Master Steampunk Musicians Thread

[Josh of Vernian Process]

So like the Master Steampunk Computer Games thread, I figured it may be high time to put one together for Steam friendly music.

Here's what I have so far. I know for sure I'm missing a few bands, so please feel free to add to the list and I'll try to keep this first post updated with any new additions.

Abney Park (Electronic/World/Pop)
Absinthe Drinkers, The (Post-Punk/Rock)
Agent Ribbons (Pop/Indie/Rock)
Arcade Fire, The (Indie/Rock/Acoustic/Symphonic)
Beat Circus (Acoustic/Circus)
Beats Antique (Electronic/Hip-Hop/Circus/World)
Beirut (Acoustic/Indie)
Bug (Electronic/Experimental/Symphonic)
Cabaret Decadance (Acoustic/Cabaret)
Clockwork Dolls, The (Electronic/Symphonic/Acoustic)
Clockwork Quartet, The (Acoustic/Indie/Musical Theater)
Cretins, The (Punk-Rock)
Crimson Muddle (Electronic/Coldwave)
Danny Elfman (Symphonic/Rock)
Darius Greene (Acoustic/Indie/Tin-Pan Alley)
DeVotchKa (Acoustic/Rock/Indie/Symphonic/Gypsy)
Decemberists (Acoustic/Indie/Rock)
Diablo Swing Orchestra (Metal/Swing)
Dr. Steel (Hip-Hop/Electronic/Industrial)
Dresden Dolls, The (Cabaret/Acoustic)
Emilie Autumn (Electronic/Symphonic/Metal)
Extraordinary Contraptions, The (Rock/Indie)
Ez3kiel (Electronic/Experimental/Symphonic)
Fermata (Acoustic/Rock/Gypsy)
Flood of Rain (Symphonic/Acoustic/Electronic/Experimental)
Ghostfire (Rock/Indie)
Gogol Bordello (Rock/Acoustic/Gypsy)
Harlequin Jones (Acoustic/Cabaret)
Hellblinki Sextet, The (Acoustic/Rock/Cabaret/Gypsy)
Humanwine (Rock/Cabaret/Punk)
Imaginary Airship (Rock/Pop/Experimental)
In the Nursery (Symphonic/Electronic)
James Gang Experience, The (Hip-Hop/Acoustic/Tin-Pan Alley)
Jill Tracy (Cabaret/Acoustic/Symphonic)
Jim Strange with the Proud & the Damned (Rock/Acoustic)
Johnny Hollow (Rock/Electronic/Experimental/Symphonic)
Juke Baritone & The Swamp Dogs (Acoustic/Rock/Indie/Punk)
Kate Bush (Experimental/Acoustic/Electronic/Pop)
Katzenjammer Kabarett (Rock/Pop)
Lee Press-on and the Nails (Swing/Rock)
Legendary Shack Shakers, The (Rock/Punk/Americana)
Life's Decay (Electronic/Experimental/Symphonic)
Life Towards Twilight (Electronic/Acoustic/Experimental)
Magnificent Seven, The (Cabaret/Acoustic/Rock)
Malice Mizer (Rock/Symphonic/Metal/Experimental)
Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing, The (Acoustic/Punk/Experimental)
Mr. Joe Black (Cabaret/Acoustic)
Nouvelle Vague (Acoustic/Rock/Pop/Bossa Nova)
Paul Roland (Rock/Experimental/Electronic/Symphonic)
Peryls, The (Rock/Indie/Acoustic)
Rasputina (Electronic/Acoustic/Rock/Symphonic)
Real Tuesday Weld, The (Pop/Cabaret/Indie/Symphonic)
Revel Hotel (Experimental/Electronic)
Scarring Party, The (Acoustic/Rock)
Sixteen Horsepower (Rock/Americana/Punk/Acoustic)
Squirrel Nut Zippers (Dixie Jazz/Pop/Swing)
Strawfoot (Acoustic/Americana)
Sxip Shirey (Experimental)
Synthonym (Electronic/Symphonic)
Tenth Stage, The (Electronic/Rock/Symphonic)
This Way to the Egress (Cabaret/Acoustic/Indie)
Tiger Lillies (Experimental/Acoustic)
Tleilaxu Music Machine, The (Electronic/Cabaret/Experimental)
Tom Waits (Acoustic/Rock/Experimental)
Tragic Tantrum Cabaret (Cabaret/Acoustic)
Unextraordinary Gentlemen (Electronic/Symphonic/Experimental)
Unwoman (Symphonic/Electronic/Acoustic)
Vagabond Opera (Cabaret/Acoustic)
Vermillion Lies (Indie/Acoustic/Cabaret)
Vernian Process (Rock/Electronic/Symphonic/Acoustic/Experimental)
Viral Millennium (Metal/Symphonic)
Voltaire (Indie/Gypsy/Pop/Acoustic/Symphonic)
Voodoo Organist (Acoustic/Rock)
Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys  (Experimental/Indie)
Widow's Bane, The (Acoustic/Indie)
World Inferno Friendship Society (Swing/Rock/Pop/Indie)
Wovenhand (Acoustic/Experimental/Americana)

[Dr cornelius quack]

This list could be endless, given that we all have such diverse notions as to what constitutes steamy music.

I'd add:

The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band.
The Temperance Seven.
Leon Redbone
The Penguine Cafe Orchestra.
Bellowhead.
The Inkspots.
Tiny Tim
The Singing Postman.
The Wurzles
The Pasadena Roof Orchestra.

[Gypsy]

I'm really thankful Wovenhand was mentioned. Along with Wovenhand, any other project David has been a part of is excellent.


If I may add to this list:

Psalters
Cigarette Trees (highly recommend)
Timbre
White Collar Sideshow
Zydepunks
mewithoutYou
The New Orleans Bingo Show

[Invision]

I'd have to say Ez3kiel, they remind me of steampunk more than any other band

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[Utini420]

I don't really mean to push labels onto anything, but for a list like this to be useful its going to need some broad categories to help navigate, if only splitting it into "techno-like," and "folk music-like."  I'm sure there are folks who somehow like both, but if steampunk music has a great divide, I'd say that's it. 

[Wayland2002]

The Sisters of Mercy, the Sisterhood and Miranda Sex Garden always put me in a Steampunk frame of mind.

[Acoustiks]

I don't really mean to push labels onto anything, but for a list like this to be useful its going to need some broad categories to help navigate, if only splitting it into "techno-like," and "folk music-like."  I'm sure there are folks who somehow like both, but if steampunk music has a great divide, I'd say that's it. 

I think what you're trying to say is that: "It's not the genre of music itself. It's the idea behind the music".

[Captian Jay]

Me...as soon as I get my robot chick lead singer working right.
Oh...Master musicians thread, sorry. (I do have a Steam punk theremin if it counts.)

[Utini420]

Well, partly,Acoustiks, but also the the general style.  Every time music comes up, it seems to break into two camps - people who like acoustic stuff, and people who like synthetic stuff.  Sure, many folks like both, but it seems like the majority strongly prefer one over the other (which ever one it happens to be.)  I'm in the synthetics camp, myself, and would I suppose rather see the lists broken up, at least into really broad categories.  I don't mean to get into "is this steamy goth or steamy industrial?" (bands cross that line all the time, back and forth, steam not withstanding at all), just split the banjos from the drum machines.

[Josh of Vernian Process]

Well, partly,Acoustiks, but also the the general style.  Every time music comes up, it seems to break into two camps - people who like acoustic stuff, and people who like synthetic stuff.  Sure, many folks like both, but it seems like the majority strongly prefer one over the other (which ever one it happens to be.)  I'm in the synthetics camp, myself, and would I suppose rather see the lists broken up, at least into really broad categories.  I don't mean to get into "is this steamy goth or steamy industrial?" (bands cross that line all the time, back and forth, steam not withstanding at all), just split the banjos from the drum machines.

But what about bands that mix both styles, or like us that have evolved from Synths to traditional instruments, and even live drums?

[DeLaFleche]

As well as a master steampunk musicians thread do we also have an indie version? ie: a brass goggles forum list of forum musicians?

[Utini420]

Well, then, you're just screwed, Vernian!   

I kid, I kid.

I've been trying to say this without stepping on any toes, but the complaint I've had with previous lists of steampunk music is that, quite frankly, any ol' band any ol' steam fan happens to like makes the cut.  I don't mean to sound like I only like techno (I've got a serious weakness for celloes) but when I've gone through previous lists like this in the past, or the what are you listening to thread, I find the lack of organization and the mish mash frustrating and hard to make any use of.  If you show me a list of 50 bands in no particular order, and 9 of the first 10 I check out are filksy, folksy singsongy stuff I'm done.  The best industrial band I've never heard of might be number 11, but I'd never know.  I suspect the same would hold true for a bluegrass fan going down a list of industrial acts.  Unless you're intentially stepping out of your comfort zone, most folks, I'd guess, would go to such a list looking for bands they'd enjoy and that would fit with their taste in music.  It seems like the lists would be more useful with a little organization. 

That's really rambly, so I'll try an analogy too: when I go out to the shop looking for a new movie, if they just had isle after isle of randomly scattered movies I wouldn't paw through it hopeing for the best, I expect some kind of organization.  One might disagree with the exact placement of certain titles -- is Resident Evil a scifi movie, or horror, or action? -- but I know that I can pretty much skip the Family isle entirely and go directly to the scifi/horror shelf. 

[Josh of Vernian Process]

Well, then, you're just screwed, Vernian!   

I kid, I kid.

I've been trying to say this without stepping on any toes, but the complaint I've had with previous lists of steampunk music is that, quite frankly, any ol' band any ol' steam fan happens to like makes the cut.  I don't mean to sound like I only like techno (I've got a serious weakness for celloes) but when I've gone through previous lists like this in the past, or the what are you listening to thread, I find the lack of organization and the mish mash frustrating and hard to make any use of.  If you show me a list of 50 bands in no particular order, and 9 of the first 10 I check out are filksy, folksy singsongy stuff I'm done.  The best industrial band I've never heard of might be number 11, but I'd never know.  I suspect the same would hold true for a bluegrass fan going down a list of industrial acts.  Unless you're intentially stepping out of your comfort zone, most folks, I'd guess, would go to such a list looking for bands they'd enjoy and that would fit with their taste in music.  It seems like the lists would be more useful with a little organization. 

That's really rambly, so I'll try an analogy too: when I go out to the shop looking for a new movie, if they just had isle after isle of randomly scattered movies I wouldn't paw through it hopeing for the best, I expect some kind of organization.  One might disagree with the exact placement of certain titles -- is Resident Evil a scifi movie, or horror, or action? -- but I know that I can pretty much skip the Family isle entirely and go directly to the scifi/horror shelf. 

Well I did amend the list with some brief descriptors. But still, organizing music that falls under Steampunk is even harder than organizing music that falls under Goth. It all comes down to personal preference. I'd like to think that I'm open minded enough to include bands that represent Steampunk (even if they aren't my preferred genre of music). Since Steampunk isn't a genre in and of it self, it is going to be very hard... nigh impossible to classify every band under a neat little "Industrial/Goth/Folk/etc." banner.

The best thing to do would be to give each band listed a listen (just one or two songs) and be patient enough to go through the whole list. If one can only listen to ten songs and then quit, then I question how dedicated that person is to finding new music?

[Utini420]

Didn't say I wasn't dedicated to finding new music, but if nothing strikes my fancy in the first dozen bands on a list, I loose dedication to that particular list of bands. 

I hate feeling like I'm telling folks what to do with their project -- I didn't mean that any bands should be flat-out excluded, just filtered a bit more.  The brief descriptors are helpful, I guess, though its about impossible to sum up a band in 4 words and those words mean the same things to everybody.  Somewhere in my brain I think this is why broad categories are more useful than specific (but not necessarily accurate, when you account for interpretation) descriptors. 

Bear in mind, I've been accused multiple times in my life of simply not liking music at all, even though I listen to as much of it as anyone else -- but I'll admit, I'm not very open minded about it. 

Look, I really don't like feeling like I'm raining on your picnic, so I'm just gonna back up off. 

[Josh of Vernian Process]

Didn't say I wasn't dedicated to finding new music, but if nothing strikes my fancy in the first dozen bands on a list, I loose dedication to that particular list of bands. 

I hate feeling like I'm telling folks what to do with their project -- I didn't mean that any bands should be flat-out excluded, just filtered a bit more.  The brief descriptors are helpful, I guess, though its about impossible to sum up a band in 4 words and those words mean the same things to everybody.  Somewhere in my brain I think this is why broad categories are more useful than specific (but not necessarily accurate, when you account for interpretation) descriptors. 

Bear in mind, I've been accused multiple times in my life of simply not liking music at all, even though I listen to as much of it as anyone else -- but I'll admit, I'm not very open minded about it. 

Look, I really don't like feeling like I'm raining on your picnic, so I'm just gonna back up off. 

Now, I wasn't referring to you specifically in my last reply. Just people in general. Remember that this list is composed of bands that run the gamut from Hip-Hop to traditional Ragtime music, and even a few that mix the styles. So yeah it isn't possible to make it a nice neat list that will appeal to everyone. You just have to do a little exploring. I find Last.Fm is a great place to start. Easy to navigate, loads quickly, and the band pages aren't all cluttered with crap like MySpace.

[Gypsy]

I chose the bands that I suggested for this list because I know all of their shows would be completely appropriate to go to in Steampunk garb. I guess I consider a band up for more of a Steampunk categorization if you can go to their show dressed exactly as you like and fit right in as a Steampunk.


Anyway, I think alphabetical is the best way to make this list. I think we should all step out of our comfort zones, because what if all the sudden you come across a folksy-sing-songy whatever that you actually fall in love with?

We should all push ourselves to try new things. I generally go by this rule: If the first song on MySpace doesn't interest me, I'm moving on.

[Acoustiks]

Well, partly,Acoustiks, but also the the general style.  Every time music comes up, it seems to break into two camps - people who like acoustic stuff, and people who like synthetic stuff.  Sure, many folks like both, but it seems like the majority strongly prefer one over the other (which ever one it happens to be.)  I'm in the synthetics camp, myself, and would I suppose rather see the lists broken up, at least into really broad categories.  I don't mean to get into "is this steamy goth or steamy industrial?" (bands cross that line all the time, back and forth, steam not withstanding at all), just split the banjos from the drum machines.

Isn't it ironic that my producer name is "Acoustiks", yet I make electronic music?

I still stick by my argument, the genre, is irrelevant. It's the idea behind the music. It's the message the composer is trying to get across, music style is irrelevant.

Well, then, you're just screwed, Vernian!   

I kid, I kid.

I've been trying to say this without stepping on any toes, but the complaint I've had with previous lists of steampunk music is that, quite frankly, any ol' band any ol' steam fan happens to like makes the cut.  I don't mean to sound like I only like techno (I've got a serious weakness for celloes) but when I've gone through previous lists like this in the past, or the what are you listening to thread, I find the lack of organization and the mish mash frustrating and hard to make any use of.  If you show me a list of 50 bands in no particular order, and 9 of the first 10 I check out are filksy, folksy singsongy stuff I'm done.  The best industrial band I've never heard of might be number 11, but I'd never know.  I suspect the same would hold true for a bluegrass fan going down a list of industrial acts.  Unless you're intentially stepping out of your comfort zone, most folks, I'd guess, would go to such a list looking for bands they'd enjoy and that would fit with their taste in music.  It seems like the lists would be more useful with a little organization. 

That's really rambly, so I'll try an analogy too: when I go out to the shop looking for a new movie, if they just had isle after isle of randomly scattered movies I wouldn't paw through it hopeing for the best, I expect some kind of organization.  One might disagree with the exact placement of certain titles -- is Resident Evil a scifi movie, or horror, or action? -- but I know that I can pretty much skip the Family isle entirely and go directly to the scifi/horror shelf. 

Well I did amend the list with some brief descriptors. But still, organizing music that falls under Steampunk is even harder than organizing music that falls under Goth. It all comes down to personal preference. I'd like to think that I'm open minded enough to include bands that represent Steampunk (even if they aren't my preferred genre of music). Since Steampunk isn't a genre in and of it self, it is going to be very hard... nigh impossible to classify every band under a neat little "Industrial/Goth/Folk/etc." banner.

The best thing to do would be to give each band listed a listen (just one or two songs) and be patient enough to go through the whole list. If one can only listen to ten songs and then quit, then I question how dedicated that person is to finding new music?

If I where to describe "Steampunk" as a musical genre, the best way I could think up is basing it on the instruments an compositional styles of the time period. But that would be stupid sense is the idea behind the music.

[MyFilthyHeart]

i would add Evelyn Machine to that list:

http://www.myspace.com/evelynmachine

[Utini420]

In no way do I want to start an argument on this, so if its not something fun just tell me to shut up.  But this comment (and the rest of its original post) have been rattling around the back of my head since first made.  I don't bring this up in relation to the list presented here, just in the abstract.

I still stick by my argument, the genre, is irrelevant. It's the idea behind the music. It's the message the composer is trying to get across, music style is irrelevant.

What are you talking about, dude? My take on the matter really, literally, scientifically could not possibly be more 180-degrees from that.  A musician might have a song that contains the secret to world peace, but if he encapsulates it in a country/western tune I ain't never gonna hear it.  Similarly, I'm quite glad I don't speak German, or else I'd realize just how stupid most Rammstein lyrics are and then I'd probably want to stop listening (there are exceptions).   This may just be a function of how I approach music, or maybe I'm not getting what you mean, but I don't normally pick my music because of its "sense" (not sure at all what you mean by that) and almost never the message, but for the overall sound.  If I'm in the mood for something heavy I want loud, pounding drums and ripping guitars.  I might pick this band over that one at the moment because of something in the singer's voice, or a riff I particularly like, or just because the CD has a good mix of fast and heavy with slow and heavy, but I doubt if I've ever really played a Sepultura CD (just taking an example) because I was in the mood to rehear his message on the plight of Brazilian prisoners.

Maybe your saying that quality content trumps presentation style, and to an extent I'd agree with you.  We might just be using different words to say why Frontline Assembly is better than Ministry.  And I am not saying that any industrial band is automatically better than any rock band (I had to not use the word folk there, because I probably would say something like that) simply because they are a given style.  I think a lot of this is just my own tastes and approach to music, but still, I just don't get how you can dismiss genre as irrelevant. 

[Josh of Vernian Process]

i would add Evelyn Machine to that list:

http://www.myspace.com/evelynmachine

They look cool, too bad they don't have any music up to listen to!

[Josh of Vernian Process]

In no way do I want to start an argument on this, so if its not something fun just tell me to shut up.  But this comment (and the rest of its original post) have been rattling around the back of my head since first made.  I don't bring this up in relation to the list presented here, just in the abstract.

I still stick by my argument, the genre, is irrelevant. It's the idea behind the music. It's the message the composer is trying to get across, music style is irrelevant.

What are you talking about, dude? My take on the matter really, literally, scientifically could not possibly be more 180-degrees from that.  A musician might have a song that contains the secret to world peace, but if he encapsulates it in a country/western tune I ain't never gonna hear it.  Similarly, I'm quite glad I don't speak German, or else I'd realize just how stupid most Rammstein lyrics are and then I'd probably want to stop listening (there are exceptions).   This may just be a function of how I approach music, or maybe I'm not getting what you mean, but I don't normally pick my music because of its "sense" (not sure at all what you mean by that) and almost never the message, but for the overall sound.  If I'm in the mood for something heavy I want loud, pounding drums and ripping guitars.  I might pick this band over that one at the moment because of something in the singer's voice, or a riff I particularly like, or just because the CD has a good mix of fast and heavy with slow and heavy, but I doubt if I've ever really played a Sepultura CD (just taking an example) because I was in the mood to rehear his message on the plight of Brazilian prisoners.

Maybe your saying that quality content trumps presentation style, and to an extent I'd agree with you.  We might just be using different words to say why Frontline Assembly is better than Ministry.  And I am not saying that any industrial band is automatically better than any rock band (I had to not use the word folk there, because I probably would say something like that) simply because they are a given style.  I think a lot of this is just my own tastes and approach to music, but still, I just don't get how you can dismiss genre as irrelevant. 

Well to be perfectly honest, you are both right. But it all boils down to each individuals personal opinion and or preference in what they want out of or look for in music.

For me, I go for a general atmosphere from a band. If I'm listening for retro influenced bands for GAR for example, I tend to focus first on the instrumentation, second on lyrics, and third on visual presentation. Do I hear instruments that are uncommon in pop or modern rock? Do I hear strings, harpsichord, ukulele, accordions, brass, etc?  Do I hear those things mixed into modern styles? If yes, then I pursue more of said bands music.

[frabjous]

Hmmm wondering if you'd consider Murder By Death Saloon Steampunk?

[Gypsy]

mmmmm Murder by Death!

[Wells45]

Here's an interesting band that I would consider Steampunk. Parlormuse.

[Josh of Vernian Process]

Here's an interesting band that I would consider Steampunk. Parlormuse.

Interesting... that's the guy who also does Midnight Syndicate.