Music I Like

Thank You Scientist

I discovered Thank You Scientist a few years ago. I found myself listening through their whole discography rather quickly. They hit a perfect balance of highly technical playing, prog rock / metal and jazz in a highly intriguing way. I always feel like I am being taken on a musical journey when I listen to their music. I would definitely say that they take a specific type of listener to appreciate their music, but it is very worth it. In a world where music has to be taken seriously all the time, it is refreshing listening to something that has the technical prowess, but also can have a laugh while doing so.

Some of my favorite quotes from friends and family that I have played Thank You Scientist for.

Friend 1(metal head): "NO NO!! Why are there horns and a violin in this song?! I can't, I just can't!"

Girlfriend: "The singer sounds like the singer from coheed and cambria!"

Dad: "The singer sounds like Michael Jackson! He just needs to say 'hee hee' and 'shamone' and he will be there!"

Friend 2: "There are too many notes for me."

Where I would suggest starting if you chose to venture into Thank You Scientist.

Maps of Non Existent Places

Prelude is the opener on the album "Maps of Non Existent Places". It is a great introduction that sets the theme of the album. This track is followed by A Salesman's Guide to Non-Existence, which brings the energy and technicality that Thank You Scientist is known for. The album continues to take you on a journey through the story of the album, with each track being a chapter in the story.

Stranger Heads Prevail

Stranger Heads Prevail is the third album Thank You Scientist released. It bulds on the first two albums with a bit more delacacy than previous albums. The dynamics used really help with buildups and suspense that really makes the album feel like a journey. The first track Prologue: A Faint Applause is a great introduction to the album. It uses a mix of Beatles inspired writing allong with a touch of queen harmonised guitar. This hist the nostalga pretty hard. The Somnambulist is the second track. It brings the energy with a nice mix of technical syncapation and a great use of dynamics.

The Perils of Time Travel and Terraformer

The first album The Perils of Time Travel shows that the intent of the band has always been driving and technical. One of my favorite songs from this album is Gemini. It has a ripping synth and guitar solo.

Terraformer

Terraformer builds off of the style the band has established. It still has the energy, but gets more experimental with some of the songs and tends to span more genres than the previous albums. There are some really good mellow songs on this album. They play greatly into setting a mood and painting a picture for the listener. I would say this album has quite a bit of emmotional depth to it. My suggested song from this album would be Son of a Serpent. It feels more funk inspired and has a really good groove that will make you bob your head.

One song that really stood out to me on the Terraformer album was "Terraformer". Shocker I know. The reason being is that Tom Monda plays a fretless guitar and absolutly nails.

Plague Accommodations

Plague Accommodations is the most recent album Thank You Scientist has released. While it is only 4 songs, it has some very good tracks on it. Obviously, this being a 2021 release, it was heavily influenced by the pandemic. My only wish is that this albumb was longer. The singer Salvatore Marrano ended up stepping down from his role to help his family.

Other Singles and Special Releases

There are a few other singles and special releases that are worth a listen. One of my favorites is Party All The Time, which is a cover of the Eddie Murphy song. It hits hard and is super unique with the arrangement that the band put together. The complex harmonies with the horns and violin add a freshness. Salvatore adds complex harmonies that make the song feel almost atherial. The driving rhythm section drives the song hard. This is one that always gets cranked when it comes on.

Conclusion

Thank You Scientist has quickly become one of my favorite bands. It hit a strange itch for me that a lot of other modern bands don't seem to. I know very well that my music taste tends to lean more towards the weird and technical side, which this band seems to embrace. The explorations of different genres and styles makes it unique, and distinct. I always love showing people this band since I know they will either love it or hate it. That is not a shot at the band itself, but more of a statement on how bland and predictable modern music has become. I like music that makes me think, and feel. Something that has some emotional depth to it. We all no the average song follows a few specific themes. Money, Love, Drugs, Partying, etc. This turns that on its head. Thank you Scientist offers songs about robots, space, aliens and a plethera of other topics. They seem distant, but are oddly relatable to the human experience. The biggest thing I can say is that this makes you open your mind and think differently. So get your weird on and dive into Thank You Scientist's catalogue and enjoy the non existant places along the way.