View source for Math rock

{{short description|Style of rock music}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox music genre
| name              = Math rock
| stylistic_origins = * [[Progressive rock]]
* [[indie rock]]
* [[post-hardcore]]
* [[Minimal music|minimal]]
* [[noise rock]]
| cultural_origins  = Late 1980s, United States and Japan
| subgenrelist      =
| fusiongenres      =
| derivatives       = * [[Mathcore]]
* [[midwest emo]]
* [[post-rock]]<ref name=postAM>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=style|id=post-rock-ma0000002790|pure_url=yes}}|title=Post-Rock Music Genre Overview|access-date=December 24, 2016|publisher=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref>
| regional_scenes   =
| other_topics      = * [[Experimental rock]]
* [[jazz fusion]]
}}

[[File:Albini_atp.jpg|thumbnail|right|[[Steve Albini]] was an influence in the math rock genre.]]

'''Math rock''' is a style of [[Alternative rock|alternative]] and [[indie rock]]<ref name=AMG>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=style|id=math-rock-ma0000012250|pure_url=yes}}|title=Math Rock Music Genre Overview|access-date=October 23, 2016|publisher=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> with roots in bands such as [[King Crimson]] and [[Rush (band)|Rush]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Rush : song by song|last=Body, Alex E.|isbn=978-1-78155-729-7|location=[Stroud, Gloucestershire, England]|oclc=1088907970|date = June 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Progressive rock reconsidered|date=2002|publisher=Routledge|others=Holm-Hudson, Kevin.|isbn=0-8153-3714-0|location=New York|oclc=45890399}}</ref> It is characterized by complex, atypical [[rhythm]]ic structures (including irregular stopping and starting), [[counterpoint]], odd [[time signatures]], and [[extended chord]]s. Bearing similarities to [[post-rock]], math rock has been described as the "opposite side of the same coin". Opting for a "[[rock music|rockier]]" approach to songwriting and [[timbres]], the style is often performed by [[music ensemble|smaller ensembles]] which emphasize the role of the [[guitar]].<ref name="AMG" />

[[Polvo]], [[Don Caballero]], [[Slint]], [[Bitch Magnet]], [[Bastro]] and [[Ruins (Japanese band)|Ruins]] are considered by some to be the genre's pioneers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-04 |title=Read An Exclusive Excerpt From The New Book 'Math Rock' By Jeff Gomez |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2257843/math-rock-jeff-gomez-excerpt/columns/sounding-board/book-club/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Stereogum |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldner |first=Sam |title=Hella: Hold Your Horse Is (Deluxe Reissue) |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/hella-hold-your-horse-is-deluxe-reissue/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref>

== History and precursors ==

The albums ''[[Red (King Crimson album)|Red]]'' and ''[[Discipline (King Crimson album)|Discipline]]'' by [[King Crimson]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sodomsky |first1=Sam |title=King Crimson Red |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/king-crimson-red/ |website=Condé Nast |publisher=Pitchfork |access-date=14 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Dominique |last=Leone |date=21 Nov 2002 |title=The Top 100 Albums of the 1980s |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-top-100-albums-of-the-1980s/?page=5 |work=Pitchfork |access-date=16 Mar 2021}}</ref> as well as ''[[Spiderland]]'' by [[Slint]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stablein |first1=Lee |title=Under The Influence #24: Lapsarian on "Spiderland" by Slint! |url=https://metalnoise.net/2019/12/under-the-influence-24-lapsarian-on-spiderland-by-slint |website=Metal Noise |access-date=15 February 2020}}</ref> are generally considered seminal influences on the development of math rock.  The Canadian [[punk rock]] group [[Nomeansno]] (founded in 1979 and inactive as of 2016) have been cited by music critics as a "secret influence" on math rock,<ref>{{cite web | url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r14208/review|pure_url=yes}} | title=Live and Cuddly | access-date=August 1, 2007 | publisher=Allmusic}}</ref> predating much of the genre's development by more than a decade. An even more avant-garde group of the same era, [[Massacre (experimental band)|Massacre]], featured the guitarist [[Fred Frith]] and the bassist [[Bill Laswell]]. With some influence from the rapid-fire energy of punk, Massacre's influential music used complex rhythmic characteristics. [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]]'s 1984 album, ''[[My War]]'', also included unusual [[polyrhythm]]s.<ref name="Blush2010">{{cite book |last = Blush |first = Steven |author-link=Steven Blush |title = American Hardcore: A Tribal History |chapter = Black Flag & SST: Thirsty and miserable |chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=PFJjCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA72 |year = 2010 |publisher = [[Feral House]] |location = Los Angeles |isbn = 978-1-932595-98-7 |page = 72 |quotation =... its seven-minute Metal dirges and Fusion-style time signatures confused many fans. }}</ref>

Two songs on [[Yes (band)|Yes]]' album ''[[Fragile (Yes album)|Fragile]]'' (1971) have drawn attention – [[Paul Lester]] of ''[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]]'' writes that "[[Five Per Cent for Nothing]]" finds drummer [[Bill Bruford]] "inventing math rock",<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lester |first1=Paul |title=Yes: Fragile |url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/yes-fragile-1 |website=Classic Rock |access-date=6 August 2024 |date=27 November 2015}}</ref> while "[[Heart of the Sunrise]]" was described by ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''{{'}}s Chris Dahlen, [[Dominique Leone]] and Joe Tangari as "a deftly constructed proto math-rock epic".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11869-the-yes-album-fragile-close-to-the-edge-tales-from-topographic-oceans-relayer-going-for-the-one-tormato-drama-90125/#review-album-13614/ |first1=Chris |last1=Dahlen |first2=Dominique |last2=Leone |first3=Joe |last3=Tangari |date=8 February 2004 |title=Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Yes: ''The Yes Album'' / ''Fragile'' / ''Close to the Edge'' / ''Tales from Topographic Oceans'' / ''Relayer'' / ''Going for the One ''/ ''Tormato'' / ''Drama'' / ''90125'' |publisher=Pitchfork |access-date=19 January 2008}}</ref>

Examples of modern math rock bands include [[Delta Sleep]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Delta Sleep Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/delta-sleep-mn0003086342 |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref> [[Yvette Young|Covet]],<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Michael Astley-Brown |date=2023-04-05 |title=Yvette Young names the 10(+) guitarists who shaped her sound |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/yvette-young-names-the-guitarists-who-shaped-her-sound |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=guitarworld |language=en}}</ref> [[Tricot (band)|Tricot]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tricot Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More {{!}} Al... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/tricot-mn0002921789 |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref> and [[TTNG]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=This Town Needs Guns Songs, Albums, Reviews, B... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/this-town-needs-guns-mn0001059202#biography |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref>

== Characteristics ==

Math rock is typified by its rhythmic complexity, seen as ''[[mathematical]]'' in character by listeners and critics. While most rock music uses a {{Music|time|4|4}} [[Meter (music)|meter]] (however [[Accent (music)|accented]] or [[Syncopation|syncopated]]), math rock makes use of more non-standard, frequently changing [[time signature]]s such as {{Music|time|5|4}}, {{Music|time|7|8}}, {{Music|time|11|8}}, or {{Music|time|13|8}}.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Progressive rock reconsidered|date=2002|publisher=Routledge|others=Holm-Hudson, Kevin.|isbn=0-8153-3714-0|location=New York|oclc=45890399}}</ref>

As in traditional rock, the sound is most often dominated by guitars and drums. However, drums play a greater role in math rock in providing driving, complex rhythms. Math rock guitarists make use of [[tapping]] techniques and [[Live looping|loop pedals]] to build on these rhythms, as illustrated by songs like those of math rock supergroup [[Battles (band)|Battles]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Battles: Math rock made with room for improvisation |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/music/battles-math-rock-made-with-room-for-improvisation/2015/10/15/bafefbd6-6d29-11e5-aa5b-f78a98956699_story.html |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=December 5, 2024 |quote=Battles is rooted in the irregular time signatures and guitar tapping of math rock, but the experimental trio is constantly pushing sonic boundaries.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Leonard |first=Colin |date=2011-06-07 |title=A math-rock supergroup loses its voice, and gets some soul |url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2011/06/a-math-rock-supergroup-loses-its-voice-and-gets-some-soul-068341 |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}</ref>

[[Lyrics]] are generally not the focus of math rock; the voice is treated as just another instrument in the mix. Often, vocals are not [[overdub]]bed, and are positioned less prominently, as in the recording style of [[Steve Albini]].{{cn|date=December 2024}} Many of math rock's best-known groups are entirely [[instrumental rock|instrumental]] such as [[Don Caballero]] or [[Hella (band)|Hella]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Hella Biography by Bradley Torreano |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/hella-mn0000672835#biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=December 5, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Don Caballero Biography by Steve Huey |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/don-caballero-mn0000796811#biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=December 5, 2024}}</ref>

A significant intersection exists between math rock and [[emo]], exemplified by bands such as [[Tiny Moving Parts]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 9, 2014 |title=A Tiny Interview with Tiny Moving Parts |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/a-tiny-interview-with-tiny-moving-parts/ |website=VICE}}</ref> or [[American Football (band)|American Football]], whose sound has been described as "twinkly, mathy rock, a sound that became one of the defining traits of the emo scene throughout the 2000s".<ref>{{cite web|title = Never Meant: The Complete Oral History of American Football |url = https://www.vice.com/en/article/never-meant-the-complete-oral-history-of-american-football/|website = NOISEY| date=February 2, 2016 |access-date = February 2, 2016}}</ref>

==Etymology==
The term began as a joke, but has since developed into the accepted name for the musical style. One advocate of this is [[Matt Sweeney]], singer with [[Chavez (band)|Chavez]], a group often linked to the math rock scene.<ref>{{cite web |last=LeMay |first=Matt |date=August 12, 2006 |title=Interview: Chavez |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/interviews/6502-chavez/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109091530/https://pitchfork.com/features/interviews/6502-chavez/ |archive-date=January 9, 2014 |access-date=July 17, 2015 |publisher=[[Pitchfork (website) | Pitchfork]] |quote=[Math rock] was invented by a friend of ours as a derogatory term for a band me and James played in called Wider. But his whole joke is that he'd watch the song and not react at all, and then take out his calculator to figure out how good the song was. So he'd call it math rock, and it was a total diss, as it should be.}}</ref>  Despite this, not all critics see math rock as a serious sub-genre of rock, and some of the genre's most notable acts have disavowed the term.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The rock snob*s dictionary : an essential lexicon of rockological knowledge|last=Kamp, David.|date=2005|publisher=Broadway Books|others=Daly, Steven, 1960-|isbn=0-7679-1873-8|edition=1st|location=New York|pages=[https://archive.org/details/rocksnobsdiction00kamp/page/69 69]|oclc=55990376|url=https://archive.org/details/rocksnobsdiction00kamp/page/69}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldner |first=Sam |title=Hella: Hold Your Horse Is (Deluxe Reissue) |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/hella-hold-your-horse-is-deluxe-reissue/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Artists==
{{see also|List of math rock groups}}
{{More citations needed section|date=June 2021}}

=== Asian ===
Math rock has a significant presence in Japan; the most prominent Japanese groups include [[Toe (band)|Toe]], [[Tricot (band)|Tricot]], The Cabs, and [[Lite (band)|Lite]].<ref name=Weekender>{{cite web |title=A Complete Guide to Japanese Math Rock |url=https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2020/02/brief-guide-japanese-math-rock/ |website=Tokyo Weekender |access-date=27 July 2021 |date=19 February 2020}}</ref> Other Japanese groups which incorporate math rock in their music include [[Ling Tosite Sigure]],<ref>{{cite web |title=10 indie bands from Asia you need to know |url=https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/music/10-indie-bands-from-asia-you-need-to-know |website=Time Out Hong Kong |date=November 27, 2019 |access-date=27 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref> [[Zazen Boys]]<ref name=Weekender /> and [[Mouse on the Keys]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Mouse On The Keys live in KL {{!}} Music in Kuala Lumpur |url=https://www.timeout.com/kuala-lumpur/music/mouse-on-the-keys-live-in-kl |website=Time Out Kuala Lumpur |date=August 3, 2015 |access-date=27 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref> while the [[Japanoise]] scene features bands such as [[Ruins (Japanese band)|Ruins]], [[Zeni Geva]], and [[Boredoms]].<ref name=Weekender />

Taiwan has a very small indie music scene, of which math rock is an emergent genre that is quickly gaining in popularity, with well-known math rock bands including [[Elephant Gym]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robson |first=Daniel |date=2022-08-06 |title=INTERVIEW - Taiwan's Math Rock Heroes Elephant Gym: 'We Can All Resonate Together in Music' |url=https://japan-forward.com/interview-taiwans-math-rock-heroes-elephant-gym-we-can-all-resonate-together-in-music/ |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=japan-forward.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== North American ===
[[Polvo]] of [[Chapel Hill, North Carolina]] is often considered one of the household names in math rock, although the band members themselves have disavowed the categorization.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://creativeloafing.com/content-160914-you-can-call-polvo-math-rock-but-the-numbers-just-don-t-add |title=You can call Polvo math rock, but the numbers just don't add up |author=Redford, Chad |work=[[Creative Loafing]] |access-date=October 3, 2016 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812060217/http://clatl.com/atlanta/you-can-call-polvo-math-rock-but-the-numbers-just-dont-add-up/Content?oid=1276608 |archive-date=August 12, 2011 }}</ref>

In California, [[power pop]] groups [[Game Theory (band)|Game Theory]] and [[the Loud Family]] were both led by [[Scott Miller (pop musician)|Scott Miller]], who was said to "tinker with [[pop music|pop]] the way a born mathematician tinkers with numbers".<ref name=nyt1993>{{cite news |last = Schoemer |first = Karen |title = Sounds Around Town: Miller Writ Loud |date = April 2, 1993 |newspaper = [[New York Times]] |url-status = live |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/02/arts/sounds-around-town-832093.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131113235140/http://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/02/arts/sounds-around-town-832093.html |archive-date = November 13, 2013 }}</ref> The origin of Game Theory's name is mathematical, suggesting a "nearly mathy" sound cited as "IQ rock."<ref name=amar-mwh>{{cite journal |last = Amar |first = Erin |title = Music: What Happened? Scott Miller on 50 Years of Singles in 258 Pages |date = July 2011 |journal = Rocker Magazine |url = http://www.rockerzine.com/index.php/2013/04/scott-miller-music-what-happene |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131101183016/http://www.rockerzine.com/index.php/2013/04/scott-miller-music-what-happene |archive-date = November 1, 2013 }}</ref>

Although the Seattle [[grunge]] scene was not widely associated with math rock, some consider [[Soundgarden]] to be one of few exceptions, due to the odd time signatures found in many of their songs.<ref>{{cite web|title = WAS SOUNDGARDEN A MATH ROCK BAND? |url = https://feckingbahamas.com/focus-was-soundgarden-a-math-rock-band|website = feckingbahamas| date=July 9, 2019 |access-date = December 19, 2023}}</ref>{{relevant?|date=December 2024}}

== See also ==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[List of musical works in unusual time signatures]]
* [[Mathcore]]
* [[Music and mathematics]]
* [[Noise rock]]
* [[Post-hardcore]]
* [[Progressive metal]]
{{div col end}}

== Notes and references ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book |last = Dale |first = P. |title = Anyone Can Do It: Empowerment, Tradition and the Punk Underground |publisher = Taylor & Francis |series = Ashgate Popular and Folk Music Series |year = 2016 |isbn = 978-1-317-18024-1 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=PZgGDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT237 |page = pt237– }} 
* {{cite web |last = Eberhart |first = Max |title = Calculating the Influence of Math Rock |website = [[The Santa Clara]] |date = September 29, 2016 |url = http://thesantaclara.org/calculating-the-influence-of-math-rock/ |access-date = October 3, 2016 |archive-date = October 1, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161001143249/http://thesantaclara.org/calculating-the-influence-of-math-rock/ |url-status = dead }}
* {{Cite book |last=Gomez |first=Jeff |title=Math Rock |publisher=Bloomsbury |year=2024 |isbn=979-8765103371 |publication-date=2024}}

== External links ==
*{{AllMusic|class=|id=style/ma0000012250|label=Math Rock}}

{{Alternative rock}}
{{Experimental music}}
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[[Category:Math rock| ]]
[[Category:Alternative rock genres]]
[[Category:Mathematics and culture]]
[[Category:Post-hardcore]]
[[Category:American styles of music]]