Is it metal if it is played acustacally?

Subject: Is it Metal if it is played acustacally?
From: GUEST,Brian
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 10:37 PM

A question was brough up in one of the other threads as to if music is still Heavy Metal if it is played acustacally? Some of the hardest Metal is played real slow, some is fast, but none that i can think of is acustic. Im not talking about the band playing the song, but the music that is played. Any feelings about this subject is appreciated.

Subject: RE: Is it metal if it is played acustacally?
From: AKS
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 01:30 AM

Are you familiar with Apocalyptica? It is a Finnish band (of four cellos, classically trained young players) that plays heavy metal kind of acoustically. Haven't got any details of their records, though I know they've been selling somewhat nicely 'overseas'.

AKS

Subject: RE: Is it metal if it is played acustacally?
From: Grab
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 07:22 AM

There's a guitarist I read about in a music mag ('Guitarist', IIRC) who defines what he plays as variously 'heavy mental' and 'acoustic thrash'. Not heard him myself (only having a small CD budget!) so I wouldn't know what it's actually like. This thread just kind of triggered the memory. Does this ring a bell with anyone?

And of course there's always Under The Bridge (RHCP). A couple of guitars can do a pretty heavy acoustic version of that.

Subject: RE: Is it metal if it is played acustacally?
From: Grab
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 07:27 AM

Did a search for those terms. Turns out the guy in question is called Michael Hedges. Only he's not going to be playing any more, on account of having been killed in a car crash 2 years back.

What is it with musicians? There must be something in good music which lowers your life expectancy. I mean, look at Cliff Richard - looks like he'll go on forever...

Subject: RE: Is it metal if it is played acustacally?
From: JedMarum
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 09:38 AM

I wouldn't have thought playin' Metal in an acoustic style would be worth it, 'til I saw and heard this guy (far right pic). He did several tunes at a Phoenix folk club's Open Stage and I gotta say he was a real treat! Great guitar work, laid back style, and very creative arrangments. After seeing it with my own ears, I'd have say the answer to your question is; Yes, it is Metal if its played on acoustic instruments ... and yes the music can be quite worthwhile!

Subject: RE: Is it metal if it is played acustacally?
From: GeorgeH
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 10:30 AM

but does any of this MATTER ???

(and yes, I have heard Apocalyptica . .

Why the obsession with pigeon-holing?

G.

Subject: RE: Is it metal if it is played acustacally?
From: Songster Bob
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 10:36 AM

I play metal acoustic music -- trad and folkish songs on a National guitar. Nary a rock song among 'em, but it's still metal making the sound. I also have a dobro.

Bob Clayton

Subject: RE: Is it metal if it is played acustacally?
From: Mbo
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 10:47 AM

Ooohh..."Under The Bridge" RULES! Love that opening arpeggio! That cello metal band sounds really cool. I love big grungy, chugging cellos!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Is it metal if it is played acustacally?
From: Blackcat2
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 11:47 AM

I still think (see comment on the other thread) that the electric guitar is really important for Heavy Metal but I guess not absolutely neccessary. It's just that when I hear Metal groups playing accoustically, they sound fine or great, but it is definately different.

I guess it comes down to the definition game. There are some things fairly easy to define (such as 12 bar blues songs are Blues - or am I wrong?) but others are nearly impossible. - Someone define Jazz to me in a couple of sentences. There are elements of Benny Goodman and Herbie Hancock that are common, but not a lot, yet I think they're still both Jazz.

Heavy Metal seems to me to be a form of Rock that is nearly always electric, uses a lot of amplification and a fair amount of distortion and seems to create a "wall of guitar sound" In surfing terms I'd say that Heavy Metal is the "Bonzai Pipeline" of surfing locations.

There is sort of a "power to sound" ratio thing for me. I mean, The Edge of U2 lays down a wall of guitar sound, but it's not really as powerful and raw of the sound that Sabbath or Metalica lays down. There are also groups that are really loud (The Who, Queen - my ears still a ringing from a 1980 concert) but they aren't metal either.

Any more ideas? Where am I wrong or misinformed?

by the way, it's not really Metal that much, but there's a really cool CD out there of Folk music played by Scottish Rock/Metal bands called "Folk N'Hell." check it out.

pax yall

Subject: RE: Is it metal if it is played acustacally?
From: GUEST,_gargoyle
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 12:07 AM

MTV did a series .... a couple of years ago .....metal bands performed acoustically

It was good.

It was interesting.

It was called.......... UnPlugged

Subject: RE: Is it metal if it is played acustacally?
From: paddymac
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 12:36 AM

GeorgeH - welcome back; haven't heard from you in a while. How are things in the Celtic Isles? :>)

Subject: RE: Is it metal if it is played acustacally?
From: ddw
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 12:42 AM

I'm confused. I thought heavy metal had to be plugged in, raw and — to my old ears, at least — absolutely unlistenable. If you can do heavy metal with acoustic instruments, what is it that defines it as heavy metal?

just out of the loop, I guess....

david

Subject: RE: Is it metal if it is played acustacally?
From: GeorgeH
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 07:54 AM

Paddymac: thanks for the comment; time's tight so I'm dipping in very selectively at the moment, but strangely enough my last posting in the "Help: Good modern folkies" thread gave my view of just how sh**y thinks are in these isles!

G.

Subject: RE: Is it metal if it is played acustacally?
From: GUEST,Julie
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 09:20 AM

It's great to see someone else appreciating the "Folk'N Hell" album. I must admit I don't see it as Scottish Rock bands playing folk music but simply as Scottish bands playing music of different influences. In fact some relate more to dance music hence the sleeve note reference to "Acid Croft" I find that this approach augments the traditional style much more than some groups' "celtic ambient" music - all atsmospherics and no substance.

On the subject of can Heavy Metal music be played accoustically what about Stairway to heaven ( please no rock /metal debates) and particulary Rolf Harris's version. Was that ever a rock track? Even more interesting has any one heard the work of Dread Zeppelin ( Probably split now) who produced an album of Led Zeppelin as reggae. Similary, there is an English indie band Travis who do a corking indie veries of Britany Spears - Baby One Time

I find that labeling music gendres is only useful a starting point when looking for new bands, even then it pays to be broad minded

Subject: RE: Is it metal if it is played acustacally?
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 10:19 AM

It can certainly be metal if played acustacally, but never if played acoustically.

Chet

Subject: RE: Is it metal if it is played acustacally?
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 10:20 AM

It can certainly be metal if played acustacally, but never if played acoustically.

Chet

Subject: RE: Is it metal if it is played acustacally?
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 10:21 AM

It can certainly be metal if played acustacally, but never if played acoustically.

Chet