U.S. Maple - Progressive Rock Music Forum

They fit a mood. I like it.

U.S. Maple were favourites of mine when I was into really scraggly, ugly, dissonant rock. They are one the best and most extreme examples of it.

Kudos for making the point of their compositional intentions. These guys weren't just flailing around making it up as they went. They crafted songs. Strangely broken songs, but songs.

They are here btw (I suggested them years back) http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=10824

New album!
http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7385

Yea, I like Slint.

I lived in Minnesota for a while. Music nerds in that area consider ‘Talker’ one of the best Midwestern records, which is saying something if you’re familiar with the heavyweight bands from there.

“Art is the recognition of the universal presence of God.” —Ernest Hello

It should be said that Todd Rittman was a member of Cheer-Accident, who appear on PA.

“Art is the recognition of the universal presence of God.” —Ernest Hello

Crane wrote:

They’re not an easy listen. But if you can find the thread I promise it’s worth it. I think the best thing to do is listen to a full album. ‘Talker’ is considered their masterpiece. It’s more blues-inflected than their previous work. I understand the impulse to lump them with noise and math rock (their first album ‘Long Hair in Three Stages’ shows this influence the strongest). Certainly they exist in those orbits. But if you regard them in light of classic rock (think AC/DC) it might help them ‘click.’

I wasn’t lumping them into anything. And to be fair, given the choice, I’d definitely prefer to lump them into math and noise than classic rock, if we’re thinking AC/DC. I don’t mind a lot of classic rock, but AC/DC is not a band that I’ve ever really liked. The odd song or two is catchy and enjoyable in isolation, but I can’t handle hearing too much in one go. My brother had a lot of their albums, and I couldn’t stay in the same room if they were playing. (But I’m have no problem if a song came up on the radio.)

Reviewer for The Progressive Aspect

I had a brief listen while I was getting the kids ready for school, which definitely wasn’t the best time or space to be listening to this band.

From this brief first impression, they come across as a rather unique fusion of two quite disparate genres. They take the tropes of math rock and noise rock and combine them in an unlikely and unexpected manner, which is initially quite difficult on the ear. I love a lot of math rock, and I love a lot of noise rock, but I’ve never heard them brought together in this way before. I’m not convinced it works for me - but, as aforementioned, I didn’t choose the best time and space to give them a fair listen. I will definitely come back to this band, and give them another go.

I think what it comes down to here is whether or not you conceive of prog as a genre, or as an attitude. I suspect this band would not find a place easily in PA, because of the way this site chooses to define prog - but the band seems to me to be definitely progressive in their approach.

Thanks for sharing! 👍🏻

Reviewer for The Progressive Aspect

“Art is the recognition of the universal presence of God.” —Ernest Hello