Bjork, Beck, Bowie...what do they have in common with Prince? They all seem to be doing their own interesting thing, exploring, experimenting, never sounding like the oh-so-boring mainstream. Gotta respect 'em!

I challenge you to name a few more artists, but please don't just blurt out your favorite so-and-so. There really is a common theme among these individualists, dontcha think?

The key requirement, in order to keep the list short, is that such folks must have consistently ignored, not defied, the mainstream.

Well... Not recently but there was a time I'd have added the Beastie Boys to this list. About 5 years ago we used to joke about the 3 B's of new music being Beck, Bjork and the Beastie Boys.

Add Radiohead to that list. PJ Harvey for that matter. Compare her early work to the stuff she's doing now. The artistic growth is amazing.

Frank Zappa was known 2 go against the grain...so 2 speak.

Miles Davis...2 cool 2 b included in most lists.

Neil Young...another example.

Bob Dylan...yet one more.

Paul Simon...yeah, believe it or not.

George Clinton...c'mon really...Mo Fo dared u 2 listen!

Janis Joplin...girl had her own thing goin' on.

Billie Holiday...queen.

Tracy Chapman...dared 2 put out a folk album in the midst of electro pop...and it scored. She continues 2 this day 2 listen 2 her own bird.

I just love the innovators...don't u?

Prince...*sigh*...used to belong to this list...damn, the man used to think out of the box...

nowadays, he is stuck in it...hopefully he will get out one day, like Bowie did...

I agree with the artists mentioned, and I would like to add Tori Amos.

The Godfather of Funk George Clinton
David Byrne of Talking Heads
Frank Zappa
Bootsy Collins...check out his alias Zillatron lp and his stuff with Buckethead. futuristic stuff...
Buckethead...if you not hip go find it.
Jimi broke some rules for real.

and believe it or not Madonna, she's done some wild tunes not just pop.

Michelle Shocked

CarrieMpls said:

Oh geez...had I thought of them, I would have added the Beastie Boys. Good call!

The BB's are sooo underrated because people associate them with their first album, which was rather commercial. Nowadays I can't even accurately call them "rap."

we need to add

ANI DiFRANCO
&
U2

VinaBlue said:

daamned straight ! tori for real. tori is the goddess of all faerie music. bow down and worship.

also...
kid creole and the coconuts

laurie anderson

this mortal coil

and i know most won't agree with this one but i'm going to write it anyway...

AALIYAH

hak said:

yep !

RuDeGiRL said:

Interesting suggestions!

I'd have to agree that Laurie Anderson belongs in this category, but I haven't heard from her in ages.

This mortal coil is actually a collection of several artists, including Cocteau Twins and Dead Can Dance...both of which are interesting in this respect, but neither of which seem to have evolved much over the years...and then of course both bands have now disbanded.

Um...Kid Creole?! LOL...

hak said:

Um...I'm not very familiar with Ani. Does her work ever step outside of folk?

U2 is an interesting call...gotta respect em at least.

teller said:

u don't think kid creole has evolved ? i mean he's not as great as prince or some of the others listed here but he's still in a class by himself. okay...someone may point out that he sounds like such and such but i have never heard of such and such but i have heard kid creole. i buy anything i can get my hands on that he has made. i think he's a genius. i love his lyrics, i love his musical arrangements, i love his concept albums, he has evolved. again maybe not as profoundly as prince but still...i think he has consistantly ignored the mainstream. that's my story and i'm stickin to it.

blast away

RuDeGiRL said:

I hear you on Aaliyah...

Well, Kate Bush - when she can be bothered.
And MJ.

Cloudbuster said:

Kate bush gets mentioned from time to time and I have to admit she has her own cool style that doesn't register on the mainstream radar...plus it was cool to hear her voice on emancipation.

But indeed...where is she now?!

teller said:

Apparantly she's putting the finishing touches to her new album, but it's kate Bush so it could be another year yet!

Also Kate's quite a star in the U.K. All her albums have made the top 3 (bar one which got to no.6) and i think it's a shame the americans never quite 'got' her.

Bjork I absolutely Love! She's Great! I love her uniqueness. I've seen her with the Sugarcubes and alone. She's really cool! I love her Style! Her movie Dancer in the Dark was really Good also especially her songs. Beck is very cool also I have his music also. Bowie Fantastic . Prince Magnificant Genius !!!

teller said:

ANI is more than just a "folk artist"! plus, look at her production work on other artist cds [sara lee, bitch & animal, utah phillips to name a few] how many "folk artist"s do you know who use full horn sections?

a few of you also mentioned laurie anderson -- most definate!! her new live cd is brilliant!!

Cloudbuster said:

PLEASE give me a break!!! MJ has done the exact same cd over & over again since 'off the wall'
plus he's made of plastic.

hak said:

Then u ain't listening.
And having u're nose trimmed doesn't mean u're made of plastic. Same old boring comments.

teller said:

Heck yeah! Don't always believe the categories, listen for yourself. She blows away any preconcieved notions of the description "folk singer". That title really doesn't do her justice at all. She's MUCH more than that.

Cool thread! I have some Bjork albums -- I love her material. Definitely an influence.

Also cool to see someone give props to Kid Creole -- he writes some very clever lyrics. I enjoy a lot of his music. In addition, his work in the 70's as a member of Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band was brilliant.

teller said:

Take a trip to your local wrecka stow - Laurie put out an all-new studio album last fall called "Life On A String", and a few weeks ago she released a new concert album, "Live In New York City", which is an awesome piece of work. She's also been touring a lot lately - I saw her perform in Chicago last fall, strangely enough, on September 11.

Anxiety said:

Whoa, I didn't know she'd released anything recently! I'll definitely have to check it out, thx!

For those who aren't familiar, Laurie Anderson is one weird chick musician...really original stuff...

teller said:

this is sooo not true! you trivialize her art w/ this comment!

LAURIE ANDERSON is a brilliant performance artist. for those of you not familiar with her work, try to find some live video footage as her art works on several different levels. the aural aspect fits perfectly w/ the visual aspect.