What is it about math rock? Is it the constant, organized chaos of all the instruments clashing together?
The total unpredictability of the rhythm and the plain WEIRD sounds the bands produce?
Maybe it’s just the fact that no math rock band will ever, ever get famous.
Whatever it is, the harmonious chaos that is math rock makes it perfect for commuting: by car, foot, subway… land, sea or air.
Here are three of our favorites:
1. “Loudest Shop Vac in the World” – Don Caballero
This may be my favorite Don Caballero song, just because there’s so much progression. It starts with the definitive yet mischievous bass line at the beginning and then Damon Che comes in on the weirdest beat ever when he starts playing drums. Maybe it’s the complicated loops on guitar or the crazy explosion of music at 3:17.
Either way, shoving your way through crowds of people as you try to run to work is immensely more satisfying when this song is playing. You also kind of feel like an ant running to the hive.
2. “I am s/h(im)e[r] as you am s/h(im)e[r] as you are me and we am I and I are all our together: Our collective consciousness’ psychogenic fugue” – Giraffes Giraffes!
Giraffes Giraffes! is a duo – just an insanely talented guitarist and an equally talented drummer – so they obviously have a special place in our hearts, since Job Creators is just two people. It’s a tough world out there for duos, especially when it comes to making a FULL sound, but Giraffes pulls it off every time.
This is a great song if you’re packed like a sardine in a subway somewhere, and watching more people rush into the train car even though there’s CLEARLY NO MORE SPACE LEFT. And, just as you’re pretty sure you’re infected with three new diseases from the guy sneezing onto you from behind, “I am s/h(im)e[r] as you am s/h(im)e[r] as you are me and we am I and I are all our together: Our collective consciousness’ psychogenic fugue” breaks down into a lullaby sound.
Then, the song hits you with a philosophical sample about dreams at 7:01 that makes your brain hurt for a while. Samples with math rock = <3. Plus, applying algebra to your song titles is pretty incredible.
3. “Jungle Run” – Job Creators
It may or may not be illegal to include yourself in a list, but we couldn’t resist. And it’s our list, so we do what we want. We wrote “Jungle Run” as a way to create the sounds and the feeling of being stuck in traffic, with a bass and drum for narration.
It’s all about the car commute – the fact that, really, we haven’t evolved past our jungle days. We’re racing to work just to put food on the table when we could crash and die at any second.
Who said civilization has made us safer?
We’re sample-heavy in this song, because we wanted to slowly build up to that explosive release as you get more and more frustrated in stop-go traffic.
Want to listen to more? Check out our EP, “Hurricane Sessions.”
Job Creators Band 