was just sitting at my desk.
posted by raihan_ at 4:22 PM on June 15, 2012
seconding knights of cydonia. i used to break the speed limit every time that song came on, even if i was just sitting at my desk.
posted by raihan_ at 4:22 PM on June 15, 2012
wait ... doesn't all of pink floyd qualify for the answer? mebbe go listen to obscured by clouds.
oh i thought of another good one! can with damio! can with malcolm mooney!
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 4:30 PM on June 15, 2012
oh i thought of another good one! can with damio! can with malcolm mooney!
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 4:30 PM on June 15, 2012
"Stairway To Heaven" by the one and only Led Zeppelin, perhaps?!
posted by sc114 at 4:45 PM on June 15, 2012
posted by sc114 at 4:45 PM on June 15, 2012
I've been on a Gershwin binge today and your question made me think of some dramatic moments in An American in Paris and Rhapsody in Blue.
posted by WorkingMyWayHome at 8:35 PM on June 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by WorkingMyWayHome at 8:35 PM on June 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
ok, i may be off here, but i hope not. your mention of I Don't Like Mondays convinced me to respond; that song has always struck me as a kind of broadway-esque nightmare (in a good way) -- i was in high school choir when i first heard it, and the piano and dynamics of it really struck me. a lot of music that i like strikes a similar...here are some examples in my head right now.
-Sunset Rubdown: Shut Up I Am Dreaming Of Places Where Lovers Have Wings
Mending of the Gown
The Taming of the Hands That Came Back to Life
-Destroyer: New Ways of Living
Notorious Lightning
Rubies
-Frog Eyes: Russian Berries But You're Quiet Tonight
One in Six Children Will Flee in Boats
The Akhian Press
Joanna Newsom: En Gallop
Peach Plum Pear
posted by mean square error at 8:48 PM on June 15, 2012
-Sunset Rubdown: Shut Up I Am Dreaming Of Places Where Lovers Have Wings
Mending of the Gown
The Taming of the Hands That Came Back to Life
-Destroyer: New Ways of Living
Notorious Lightning
Rubies
-Frog Eyes: Russian Berries But You're Quiet Tonight
One in Six Children Will Flee in Boats
The Akhian Press
Joanna Newsom: En Gallop
Peach Plum Pear
posted by mean square error at 8:48 PM on June 15, 2012
I tend to think of bombastic songs as those wehre I expect someone to be waving a giant flag as the song plays.
U2: Sunday, Bloody Sunday
nthing Muse: Knights of Cydonia
Styx: One with Everything
Peter Gabriel: Sledgehammer and Big Time and, depending on your proclivities, you can add Gabriel-era Genesis, such as The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Jethro Tull: Aqualung or really most of their not-blues catalog--Minstrel in the Gallery or Too Old to Rock and Roll, Too Young to Die, for instance.
How punk are you feeling? World Destruction by Afrika Bombaataa's Time Zone (written by John Lydon) is large.
You may also want to use Pandora and create a station from the songs you already know are in the collection.
posted by Mad_Carew at 9:36 PM on June 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
U2: Sunday, Bloody Sunday
nthing Muse: Knights of Cydonia
Styx: One with Everything
Peter Gabriel: Sledgehammer and Big Time and, depending on your proclivities, you can add Gabriel-era Genesis, such as The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Jethro Tull: Aqualung or really most of their not-blues catalog--Minstrel in the Gallery or Too Old to Rock and Roll, Too Young to Die, for instance.
How punk are you feeling? World Destruction by Afrika Bombaataa's Time Zone (written by John Lydon) is large.
You may also want to use Pandora and create a station from the songs you already know are in the collection.
posted by Mad_Carew at 9:36 PM on June 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
Bruce Springsteen! Thunder Road, Born to Run
posted by DingoMutt at 9:47 PM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by DingoMutt at 9:47 PM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
You, sir, need some prog rock. To start with maybe try Close to the Edge? There's a pipe organ solo!
For advanced prog-rock bombast, you want Magma. Full orchestra! Choir! Lots of percussion! A whole science fiction language that they invented in order to write their lyrics in! They are admittedly an acquired taste, and weird as hell, but they make some of the most dramatic, theatrical music around. (And cheesy they aren't.)
posted by nebulawindphone at 9:50 PM on June 15, 2012
For advanced prog-rock bombast, you want Magma. Full orchestra! Choir! Lots of percussion! A whole science fiction language that they invented in order to write their lyrics in! They are admittedly an acquired taste, and weird as hell, but they make some of the most dramatic, theatrical music around. (And cheesy they aren't.)
posted by nebulawindphone at 9:50 PM on June 15, 2012
Wait, here's the Magma track I meant to link to. The other one's good too, but less over-the-top.
posted by nebulawindphone at 9:55 PM on June 15, 2012
posted by nebulawindphone at 9:55 PM on June 15, 2012
Oh, if you're going to do Jethro Tull, you should do Locomotive Breath--love the urgency in that.
posted by WorkingMyWayHome at 9:59 PM on June 15, 2012
posted by WorkingMyWayHome at 9:59 PM on June 15, 2012
Lady Grinning Soul by David Bowie
posted by doctor_negative at 11:11 PM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by doctor_negative at 11:11 PM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
All Delighted People by Sufjan Stevens is what you need.
posted by carrienation at 1:01 AM on June 16, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by carrienation at 1:01 AM on June 16, 2012 [2 favorites]
Porcupine Tree's Anesthetize is the epitome of musical bombast, though it might be a bit lyrically morose.
posted by Devils Rancher at 10:52 AM on June 16, 2012
posted by Devils Rancher at 10:52 AM on June 16, 2012
LCD Soundsystem's All My Friends is a little outside the current parameters, but I'm hard pressed of anything that builds, crests and collapses quite the same way it does.
And I am a bit gobsmacked that nobody has mentioned Godspeed! You Black Emperor yet.
posted by Shepherd at 1:03 PM on June 16, 2012 [2 favorites]
And I am a bit gobsmacked that nobody has mentioned Godspeed! You Black Emperor yet.
posted by Shepherd at 1:03 PM on June 16, 2012 [2 favorites]
I don't know if you'll like this. I'm taking a chance here. But here we go: Pathfinder.
posted by Earl the Polliwog at 1:25 PM on June 16, 2012
posted by Earl the Polliwog at 1:25 PM on June 16, 2012
Oh, and the part at 6:20 might be relevant.
posted by Earl the Polliwog at 1:26 PM on June 16, 2012
posted by Earl the Polliwog at 1:26 PM on June 16, 2012
Elbow's "One Day Like This" (live from Glastonbury) is a huge sequence of build, complete with string section, followed by a crowd/choral sing-along (3:15). It's just a BIG, happy song.
This version, with the BBC Concert Orchestra and Chantage, And 5:40 to 6:15? Power in song, and the human voice triumphant.
posted by MonkeyToes at 4:55 AM on June 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
This version, with the BBC Concert Orchestra and Chantage, And 5:40 to 6:15? Power in song, and the human voice triumphant.
posted by MonkeyToes at 4:55 AM on June 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Late answer, but I'd recommend "This Too Shall Pass" by OK Go.
posted by dry white toast at 7:26 AM on June 18, 2012
posted by dry white toast at 7:26 AM on June 18, 2012
It may be on the cheesy side, Electric Six has bombast in spades. Consider Countdown to the Countdown as an off-the-top-of-my-head example.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 4:11 PM on June 20, 2012
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 4:11 PM on June 20, 2012
Response by poster: Okay! Sorry for the long delay. Thank you all for your suggestions! So much good music. Particular thanks to From Bklyn for suggesting The Go! Team and Kafkaesque for recommending 1000 Seconds. Good stuff!
I went ahead and made a Spotify playlist with all my top picks. Two good hours of listening -- enjoy!
posted by Afroblanco at 1:39 AM on June 22, 2012
I went ahead and made a Spotify playlist with all my top picks. Two good hours of listening -- enjoy!
posted by Afroblanco at 1:39 AM on June 22, 2012
Response by poster: Oh, and The Besnard Lakes! That was a find.
posted by Afroblanco at 1:00 PM on June 24, 2012
posted by Afroblanco at 1:00 PM on June 24, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by restless_nomad at 11:32 AM on June 15, 2012 [4 favorites]