The ZOLO Poll

According to RYM, The term "zolo" was first coined by Terry Sharkie via his "Zany Zolo Muzik Hour" radio show to describe a cross-section of bands and artists with similar approaches to music. Zolo is characterized by hyper, jerky rhythms, synthesized bleeps and boings, polka-dot percussion, chipper falsettos, zany imagery and a Zappa-esque sense of humor. While zolo contains elements associated with Progressive Rock or New Wave, zolo itself is a creative thread that runs independently of both of these genres.

Six angsty post-punk bands (plus the Stranglers ) plucked seemingly at random yet worthy of jumping the sharkie with a shiny new genre label?. I adore five of these groups but so-called 'Zolo' is old wine in a new bottle (hic)

Surprised if you haven't come across the term before:

https://apraamcos.co.nz/news/2015/aprap/what-the-genre-zolo
https://rateyourmusic.com/genre/Zolo/
https://rateyourmusic.com/charts/top/album/all-time/ge:zolo/exc:live,archival/

I got to know the term first because I'm into Cardiacs and have seen it described as Zolo various times.

And I'm sure that many words that came into usage have been called a made up bit of nonsense. Of course language is made up, but not sure how much would be considered nonsense. It might well have been coined with humorous intent by Terry Sharkie for his "Zany Zolo Muzik Hour" (sounds like to me -- fun term, and one that I actually find useful).

If I were the OP, I'd say, don't get too hung up on the term, just vote for one you like.

Edited by Logan - February 13 2021 at 21:27

All highly enjoyable bands to listen to, but for me it comes down to two - Cardiacs and Split Enz. And I’ve known and loved Split Enz longer, and possibly for that reason, I really have to go for them. Love the Enz! ❤️🇳🇿🥝 

Logan wrote: Surprised if you haven't come across the term before: https://apraamcos.co.nz/news/2015/aprap/what-the-genre-zolo https://rateyourmusic.com/genre/Zolo/ https://rateyourmusic.com/charts/top/album/all-time/ge:zolo/exc:live,archival/ I got to know the term first because I'm into Cardiacs and have seen it described as Zolo various times. And I'm sure that many words that came into usage have been called a made up bit of nonsense. Of course language is made up, but not sure how much would be considered nonsense. It might well have been coined with humorous intent by Terry Sharkie for his "Zany Zolo Muzik Hour" (sounds like to me -- fun term, and one that I actually find useful). If I were the OP, I'd say, don't get too hung up on the term, just vote for one you like.

Picked the Cardiacs. GG has often been associated with this "genre."

The ZOLO description reminds of The Dickies and early Lena Lovitch.





Edited by Easy Money - February 15 2021 at 08:16

Yeah, thsoe both have Zolo qualities, and in fact at rateyourusic Zolo is used as a descriptor for Lene Lovich albums (not as the main one, but on the secondary line):

New Wave, Art Pop
Zolo

I have used rateyourmusic more than once in the past to search for Zolo albums. I find their many search terms to be very useful. A made-up term, well obviously, but one I find useful and I easily "got" what the sound is. I like all the Zolo that I can think of that I've listened to, and so that has to mean something. And yes, Gentle Giant and Frank Zappa have these kind of Zolo qualities that I like in music, and Samla Mammas Manna, and all can be linked to Zolo. Miriodor is one of my more modern Prog favourities of that ilk (not for every album, but say with Jongleries élastiques). A lot of it is on the so-called "avant-prog" side (another silly nonsense term some might say).

I would call it less of a genre than a descriptor, and I'm all for descriptors when they can help to describe the music. I can't think of anything Zolo that couldn't have other genre descriptors (it all does and can). So it's a pretty useful term to meaning for describing certain qualities across albums, and mostly as a search tool and is often used in coordination with other genre terms.

I'm someone who actively searches for music that has specific qualities that I can name and not just feel, and to do so it helps to have a wide array of terms to use. Zolo is but one of a great many in my arsenal. Some people have gone so far as to say, and done in earnest, we should do away with music labels altogether and just call it music. Well that makes it really hard to find things and to describe what you are looking for and have more than basic conversation. Some might like to go the 1984 route, and not only not be coming up with new terms in any field (including fields of discovery), but be actively destroying words -- how beautiful would that be? Okay, there are some words I could without, such as "Splish" as in an old ad I saw where Nike or some shoe brand, coined and tried to popularise a term with a basketball player saying "These shoes are so splish." It didn't catch on with anyone but me (at least of which I am a aware). In fact, I'd hate to lose that splish term, even if I am the only one who uses it. Splishness is a quality that is quite dear to me.

Edited by Logan - February 15 2021 at 11:01