It's a line from "Myxomatosis" by Radiohead.

But yeah, this forum won't happen.

Avant-garde (pronounced /ɑvɑ̃ gɑʁd/) in French means front guard, advance guard, or vanguard.[1] People often use the term in French and English to refer to people or works that are experimental or novel, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics.

According to its champions, the avant-garde pushes the boundaries of what is accepted as the norm within definitions of art/culture/reality. (wiki)

If an avant-guard forum isn't going to happen, then there's no stopping this thread from being a place for some good discussion on the subject.
Maybe this thread could be moved to a more suitable forum.

Discuss the influence of Avant-garde/Experimental bands, ground breaking albums in particular, have had on shaping popular music as it is today.

Yeah, I think if an official thread is made on it it would be good, then if its a really popular thread suggest it again.

Interesting idea. I'm down with that. Perhaps I'll start a discussion later; I don't feel like starting things at the moment. In a few hours perhaps...

Do it now you lazy toe-rag. ;)

Make a thread of the same name as this, only in say 'General' for example (seeing as avant-garde and experimental music has influences across many genres) with a short explanation of the thread;

It's a fascinating subject.
Bands like the Velvet Underground, early Talking Heads, Frank Zappa, Eno, the Flaming Lips...the list is endless.
It opens a whole possibility for discussion about influential bands and the albums that have been released through the years that were ahead of their time and went on to be recognised as significant contributions towards developing modern music as it is now.

Do it and Ethan can delete this thread later.

Edit: It'll make a nice change from spray on condoms or who the latest boy/girl band is.

Even though I made one, I agree, I was just bored. Avant-garde/Experimental music is so much more fascinating to talk about, like a whole lot. Even though most wouldn't agree.

Alright. So an important music scene that was often considered avant-garde or experimental was the no wave scene in late 70's/early 80's New York City. This music which was called "no wave" was basically consisted of a strong rhythm section throughout with abrasive atonal sounds on guitar and other instruments (sometimes saxophone or keyboard to name a few). It often didn't have a melody and instead focused on musical texture. An essential album from this genre is No New York, which was a Brian Eno produced compilation album of some no wave artists. A few important no wave artists include Teenage Jesus & The Jerks (as well as frontwoman Lydia Lunch), James Chance & The Contortions, DNA, Mars, Swans, and Sonic Youth. Sonic Youth only got their beginning in no wave and eventually mixed the noisy sounds of no wave to a larger audience. No wave has had a widespread influence on noise and industrial bands such as Big Black, Live Skull, and Helmet. No wave has also had a widespread influence on other bands including Liars, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and even !!!. It has influenced the sound of other genres like post-hardcore.

Now, here's a list of some important artists that are often considered avant-garde or experimental (some of these could easily be placed in other more well known genres, others not so much): John Cage, Buckethead, Can, Bjork, Aphex Twin, Boards Of Canada, Brian Eno, Mr. Bungle and other Mike Patton related projects, Yoko Ono, The Residents, Sonic Youth, Swans, John Zorn, Secret Chiefs 3, Gastr Del Sol, Jim O'Rourke, Thurston Moore, Wolf Eyes, and many more. The influence of avant-garde and experimental music is apparent in almost every band that is more "unconventional" or "against the grain".

Here are a few favourite albums of mine that are avant-garde or experimental and are difficult to put in any other genre: Mr. Bungle and Disco Volante by Mr. Bungle, God In Three Persons and Tweedles! by The Residents, Book M and Second Grand Constitution and Bylaws, Hurqalya by Secret Chiefs 3, DNA On DNA by DNA, Everything by Teenage Jesus & The Jerks, and Solo Guitar by Alan Sparhawk. That's all I'm gonna talk on the subject in this post.

Shit man. I was typing that last post of mine while the two posts before it were posted. Shall I just copy and paste that in some other forum?

What music forum do you want me to move this to?