NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm not trying to start a flame war, nor am I looking for an endless chorus of fans with posts like "Mastodon is teh coolest band EVAR!!" but I've been wondering about these guys for awhile.

A lot of my friends are into the whole indie-rock scene and I keep hearing them talk about Mastodon, hell their the only metal band I ever hear them mention. I see Mastodon's latest album popping up on best of 2006 lists all over, sometimes even on the lists of writers I respect. Apparently they were nominated for a Grammy (for whatever thats worth). I just don't see what the big deal is.

Can someone please explain to me why Mastodon is getting such a huge amount of buzz? Honestly, maybe I missed something or didn't dig deeply enough, but what is the deal with this band's popularity?

With the "Jesus" in your name and the disclaimer in the first half sentence I thought this was going to be another debate about how evolution is a pile of mammut shit. :p

mastodons are the predecessors of elephants and wooly mammoths. that's as much as i know.

With the "Jesus" in your name and the disclaimer in the first half sentence I thought this was going to be another debate about how evolution is a pile of mammut shit. :p

It's not? How disappointing.

Anyone remember the idea a few years ago of taking DNA from frozen mammoths and somehow combining it with elephant DNA and having an elephant give birth to a mammoth? Or at least a hybrid.

And then there were the pygmy mammoths that lived until only about 4,000 years ago on some Alaskan island.

But mastodons? No, I don't get it.

Well, they were a elephant-like furred being of the Ice Age. Common subspecies are "Wooly Mammoth" and "Imperial Mammoth" I believe wooly mammoths are larger than imperial mammoths, and imperial mammoths are slightly larger than modern-day elephants. They had large tusks, and are occasionally found preserved in ice.

It’s metal you say? Well there’s your problem right there. You see, you don’t ever really “get” metal, you just pretend to so all the other metal heads will like you. There’s nothing to “get” about metal. It isn’t complicated. It’s exactly what it sounds like.

Meh, if you think you need some manner of music explained to you then you wouldn't like it. Music tends to not need explanation.

Well, they were a elephant-like furred being of the Ice Age. Common subspecies are "Wooly Mammoth" and "Imperial Mammoth" I believe wooly mammoths are larger than imperial mammoths, and imperial mammoths are slightly larger than modern-day elephants. They had large tusks, and are occasionally found preserved in ice.

Mastodon (http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/quaternary/mastodon.gif)

Mammoth (http://museums.ncl.ac.uk/flint/images/mammoth.jpg)

While mastodons were furry like woolly mammoths, and similar in height at roughly three meters at the shoulder, the resemblance was superficial. They differed from mammoths primarily in the blunt, conical shape of their teeth, which were more suited to chewing leaves than the high-crowned teeth mammoths used for grazing; the name mastodon (or mastodont) means mastoid teeth (Greek μαστός and οδούς "nipple tooth"), and is also an obsolete name for their genus. Their skulls were larger and flatter than those of mammoths, while their skeleton was stockier and more robust. Mastodons also seem to have lacked the undercoat characteristic of mammoths.

The tusks of the mastodon sometimes exceeded five meters in length, and were nearly horizontal, another contrast with more strongly curved mammoth tusks. Young males had vestigial lower tusks that were lost in adulthood. The tusks were probably used to break branches and twigs although some evidence suggests males may have used them in mating challenges; one tusk is often shorter than the other, suggesting that, like humans, mastodons may have had laterality. Examination of fossilized tusks revealed a series of regularly spaced shallow pits on the underside of the tusks. Microscopic examination showed damage to the dentin under the pits. It is theorized that the damage was caused when the males were fighting over mating rights. The curved shape of the tusks would have forced them downward with each blow, causing damage to the newly forming ivory at the base of the tusk. The regularity of the damage in the growth patterns of the tusks indicates that this was an annual occurrence, probably occurring during the spring and early summer.

Oops. Someone forgot her English. Mammoth it is. Even though Mammut sounds cooler. <.<

Oops. Someone forgot her English. Mammoth it is. Even though Mammut sounds cooler. <.<

Heh. "Mammut" is closer to the original Ur-Language, which can only be paraphrased, not translated, and meant something like, "ZOMG!!!11!!111!!!! Look at the freakin' giant hairy ... what is that, anyway!?!?!?!?"

I saw Mastodon supporting Tool. They're not really your run of the mill metal band - they seem to have spent a considerable time listening to bands like Van Der Graaf Generator, as well as the traditional metal influences (Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden et al). They seem to go in for heavy extended instrumental pieces in the middle of songs - and possibly the biggest criticism of them is that they'll put these in even if it's not really required. If they learn that not every song needs such a piece they'd be amazing. A straight metal song from them would be cool.

But yeah, speaking as a fan of both prog and metal, they're good. And Blood Mountain is a really fucking good album (I voted for it in an end of year poll, though only because none of my real albums of the year were options).

Heh. "Mammut" is closer to the original Ur-Language, which can only be paraphrased, not translated, and meant something like, "ZOMG!!!11!!111!!!! Look at the freakin' giant hairy ... what is that, anyway!?!?!?!?":p Who'da thunk they did the ZOMG!!!11!!111!!!! even back then?

Mastodon is the shit my toilet would reject.

I saw Mastodon supporting Tool. They're not really your run of the mill metal band - they seem to have spent a considerable time listening to bands like Van Der Graaf Generator, as well as the traditional metal influences (Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden et al). They seem to go in for heavy extended instrumental pieces in the middle of songs - and possibly the biggest criticism of them is that they'll put these in even if it's not really required. If they learn that not every song needs such a piece they'd be amazing. A straight metal song from them would be cool.

But yeah, speaking as a fan of both prog and metal, they're good. And Blood Mountain is a really fucking good album (I voted for it in an end of year poll, though only because none of my real albums of the year were options).

No, I get what people have said, I'm just wondering why so many people have seemed to glom onto this one band in particular. I can think of half a dozen bands doing the same schtick at the same level of technical skill. I can think of a few who are doing a similar thing better, and a few who take any indvidual element you hear mentioned when people talk about Mastodon and do something spectacular with it.

Perhaps I was unclear about what exactly I'm asking. I was just wondering if anyone had any particular insight into why this band has gotten the attention, especially from the indie scene.

Perhaps I was unclear about what exactly I'm asking. I was just wondering if anyone had any particular insight into why this band has gotten the attention, especially from the indie scene.
Because Blood Mountain has received considerable exposure in the right places, with the right people saying it's a great album (hell, my local newspaper gave it 8/10 - that's almost unheard of for any album (the reviewer's a dick), let alone a metal album). And yes, it is a good album. But there's a good reason people haven't really heard of them before - and that's because the previous stuff was mostly average. And I don't reckon the next one will be that good either.

But the main point is that it's had good marketing behind it, probably because Mastodon are now signed to Reprise, not whoever it was before.

It’s metal you say? Well there’s your problem right there. You see, you don’t ever really “get” metal, you just pretend to so all the other metal heads will like you. There’s nothing to “get” about metal. It isn’t complicated. It’s exactly what it sounds like.

Do tell me: does your experience with metal extend beyond Metallica, Tool, and the shit the radio sells you? Yes? Why am I not suprised. How about going out and listening to the diverse range of music classified under metal before offering an opinion?

Do tell me: does your experience with metal extend beyond Metallica, Tool, and the shit the radio sells you? Yes? Why am I not suprised. How about going out and listening to the diverse range of music classified under metal before offering an opinion?
You really think you’re the first person to say that to me? For a short time in my life, before I came to understand that there’s nothing wrong with getting along with mainstream individuals, I was friends with a number of metal heads. Nothing they ever listed to was remotely appealing, and could not possibly be remotely appealing to anyone with normal human hearing. It’s just a bunch of noise.

Mastodon are stoner metal, that's all I've heard.

You really think you’re the first person to say that to me? For a short time in my life, before I came to understand that there’s nothing wrong with getting along with mainstream individuals, I was friends with a number of metal heads. Nothing they ever listed to was remotely appealing, and could not possibly be remotely appealing to anyone with normal human hearing. It’s just a bunch of noise.

Tell you what. Go listen to Epica or Nightwish. Neither band is "Just a bunch of noise" and they have pleasant, very melodic lead singers (and, coincidentally, are both great in concert). Other possibilities include Queensryche (Their early stuff, from the 80's. Their new stuff sucks.), Elvenking (although they are more agressive), and Sonata Arctica (who may as well just be heavy pop).

I'm gonna bet that your buddies were more into industrial, thrash, doom, and classic since most American metal-heads are. That's a real pity, because all four subgenres are just annoying noise. Progressive, Power, and Epic metals are much better, especially with female lead vocalists.

And I'm deeply confused about what the contradiction between "mainstream people" and "metalheads" is. Metal is mainstream now, unless you listen to really, really obscure metal, and even then, the culture is mostly mainstreamed (except for Power Metal culture in the U.S., which is kinda the ultimate pseudo-D&D-Geek culture).

Tell you what. Go listen to Epica or Nightwish. Neither band is "Just a bunch of noise" and they have pleasant, very melodic lead singers (and, coincidentally, are both great in concert). Other possibilities include Queensryche (Their early stuff, from the 80's. Their new stuff sucks.), Elvenking (although they are more agressive), and Sonata Arctica (who may as well just be heavy pop).
Spend my money on music I probably won't like? No thanks.
I'm gonna bet that your buddies were more into industrial, thrash, doom, and classic since most American metal-heads are. That's a real pity, because all four subgenres are just annoying noise. Progressive, Power, and Epic metals are much better, especially with female lead vocalists.
I'm sure they are.
And I'm deeply confused about what the contradiction between "mainstream people" and "metalheads" is. Metal is mainstream now,
Uh, no it isn't, at least not where I live. In the United States, Country is our popular shit genre. I guess you Brits get Metal. Not sure which I'd rather have.

But the main point is that it's had good marketing behind it, probably because Mastodon are now signed to Reprise, not whoever it was before.

Fair enough, I guess. I'll just never understand how the whole king-making machine in the music world works.

No, I get what people have said, I'm just wondering why so many people have seemed to glom onto this one band in particular. I can think of half a dozen bands doing the same schtick at the same level of technical skill. I can think of a few who are doing a similar thing better, and a few who take any indvidual element you hear mentioned when people talk about Mastodon and do something spectacular with it.

Perhaps I was unclear about what exactly I'm asking. I was just wondering if anyone had any particular insight into why this band has gotten the attention, especially from the indie scene.

Good question. They obviously hit the marketing nail on the head. As you said, there have been bands out there doing similar stuff for a long time now, so why Mastodon have become popular is beyond me.

Mastodon are stoner metal, that's all I've heard.

Not quite. They share some common roots, but stoner metal is bluesier, has a substantially less flashy instrumental style (due to a focus on slow riff-based songs) and has a general feel of being more laid back and more psychedelic than Mastodon, particularly in vocal style. Although a fan of stoner would probably find enough similarities to enjoy them anyway (like me), they're pretty close to the faster side of what is termed "sludge metal" (which takes influences from hardcore punk).

Spend my money on music I probably won't like? No thanks.

Did I say anything about spending money?

*sigh*

Pandora.com is your friend...

Uh, no it isn't, at least not where I live. In the United States, Country is our popular shit genre. I guess you Brits get Metal. Not sure which I'd rather have.

Wow. You must live in a shitty part of the U.S. Let me tell you, in my part of the U.S. (What makes you think I'm a Brit? I spell like a proper 'Merican, after all), metalheads are a dime a dozen.

Did I say anything about spending money?

*sigh*

Pandora.com is your friend...
Maybe tomorrow. I need sleep now.
Wow. You must live in a shitty part of the U.S. Let me tell you, in my part of the U.S. (What makes you think I'm a Brit? I spell like a proper 'Merican, after all), metalheads are a dime a dozen.
I thought you were British for some reason. Anyway, I'm a terrible speller. I don't notice things like that.