🎸Math Rock: No Calculator Needed
A quick guide to the music sub-genre – with suggestions • 4 min read
Math Rock is one of my favorite music sub-genres. I stumbled upon it in 2017 when I discovered Tera Melos through Spotify's suggestions and have been going down that rabbit hole ever since. Here's what it's about.
1. Notable Features
Math Rock gets its name from its atypical conventions: odd note choices, tilted song structures, odd time signatures, and other details that get music nerds frothing at the mouth — things that are just weird enough that you'd have to make a mental effort to keep up the first time you hear them, as if you were doing mental math.
Interestingly enough, the sub-genre is an offshoot of progressive rock, from which it gets some of the oddities above. I listened to bands like Dream Theater and Tool before and you can note some oblique references here and there.
One of my favorite qualities about (some) Math Rock songs is the emphasis on melody, often in the form of twinkly guitar arpeggios. These riffs, often from a Telecaster, round out the indie aesthetic that's often found on many bands.
2. My Greatest Hits
This section has quite a few embedded media: click on the article title above to read it in your browser for the best experience. Pressing play on the embeds below will automatically go through 30 seconds of each song, and you can always skip around the album tracks.
Let's start with the indie bands
Animals, the debut album from TTNG (formerly known as This Town Needs Guns). It’s a testament to how a dash of Midwestern Emo can really add a spark to Math Rock. TTNG is one of the few bands that brings in vocals quite well, and Baboon is the perfect example.
Grim by Foster Parents is a terrific LP that’s especially suited for background listening. Colors Casted is the song I'd recommend from it to get a sense of the band's sound.
No Drum and Bass in the Jazz Room by Clever Girl. This band released one of the most beautiful and twinkly EPs in 2010 and then went dormant. It’s a favorite of mine, and Elm is a treat.
On to the rock and metal oriented bands
Twin Galaxies by Delta Sleep. One of my favorite bands, due in no small part to the strong songwriting. Spy Dolphin is the song to hear.
Grow, CHON's sophomore project. This project (along with their debut, Newborn Sun) is a perfect example of how a more traditional sounding band can have a more interesting dash with Math Rock elements. Suda is my suggestion for getting acquainted with them.
New Levels, New Devils by Polyphia. These folks are what I presume happens to guitar shredders when they want a bit more from metal. Full of punchy riffs, harmonics, and hybrid picking, they're more suited to active listening. The aptly named G.O.A.T. is my recommendation.
…and trust the Japanese to be well represented
the book about my idle plot on a vague anxiety by Toe. An iconic entry, this album is a masterclass in what Math Rock can be. 孤独の発明 (Kodoku no hatsumei) is a treat of a song.
a fanatic socialist looked up at the stars... by a picture of her. This 5 track EP is a must listen, but if you're pressed for time then now I'm weaving hundred words would do.
potage and On the boom, singles by Tricot. This Kyoto band dances with a unique flavor of Math Rock, with gripping vocals to boot.
Notable mention
Remember Tera Melos? Looking back, it was a very odd entry point for me. Their third album X'ed Out can get a bit disorienting, and that's saying something considering they mellowed their sound since their earlier projects. Sunburn can give you a hint of their more accessible sound, and Slimed is… a bit of an acquired taste.
3. Is That It?
Far from it: there are many more bands worth listening to, from American Football all the way to King Crimson, and even other genre defining bands like Don Caballero or Hella. The world of Math Rock is as vast as it is diverse, but these are a good start.