The Residents

Alright, many of you may not have heard of The Residents.  They have been around since 1974 and are still creating music today. 

http://www.rzweb.net/  <- visit this website to read about them, check out the story behind each album.

They have influenced a lot, and pioneered electronic music, as well as the music video (creating the first one).  They're mixed media heroes as well.  They're known for being anonymous throughout 30+ years and creating epics and concept albums that are so bizarre and interesting while containing a helluva lotta substance.  They're also known for their eyeball masks.

Now, their music, their music is very experimental, remeniscent of Harry Partch and John Cage, but had a simplistic sensibility to it which anyone can listen to.  They use a LOT of different time signatures, many throughout a whole song.  They have 20 minute or so suite tracks, parts of their electronic rock operas (the album Not Available).  They have concept albums like the Mole Trilogy which are remeniscent of prog (they are prog-influenced), that stretch out through several albums.  Albums like God in 3 Persons tell an entire story with improvisational experimentation and insightful lyrics.  The album the Third Reich 'N Roll takes radio hits and slaps them into bizarre home-made electronics and combines them into side-long medleys in which The Residents destroy and ridicule pop music as we know it.

They're a demanding listen, but nowhere near unlistenable as they have a strong sense of melody, but check them out as much as you can, and if they're not prog, I don't know what is.  It may be a bit hard to find samples of their music.  http://www.gianteyeballs.com/ should contain some samples, but if all else fails, contact me on AIM: mudsharkrollo and I may be able to send you some.

I can definitely provide a bio for them, as well as pictures, and also samples.  I can review each album they have as well.  (And there's a lot...)

"Eskimo" is my all time favourite of the Residents, though they made a lot of good ones. Abolutely hilarious is their "Commercial album" with 40 pieces that are all exactly one minute long.

They should definitely be added under "avantgarde prog".

Well, have you counted the threads about Dream Theater? I wouldn't even dare trying, it might put me out of the believe an infinite number can not be achieved in finite time.

I've tried to listen to the Residents, somebody lent me two records, but they didn't sound so good to me...I guess they were not among their best, because I didn't find all those thing you comment... I remember one of them was just versions of Elvis Presley songs... very weird, but poor instrumentation, nothing special... Could somebody please recommend me a few of their recordings?.

And another thing... the Beatles invented the music video, back in the sixties....

Thank you, projeKct dan, I will try those records.

But, haven't you seen the video from "Strawberry fields forever"? (The Beatles, 1967)

   Didn't they do a song called" f*** you"?  I think it was on my frat house juke box.

Right you are SilverSurfer.

Hey, if Captain Beefheart is on Prog Arc, then The Residents are essential!

Albums like Wormwood and God In Three Persons are nothing less then concept albums!