Identifying bands & musicians

96% Normal
5 Comments

So I was out and about, listening to my iPod, and this instrumental song* comes up. I'd never heard it before, as half the songs in it, and I just go "Oh, I just love The Pixies!"

My question is: how did I even know it was them in the first 3 seconds? Especially since it lacked vocals, one of the main elements we usually count on for band recognition? As much as I love music and know a shitload of bands, I'm not very musical. Not at all.

is it normal I identified them so naturally? It amazed me so. Musicians, dabblers, please? What is it about the instruments and the way the musicians play and the ensemble that makes them distinguishable? Or is it the music writing? Pardon mon ignorance, but how is it even possible?

Merci,
Tame Cookie
^.~

* Velvety Instrumental Version

Voting Results
96% Normal
Based on 24 votes (23 yes)
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Comments ( 5 )
  • SangoNyappy
    11 years ago

    It's normal I usually can tell what song is it by first guitar tone but maybe I'm just obessed

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  • CheyChey
    11 years ago

    I do that too like the way the vocalist kinda breathes at the start of a song & you just recognize the band, it's like you feel it coming even before it starts. And listening with earphones is the best because you can really hear the instrumental sound play it on the radio & the effect is still there but not quite the same. oh pixies are amazing a friend got me into them and when I listened to "where is my mind" I knew I was taken.

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  • [Old Memory]
    11 years ago

    You recognised the production of material. The thin guitar tones and drums coated in reverb. You made a connection. Well done :)

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  • Avant-Garde
    11 years ago

    I've notice that some "groups" have a certain "feel" to them. Their music radiates an aura and if you're familiar enough with them you'll be able to differentiate their music from the next. I hope I'm making sense here.

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  • Glass
    11 years ago

    Listen to an artist enough and you remember their "style" I'm no musician so I don't know how to explain it on a mechanical level.

    Give me a random Haywyre or Celldweller song (or any other artist I listen to often) I'd be able to identify its them in an instant by how they use their instruments and how they compose their songs. Haywyre's mellow and jazzy dubstep interwoven with pianos and violins, Celldweller's vivid sampling stringed together with hard rock guitars and dark synths. You just get a feel for an artist after a while of listening to them.

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