View Full Version : Coffee-Table Music.
I reckon in the late 90's, a new genre of music began. The type of music that you listen to at home, but not in your bedroom.
"Coffee-Table" music.
The type of CD you would put on, when you have friends over for a coffee, or a few drinks. The type of album, which you could talk about, and analyse, by judging the degree of thought that was entered into it, rather than the degree of raw energy.
Being influenced by an increasingly popular electronic scence, (and wanting to remain relevant beyond their early 90's claims), bands such as Radiohead and Smashing Pumpkins veered away from their more "stadium-rock" sounds, with albums like 'OK Computer' (followed by 'Kid A' and 'Amnesiac') and 'Adore'.
This then brought bands like Mercury Rev and Doves into the spotlight, who released rock/pop albums with a distinctly more altered nature than was the norm in the early 90's. Now, the 'visionaries' of rock were not so much those who could pull a mind blowing guitar solo, or belt out an album of killer riffs, but rather those could develop a complexity of sound and song, and combine an album by which people were to "think about", rather than to "jump about" to.
Likewise, a more 'arty' approach from these and other similar major bands (and similarly, indi-rock bands), in regards to incorporating different aspects from a variety of genres pushed them into the sphere of "high art", as opposed to merely "mosh-pit" material with high FM rotation.
Suddenly, you could have your favourite rock band congruently sitting next to Massive Attack.
It also suddenly became fashionable to not release singles. Bands even began experimenting with "ambient" sounds, and sonic epics, which challenged listeners' attention with twisted fragments of sound bytes, being stretched over sweeping sound-scapes.
What bands, or albums, do you regard as coffee-table music?
Broad question.
I'm probably up the wroing path here but how about:
Dido?
Moby?
happy_in_hell
10 Jul 2002, 20:04
Probably Massive Attack would be regarded as 'coffee-table' music. Even some select paulmac or George songs could qualify as mellow, background music
Originally posted by hotpie
Broad question.
I'm probably up the wroing path here but how about:
Dido?
Moby?
I once heard Moby described as "music that people listen to in 4WD's". :D
Dido I would rate as cafe/hairdresser music. ;) (And my damn ex-girlfriend used to drive me crazy with it! :o).
I guess you could qualify both as being coffee-table music, because to some extent both had that degree of novelty, which made them more than just albums to listen to, but rather also some sort of intellectual fashion, by which you could make a statement merely by playing it when other people are around.
I bought a the pet shop boys discography. :(
The Shame. It's now a paper weight.
Didn't think they were heavy enough to be a paperweight..........
happy_in_hell
10 Jul 2002, 20:41
The Pet Shop Boys - Bilingual isn't a bad album (that said, i did buy iut for only 1 song, then didn't listen to it for 4 years :D)
On the subject, Live From Mars by Ben Harper has also a mellow, loungy feel to it
Originally posted by hotpie
Didn't think they were heavy enough to be a paperweight..........
It is when there's several bricks sitting on it!
I am not to sure about the term "Coffee Table Music" as it reminds me more of Kramers Coffee Table book.
But I know where you are coming from Stocka. There is a new breed of Adult Rock coming into play. Bands that rely on atmosphere and soundscapes as opposed to the raw Punk element of rock or *shudder* the Tripple M style of rock writing!
There has always been these types of bands floating around, with the most famous and influential one being Pink Floyd.
The grunge era wasn't just the grunge era. It was also a time of diversification and refinement of the electronic world. Sure we still had and will always have bubble-gum top 40 pop, but at the same time, magnificent albums such as Massive Attack's Blue Lines and Mezzanine were working their way into people's lounge rooms and sitting comfortably next to Siamese Dream!
Radiohead and Doves are mu two favourite bands at the moment (along with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club) and exhibit all the qualities that you are talking about; electronic influenes and broad, atmospheric sounds.
Strangely, both of these bands come from different worlds though. Doves were originally an electronic outfit, whereas Radiohead were Britpop. Yet both have created styles of music that are influenced by both electronica and rock. Influences on Radiohead include Sigur Ros, who eppitomise what we are talking about here.
I have an afinity with punk and can appreciate more standard forms of rock, but when it gets down to fulfilling my soul, I chose "Coffee-Table Music"!
Santos L Helper
11 Jul 2002, 12:05
Isn't this thread simply about the type of person you said you'd never become once you got a bit older? You know what I mean............."I'm gonna rock hard forever and never listen to that lame rubbish"?
Haha, you fogies.
Or I suppose your musical tastes have just changed as you've matured and grown a superior appreciation of the requirements to make fine music.
It'll never happen to me, I'm gonna be hardcore until I die! Now would you kindly keep the noise down so i can hear the strings on this track and enjoy my torte and glass of dessert wine. ;)
Originally posted by Santos L Helper
Isn't this thread simply about the type of person you said you'd never become once you got a bit older? You know what I mean............."I'm gonna rock hard forever and never listen to that lame rubbish"?
Haha, you fogies.
Or I suppose your musical tastes have just changed as you've matured and grown a superior appreciation of the requirements to make fine music.
It'll never happen to me, I'm gonna be hardcore until I die! Now would you kindly keep the noise down so i can hear the strings on this track and enjoy my torte and glass of dessert wine. ;)
Nah, I still listen to metal with a passion, with Tool also remaining one of my favourite bands!
I am someone who when he says he listens to everything, listens to everything [with the exception of Country music (no exposure) and Creed/Nickleback types (just plain bad)]!!
If you are denying yourself listening to an artist like Massive Attack, just 'cause you want cred, then you are doing yourself and injustice!
Santos L Helper
11 Jul 2002, 12:52
lalala
FIGJAM...............I'm convinced already.
Originally posted by Santos L Helper
lalala
FIGJAM...............I'm convinced already.
Keep striving to be hardcore Santos, you might one day get there! :p
Mcchawk
11 Jul 2002, 15:43
I've always found the Ministry of Sound annuals chill out sessions to be coffee table music.
Shinboners
11 Jul 2002, 16:12
Originally posted by FIGJAM
[with the exception of Country music (no exposure)
Just send me an e-mail and I can help you fix that situation up.
gPhonque
11 Jul 2002, 16:40
Cafe Del Mar
Sorry Santos.
PrincessPark
11 Jul 2002, 17:26
I'm not into background music . . . if music doesn't make me want to sing, dance, bop my head about, tap my hands or feet . . . or provoke any sort of reaction then it's probably not something I'd buy.
Originally posted by PrincessPark
I'm not into background music . . . .
I'd be interested to hear your definition of background music. To me background music is something simple with a basic one layered melody not intended to distract the listener.
Shinboners
11 Jul 2002, 20:10
Originally posted by Sly77
I'd be interested to hear your definition of background music. To me background music is something simple with a basic one layered melody not intended to distract the listener.
You notice background music?!?!?!?
Originally posted by Shinboners
You notice background music?!?!?!?
Its very hard NOT to distract me Shinboners :D
Shinboners
11 Jul 2002, 20:20
Originally posted by Sly77
Its very hard NOT to distract me Shinboners :D
And if you ever turn up to one of the "Short Attention Span" gigs, I will have to remind you of the irony.
FreoDocker
11 Jul 2002, 20:37
If your after Background/Coffee Table/Chillout Music go bands like De-Phazz, SmokeCity, Bent, Zero 7, Air, Paris By Night (album) or Cafe Del Mar (various artists).
Best Background/Chillout band would have to be St Germain.
Originally posted by PrincessPark
I'm not into background music . . . if music doesn't make me want to sing, dance, bop my head about, tap my hands or feet . . . or provoke any sort of reaction then it's probably not something I'd buy.
I wouldn't necessarily say that "coffee-table" music is restricted to "background" or ambient music. That was just on example that I was using.
To me, coffee-table music, is like a coffee-table book. Something that you conveniently leave lying around for when your friends come over, so that they are impressed by your choice.
Likewise, the genre, or nature of the music, is something that defies listening in situations such as stadium rock, or dancy nightclubs, because listeners see the purpose of the album as being more of intellectual stimulus, rather than something which 'only' makes you want to move or listen to. More often, rather than just being able to engage with the music in a physical or aural sense, the content will be of an 'interesting' nature, whereby, it is considered to be either controversial, novel, clever, and fashionable (but yet set apart from the 'common'), and worthy of discussion upon.
Ambient, or background music may just be one such popular choice, but there are also other examples.
PrincessPark
12 Jul 2002, 00:02
I tend to associate "ambient" music with pretentious bars.
I don't think I'd impress anyone too much with my music collection . . . it's pretty mainstream, probably the only surprises to anyone my age would be the Bowie, Beatles or Frank Zappa.
Originally posted by FIGJAM
Influences on Radiohead include Sigur Ros, who eppitomise what we are talking about here.
its a coffeetable book about coffeetables... :P
yeah.. i was gonna say stuff like sigur ros, lamb, mogwai, bjork, air, spiritualized, cinematic orchestra..
tho.... mogwai are s.hite ~~
:P
The Hitman
12 Jul 2002, 09:11
I immediately thought Bjork, especially her later stuff.
The Hitman
S.J Rollin
12 Jul 2002, 14:42
Supreme Beings of Leisure and some of the more laidback Groove Armada tracks
Originally posted by hotpie
Beck.
beck is my favourite solo artist ~~~
ambient/background/coffee table music?? no frickin way... !
First off, I think Massive Attack are the epitome of GOOD 'coffee-table' music. They did it first, and they did it coolest (waits for Shinners to tell me that actually George Gershwin did it first).
I have a bit of a perplexing one though, and I don't think many of you will have heard of them. Einsturzende Neubauten. The lead vocalist and sometime guitarist, Blixa, also plays with Nick Cave. Anyway EN are German and play experimental music, kind of with a punk/art/industrial type sound. They sound like grating machines the first few listens, but then once you go to sleep to them or listen alone in your loungeroom, you can really relax to them, almost in a mantra kind of way. I saw them in concert in Berlin in 2000 (their 20th anniversary gig) and they f'n rocked. On record you can sit back and analyze for hours, and live you can get into the emotion and energy they need to put in to each performance, which borders on Nick Cave's berserk gigs with The Birthday Party.
Nick, unfortunately, has had his last three albums put in my 'boring' pile. I love the skill and artistry that goes into them, but I just can't rock out on them. Especially since I got into him because of his early rockin stuff. I guess happiness and love are not as condusive to musical creation as heroin and depression... ;)
Other bands in the 'good' coffeetable list:
Tricky
Godspeed You Black Emperor
Eno
...but I just noticed something....I think I listen to just about all my music when friends come over. From Stooges to Dave Graney.
:confused:
Coffee table music = music that makes you want to drop a coffee table on top of the stereo = Powderfinger
sussudio
16 Jul 2002, 10:05
I like to chill out to the following:
Massive Attack
Tricky
Lamb
Portishead
Morcheeba
Ian Pooley
Beck (Mutations - very mellow)
Presence
Rae & Christian
DJ Krush
Talvin Singh
Nitin Sawhney
Pizzacato Five
Originally posted by PeteLX
Einsturzende Neubauten.
Yep, I've heard of them, and heard a little of their stuff.
Originally posted by PeteLX
Godspeed You Black Emperor
I've got a few things of theirs. I'm pretty sure some of the members also collaborated in some way to form Silver Mount Zion (who produce similar stuff).
Has anyone ever heard, or heard of Arab Strap?
Macca19
16 Jul 2002, 22:41
I dont mind a bit of Nu-Tech House for Coffee Table music.
Originally posted by sussudio
I like to chill out to the following:
Beck (Mutations - very mellow)
Pizzacato Five
good selection there sussudio..
mellow, how about mellow gold? :P
mutations is mellow, but then most folk music albums would be..
hmm.. pizzacato five...
yes.. very lively/happy music...
sussudio
16 Jul 2002, 23:44
hmm.. pizzacato five... yes.. very lively/happy music
hehe...my favourite songs are "twiggy twiggy v james bond", "the girl from ipanema" and of course the one they did for austen powers :)
campy and happy :D
Originally posted by sussudio
hehe...my favourite songs are "twiggy twiggy v james bond", "the girl from ipanema" and of course the one they did for austen powers :)
campy and happy :D
yes, i downloaded a stack of their tracks..
agree with your choices there..
great fun stuff..
i've been downloading alot of happy/campy jap pop lately~
Bloodstained Angel
17 Jul 2002, 17:44
Hmmm quite like some of this kinda stuff.
Eno is the original but I quite like Massive Attack and I've got a few of those Chill-Out CDs as well, the Ministry of Sound 2001 Chill-Out Annual is a nice little collection.
I also like the old style Lounge music of the 50's and 60's, particulary Burt Bacharach - now HE knows smooth.
Bee-Bop and some other modern jazz styles also make excellent background music. I reccommend anything with a traditional Jazz Piano Trio (Piano, Drums, Double Bass) or Quartet.
Dave Brubeck, Oscar Peterson, Thelonius Monk, Modern Jazz Quartet etc etc
this is great music, just right for a "Coffe Table" type scenario
cheers
sussudio
17 Jul 2002, 18:55
Originally posted by Bloodstained Angel
Dave Brubeck, Oscar Peterson, Thelonius Monk, Modern Jazz Quartet etc etc
now you're talking! :cool:
Porthos
24 Jul 2002, 09:53
Originally posted by PeteLX
First off, I think Massive Attack are the epitome of GOOD 'coffee-table' music. They did it first, and they did it coolest (waits for Shinners to tell me that actually George Gershwin did it first).It was actually Erik Satie...confused people at the time by telling them to talk while the music was playing - I forget which piece right now. ;)
While I have no table, and don't drink coffee, probably most of my music collection falls into this category.
Originally posted by Bloodstained Angel
Massive Attack
Ministry of Sound 2001 Chill-Out Annual
I also like the old style Lounge music of the 50's and 60's, particulary Burt Bacharach - now HE knows smooth.
Bee-Bop and some other modern jazz styles also make excellent background music. I reccommend anything with a traditional Jazz Piano Trio (Piano, Drums, Double Bass) or Quartet.
Thelonius Monk
cheers
Ditto BSA. If I want something cruisy to listen to quietly, any of the above would get a guernsey on the CD player as well as Vince Jones, Harry Connick Jr, Don Burrows amonst a few of the Jazz "classics". I also have a couple of Grace Knight and Kate Cebrano cd's where they do the standard jazz pieces which a pretty soft and cruisy.
Shinboners
24 Jul 2002, 10:17
Originally posted by PeteLX
First off, I think Massive Attack are the epitome of GOOD 'coffee-table' music. They did it first, and they did it coolest
No they didn't. George Gershwin did it first. And he was the coolest.
(waits for Shinners to tell me that actually George Gershwin did it first).
I didn't want to disappoint you - I wouldn't want you to be waiting like Vladimir and Estragon did.
:D