Godspeed You! Black Emperor / A Silver Mount Zion

[blindpsychic]

These are two of my favorite bands of all time, both created by the same guy. Both are very influenced by classical music and they also like using word on the street sound samples. Their only claim to fame is being held for being suspected terrorists when the band was on tour.

The group was once misconstrued as being a band of terrorists.[8][9] After stopping at a local gas station for fuel in the town of Ardmore, Oklahoma, during their 2003 tour of the United States, the station attendant working that day believed the group of Canadians to be terrorists. She quickly passed a note to another customer also getting fuel to call the police. When the local police appeared, the group was held until they could be questioned by the FBI. Although the police were suspicious of the band's anti-government documents and some photos they had (such as those of oil rigs), they found no incriminating evidence. After background checks were run, the ensemble was released from custody and continued on their way to their next show in St. Louis, Missouri. Efrim Menuck later spoke to the crowd about what happened to them during their appearance in Missouri and speculated that their origin was a motive for being released quickly ("It's a good thing we're nice white kids from Canada"), hinting at racism in the police force.[10] The incident was mentioned in Michael Moore's book, Dude, Where's My Country?.

They use great imagery on their album art and in the screen projections at their concerts.

Yanqui" is the Spanish word for "Yankee".[5] The liner notes also refer to "Yanqui" as a "multinational corporate oligarchy", while "U.X.O." stands for "unexploded ordnance."[6] The packaging of the album contains an arrow diagram purporting to represent the links between four major record labels (AOL Time-Warner, BMG, Sony, Vivendi Universal) and various arms manufacturers.[7] This chart accompanied a photograph of falling bombs. The band later admitted that a particular extension of the chart, (namely EMI appearing on the chart as a subsidiary of AOL Time-Warner) was incorrect, conceding that some of their research had been inaccurate.[8]

They let their fans tape their concerts, so a lot of their songs are available on archive.org.
http_://www.archive.org/details/gybe2011-03-14
Thats the show I went to recently of their's. Start with 'Storm'

Silver Mount Zion is a new band with some of the old members of GYBE and follows along the same lines.
http_://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UadQBAAqv5A

One of my favorite song of theirs.

In a time where its really hard to find any music of conscience even when you dig deep into the music scene these guys and gals are a great source of inspiration.

 

[Stones]

I'm glad you mentioned these two incredible bands! Being mostly instrumental, both groups have created powerful soundscapes that have put me into helpful and productive conscious mediation states (that's what I call it when I basically zone out yet am productive with my thoughts).
These guys are definitely bands to check out and look into.


Hadn't heard that terrorist story. It's kind of funny yet really sad at the same time.

 

[whitecoast]

I'm a major fan of "Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven", but I had no idea that the founder of Godspeed had another band also. I'll have to check them out ;)